Page 22 of Game Misconduct

I waved her off. “No, I’m fine. I’ll take a glass of water though.”

She turned and filled a bright yellow cup with a pitcher from the fridge and offered it to me.

“Thanks.”

There were a few moments of silence, and I realized she was waiting on me. Right, she was wondering why I was here.

“Is everything okay?” she finally asked.

“Yeah, I just wanted to talk.”

Her brows rose a fraction of an inch before she recovered. “About?”

I eyed the living room and she crossed over and took a seat on one end and I sat on the opposite, resting against an orange and yellow blanket. Her expression was open, waiting for me to start.

“As you know, I don’t know many people here.” I paused and stared down at my glass. “I’ve been fine with that in the past. I didn’t have many close friends on my last team, or the team before. I thought that what I needed to do was keep to myself and play the best I could. That was all that mattered.”

“But now?” she asked.

“Now, I can see that the Fury is different. There are a few guys that hang on the outskirts and don't really get involved off the ice, but I don’t want that. This team is about being a family and relying on each other and being there for one another.”

Her eyes crinkled. “That’s good. I’d rather be on a team like that.”

“Me too,” I admitted. “I just don’t know how to be that kind of player, or person.”

She cocked her head. “You don’t know how to be more involved?”

I nodded.

“Well, it looks like you’ve already started. You showed up with Mitch when Jess and Dani needed help. That shows you’re a team player and want to be there for the others. Then you came to the dinner party. That was another step in the right direction.”

“Yeah.” I sighed. I wished I was better at this, talking. Opening up to someone, but this was new to me.

She leaned forward. “Parker, why are you talking to me about this?”

Why indeed. I was beginning to second guess myself. It didn’t make sense, but I told her the truth. “Because when I decided I wanted to commit to this, to immersing myself, you were the first person I thought of.”

She quirked her mouth like she didn’t quite believe me. “Why? I’m not even a part of the group. I’m only invited to some things because of Jess.”

I shook my head. “That’s not true. Maybe it started that way, but from a true outsider’s perspective, you’re just as much a member of the Pride as any of the other women.”

“Even if that were true, which I don't think it is, there are still better people to talk to. Chloe or Emma seem to really be clued in. Jake and Jason have been on the team for a while. Even Lance, but I guess he’s new to the more settled-down side of the team.”

Those were more logical options, but I thought of her first. That meant something. My subconscious trusted her or something.

“I will talk to them, but I wanted to meet with you first. You’ve become part of the group recently, so you know how.”

She laughed. “It’s not like there’s some special ritual you have to go through. Just be yourself.”

I stared over at the coffee table covered with coasters with vintage ads on them and scooted one closer to use for my water.

“You’re right. I guess I just wanted a friend here.”

She straightened, and I was struck with the feeling I’d said something horribly wrong. “Why?”

“Why do I want to be your friend?”

“Yes.” She held my stare.