18. Parker

CHAPTER 18

Parker

Parker

Hey.

Audrey

Hi.

Just got to the hotel.

I collapsed onto my bed. I was sharing a room with Samuel tonight, but he’d already stepped out of the room to call his girlfriend, leaving me with my thoughts. Replaying the game in my mind, I tried to go over what went wrong. How I could improve for next time.

The truth was, I’d just been distracted.

We’d been sloppy in this game, almost losing it, but we’d recovered. The final score was 14-12, another Castleton Chipmunks win, with less than a minute left on the clock. We’d fought hard all four periods, thankfully coming out on top.

I stared at the photo of Audrey that I’d set as my lock screen. Her hair was half-up in a ponytail, wearing her favorite pink sweatshirt with a pink ribbon tied around her hair, and she looked so perfect. She was the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen, but it was more than that. It was everything about who she was. How she was so outgoing, so sweet and caring with all of her friends. She was pure sunshine, inside and out. The nickname was fitting in so many ways.

A thought occurred to me briefly: if I called, would Audrey pick up?

Were we there yet?

Maybe. But I couldn’t stop thinking about her last text earlier. What are best friends for? And damn, I knew that was all she saw us as—despite her lovely blush a few days ago when she’d admitted she’d been thinking about me—but it still hurt knowing she only saw me as a friend.

Groaning, I rolled over, stuffing a pillow between my arms as I watched the dots appear on the screen.

Audrey

How was the game? I tried to check on the score, but couldn’t figure out where to watch it.

Parker

It was okay. We won, but lost the lead a few times. Definitely not where I would have liked to be.

Oh.

What about you? How was your night?

Good. At a frat party with Ella and some of the girls. Wish you were here.

So you *do* miss me.

Shut up.

Make me, sunshine.

I was smiling at my phone as I laid on my hotel room bed. It was ridiculous how much I enjoyed talking to her when, with everyone else, I’d rather just hole up in my room and read a book or play a video game. I had a new fantasy novel on my bedside table—one I hadn’t even touched on this road trip, because I’d been too busy texting my girl.

Parker

Call me when you’re back from the party. I want to hear your voice.

Audrey

Don’t you need to get some sleep? I thought you had an early bus ride home.

Doesn’t matter. Call me anyway.

A few minutes later, my phone rang, and I barely even let it ring once before I’d picked up.

“Hey.”

“Hi.” Audrey sounded breathless. “I’m just leaving now.”

Rolling over to lay on my back, I stared up at the ceiling. “You didn’t have to leave just to talk to me.”

“Eh. I was ready to leave, anyway. Besides, it was winding down.”

“Gotcha. Anything fun happen?”

“Not really. Cam’s friend Adam bumped into a girl and accidentally spilled his entire cup of beer on her, and now I’m pretty sure she hates him.”

“The one that was on the ski trip with you?”

“Yeah,” she responded. “He’s the ginger haired one. Anyway, I definitely didn’t miss the heat between them. Or the way Adam’s gaze lingered on her as she stormed out. They would be the perfect enemies to lovers story if you ask me.”

I burst out laughing. “What?”

“You know? It’s a super common trope, especially in romance novels. It’s even better in fantasy when they’re actual enemies. The line between love and hate isn’t far apart.” Audrey let out a dreamy sigh.

“And you want something like that?” I asked, hating myself just for saying it. But damn if I didn’t want to know her every fantasy. Her dream guy.

There was a pause on the other end of the phone, and then Audrey said, her voice a little rough. “No, I don’t think so. I’m not sure I could do the enemies part.” Her voice grew quiet. “I get my feelings hurt too easily.”

“Rosie…” I murmured, wishing I was there next to her.

“Besides, I think after Duke, I need to be friends with someone first. Otherwise, I don’t know if I’d trust them not to hurt me.”

“But you trust me, right?” I held my breath.

Her response was instant. “Of course, Parker. I’d trust you with anything. You’re my best friend.”

“Okay. Good.” I should have felt relieved, but I rubbed at my chest. At the ache there. “Listen, Audrey, I should probably try to get some sleep.” We’d head back to Castleton on the bus tomorrow, and then we’d do it all again on Wednesday, but at least it was a home game.

It was almost midnight, and we’d been on the phone for a while.

“Right.” Audrey yawned. “Me too. I’ll see you when you get back? Dinner?”

“Yeah,” I responded, knowing I’d never turn her down. “Of course. I’ll text you.”

“Night, Parker,” she said, her voice soft. “Sweet dreams.”

“You too, sunshine.”

Little did she know my dreams that night would be filled with her.

“You’re late,” Audrey said, looking down at the lock screen of her phone. I puffed up my chest at the photo on it of me. It had been over a month since we’d started fake dating, and I liked that she’d kept it. It was a photo of us from my first game of the season, Audrey in her Castleton sweatshirt and me in my jersey after the game. I hadn’t even noticed anyone taking it, but damn, I loved it.

“Sorry,” I mutter, drawing my hand over my face. “Practice ran long, and coach made us run a few extra drills.”

