Page 120
With my free arm, I pull him close. “Grady, I have to hang up now. And Parker says hi.”
“Hi back, and see you soon, you two. And Evan, good luck tonight. I’ll be watching the game.”
“You should. After all, you’re a true New Yorker,” I retort, hinting that he really upset his own fans when he switched from his New York team to the West Coast.
“All right, all right,” he says with a laugh.
We end the call, and Parker leans against me. “You have to go. You’re already running late.”
“I just wanted to clear that up.”
“Okay.” He kisses my chest. I can feel his lips through my T-shirt. “And when you come back tonight, I want to welcome home a Conference Cup champion.”
Grinning, I plant a kiss on the corner of his mouth. “If it gets late . . . ”
“I expect it to be later. Go celebrate with the guys. I’ve got everything I need here.”
But I’ll miss him. Whether we get eliminated today or win the Conference Cup, I’ll miss him. “If you do go to the arena. . . ”
“Nope. No Arena for me. My head’s fine, but I don’t want to take any chances, and my arm needs to rest, too. Please. Go play for me. You know I’ll be watching your every move.”
“Okay.”
“Okay.”
I’d do anything to grant him that wish.
Chapter 28 – Parker
“Are you absolutely sure?” Katleen sounds flustered. “I can give you Janice’s number. I’m sure they’d be happy to have you.”
“No, you don’t have to. I’m perfect here at Evan’s place. It’s the first Cup Final I’ll ever watch. Here with my best friends, chips, and non-alcoholic beer, I practically am at the arena, anyway.”
“If you’re sure. I just don’t want you to feel left out. Janice is heavily pregnant with their first baby and can’t get around either.”
Luckily, Katleen doesn’t see me, because I’m making a face. I am not up to spending my first Cup Final, with my boyfriend playing center for one of the teams, sitting with a bunch of pregnant women I don’t know personally. Even though I’m not much more active than someone about to give birth, my ankles are so swollen.
Back to my phone call. “You don’t have to worry about me, Katleen. Let’s grab a meal together soon and celebrate the victory.”
“Don’t jinx it. I can’t handle another season.” she says in a gloomy voice.
“I still have to get used to all these rules.”
She laughs. “And hopefully I’ll be rid of them soon. Anyway, kisses. See you soon.” And she hangs up.
Ricky is coming out of the kitchen with a bottle of champagne. “See what I found.” He holds up a note. “It was stuck to it. It says we’re supposed to have a lot of fun. Thanks, Evan. We will.” He holds up the bottle. “Who wants some?”
“I’ll have to stick to the non-alcoholic one. I’m not taking painkillers anymore, but honestly, I don’t want to accidentally bump into something or someone. I’d rather sit this one out.”
Ricky gives me a kiss on the head. “You’re right about that. And there’ll be more left for dear Carly and me.” He pours the two of them some sparkly, and we sprawl out on the couch. “Have you thought about whether you want to sue Simon over the termination?” he asks, turning to me.
I shake my head firmly once. “No. I mean, no, I’m not going to sue. The outcome of a trial is up in the air.” I glance back and forth between my two friends. “I don’t want to go back, anyway.”
They both very gently wrap their arms around me.
“You’re right,” Carly murmurs against my neck. “All right, now let’s watch the game.”
Laughing, we claim our spots on the couch/sectional.