“It’s okay. You’re lucky this is the last practice before dress rehearsals start.”

“Right. Shit.” After this, I’d also have to change before we started.

Audrey patted my shoulder, and I pulled her close, dropping a kiss to her lips. Just in case anyone was watching.

“What was that for?” Audrey whispered.

“Can’t be too careful,” I said with a wink, before heading over to where I was supposed to wait for my cue when the scene began.

Rehearsal went by fast, and by the time we were done, I was completely exhausted, especially when combined with lacrosse practice, and I desperately needed another shower.

But Audrey gave me that face, and I knew I wasn’t going back to the house straight away. Not that I’d complain about spending more time with her.

We walked to the commons, and I reached out, interlacing our fingers together. I’d never held hands with another woman before Audrey. Not even Millie, my ex. But with her, it felt right.

It felt like this was where I was supposed to be.

I picked our adjoined hands up, kissing the top of hers. “You know, we missed our one-month anniversary?”

“Parker.” Audrey rolled her eyes. She looked around, dropping her voice to a quiet whisper. “We can’t celebrate an anniversary. We’re not actually dating.”

“So? Who’s stopping us? The fake date police?”

That made her laugh. “You’re ridiculous.”

“For you,” I agreed.

Audrey’s cheeks turned that adorable shade of pink. “Are you… are you flirting with me?”

“Yeah. Took you long enough to notice, Rosie Girl.” I squeezed her hand.

She was quiet, and I kept her hand in mine as we entered the cafeteria, not letting her go for even a moment.

Gooaaaaal! My fists pumped into the air as the ball I threw made it into the net. The Castleton Chipmunks have scored the winning goal!

“Fuck yeah!” Sam screamed in my ear. “Good goal, man.”

I was suddenly enveloped in a team hug, all of us on the field packed together in one giant huddle. “We did it!” Taylor shouted, all of us in a cluster of celebrating on the field. “Another win!”

I looked over to the stands, trying to find the golden-haired girl who was wearing my jersey. Throughout the game, whenever I’d looked up, I’d found Audrey’s eyes intent on mine. Like she was watching me .

Over the last month since our first game of the season, I’d been trying to teach her more about how lacrosse worked. Obviously, she still didn’t understand everything, but I did my best.

We only had a little over a dozen games total during the season before the playoffs, and each one would impact if we’d make it or not. So far, we’d only lost one, and I hoped we could keep it that way.

The last week had been grueling. Rehearsals were intense, and so were practices, which meant I’d been staying up late to study and get all of my classwork done, barely falling asleep before I had to get up and do it all over again.

But I knew I wouldn’t trade any of it to see my girl as happy as she was running down to the field, her blonde hair flying in the wind as she rushed down to the edge of the field. I opened my arms, and she practically threw herself in them, letting me pick her up and twirl her around.

“You won!!” Audrey screamed, her hands intertwining around my neck. “I’m so proud of you.”

“Damn right, baby,” I said, tightening my grip around her waist. “All of those goals were for you.”

“Parker…” my girl murmured, her eyes darting down to my lips a few times. Like she wanted me to kiss her.

It was fake, but in this moment, it didn’t feel like it. Audrey in my jersey was a sight I’d never be able to get out of my mind. Because it was too fucking right, seeing my name written out across her back.

Letting her body rest against mine, I brought her down to her feet. The toes of her cute pink sneakers sunk into the grass as I cupped her chin, bringing our lips together.

She responded eagerly, molding her body to mine as she kissed me back with as much passion and fervor than I could have ever imagined.

Her tongue dipped into my mouth, and I groaned at the taste. Cotton candy and strawberry soda—always so sweet.

“Audrey,” I groaned, hating that I had to stop this. Thank fuck for the athletic cup I wore, otherwise everyone on the field could see how much she was affecting me. And as much as I wanted it to continue, I didn’t think coach would be too pleased to see me making out with my girlfriend on the field. “We should, um, stop.”

She nipped at my lip as we pulled apart, giving me a tiny nod as she slid down to her feet. It was a reminder of how much smaller she was than me, how I towered over her. “You’re right,” she murmured, though her voice was breathier than it had been before.

“You’re coming to the party tonight, right?” I asked, tugging on the bottom of my jersey down from where it had ridden up on her frame.

“Yeah.” She nodded. “Of course. I wouldn’t miss it.”

“Good.” I grinned. “I’ll see you there, then.”

“I should get going,” Audrey said, turning to look at the field.

I caught an eye of my number on her back, and I was practically salivating. “Mmm.” I bit my lip. “Turn around. Let me see my name on your back, Rosie Girl. Show me whose girl you are.”

I’d never been this possessive over a girl before, but something about her in my jersey really did it for me. I needed to think about something else, so I didn’t have to take a cold shower.

She blushed, but did as I asked. I swept her blonde curls over her shoulder and placed a kiss on the crook of her neck. “I’m yours, Parker,” she whispered.

“Mine,” I agreed.

Because make no mistake… She was mine, and I was going to prove that to her.