DAKOTA

I'm here

It's cold hurry your cute butt up

Kota, I've been out here for a whole minute I think I'm getting frostbite

The only thing that can be heard is my sock-covered feet padding the floor as I suppress my giggle, rushing to the front door. The sun isn't up yet, but here I am baking a fucking cake. Not just any basic cake, because Brooks is anything but basic, but a birthday cake that's shaped like a stack of pancakes.

That boy is lucky I love him.

Parker doesn't even wait for me to open the door, pushing it open as soon as the lock audibly clicks. "Babe, you're hoarding all my hoodies I have none left," he laughs, coming in wearing just sweatpants and a t-shirt, kissing my forehead before jogging to my room.

I don't even try to defend myself, knowing it's the truth. I 'accidentally' forget one every time I go to the house, they're just so much comfier than mine and they smell like him.

I head back to the kitchen and Parker comes down a few minutes later, wearing a hoodie and arms full of his stolen clothes. "How much did you take from me?" I sadly question.

"Don't worry, my pouty girl, I left you a couple of things." He sets the hoodies down, coming over and wrapping me up in a bear hug now that he's warm. "Goodmorning," he takes my face in his hands, pressing his pink lips on mine and giving me a proper hello.

He steps back, hands on his hips as he looks around the counter. "So, where can I start?"

I try so hard to keep it in, I really do, but laughter escapes my lips. "I'm sorry," I cover my mouth as Parker stares at me, confused. "Park," one of my hands grabs his, "you make a mean brownie but there's no way in hell I'm letting you touch my cake."

"Why not?"

"It took you five minutes to ball up one cookie a few weeks ago, I have less than two hours to sculpt and decorate a cake." I usher him toward one of the barstools, "sit. I'll give you all of the cake scraps."

~

"Just be careful, don't slip with it."

"Kota, leave the poor guy alone I think he can carry an eight-pound cake," Ellie laughs at my stressed demeanor.

"You're right, I'm sorry," I sigh, rubbing a hand over Parker's muscular back.

"I just watched you spend the last hour and a half perfecting this cake, I get why you're stressed," Parker waves off my concern. "But I'm taking your statement as a compliment to my muscles, Ellie," my boy, always a little cocky.

I'm actually so proud of this cake. It was my first time doing a realistic food cake, and I fucking nailed it, down to the fake butter on top.

I take Parker's keys, unlocking the door to the house quietly. "I'll go get Connor, you both go wait by Brooks' room."

Connor has a thing for waking me up by jumping on top of me, crushing my lungs in the process. So, that's exactly how I decide to wake my sleeping beauty up this lovely morning.

"Fuck," he grunts, eyes shooting open. "What the hell, Kota?"

I plop a wet kiss on his cheek, "come on, we're about to wake up Brooks."

Connor groans as we walk down the hallway, muttering a "your girlfriend is psychotic," to Parker who just chuckles.

Ellie opens the door as she starts to sing 'happy birthday,' the rest of us join in right after.

Brooks' smile covers his entire face as he pulls Ellie and me onto the bed, wrapping an arm around each of our shoulders as he blows out his candles. "Happy international Brooks' day everyone!" He jumps up, takes the cake from Parker's hands, and leads everyone toward the kitchen.

As he cuts into the cake, Parker comes to stand behind me, wrapping his arms around my shoulders. "You did a great job," he nods towards the cake, "I'm proud of you."

My heart swells at the compliment, and I place a light kiss on his forearm, squeezing his bicep. "Thank you, baby."

"No no no, back away Cadell," Brooks points the knife at the boy clinging to me. "She's mine today, go hug Connor if you need affection that badly." Parker steps away from me, wrapping an arm around Connor's waist and leaning his cheek against his shoulder.

Connor plays along, causing Ellie and me to break into laughter, watching as he brings a hand up to rub the back of Parker's head.

The two release eachother as I slide them each a piece of cake, digging in immediately.

"Kota, I meant to ask," Connor mumbles with a full mouth. "Have you heard back from any apprenticeships?"

"Apprenticeships?" Parker looks at me, puzzled.

It would be impossible for me to open my own bakery right out of college, I don't have the professional experience or funds for anything like that. So, I'll need to find someone who can help me get to that point in my career. I've been applying for apprenticeships all over the country, unsure of exactly where I'll want to be after I graduate.

I think Connor has always assumed I'd follow him to whatever city he ends up in after getting called up. For a long time, I would have agreed with the assumption, not wanting to be separated from my best friend. It's just that now, I'm not so sure of what I want.

I also haven't told Parker about any of it. I'm not trying to hide it from him, he just has so much to think about between hockey and being at a new school. The last thing he needs is to worry about a possible future long-distance situation when we just started dating.

"No nothing serious yet," I give him a tight-lipped smile, "keeping my options open." I look at him, not letting my eyes drift to my confused boyfriend. "Oh wow look at the time, we need to get moving if you want to be at practice on time," I glance down at my non-existent watch.

"You're so weird," Connor laughs at me as his eyes flicker to the microwave clock. "Oh shit, you're right though, come on Brooks we need to leave in ten."

The two boys jump up and head upstairs, Ellie close behind. "I need to use the restroom before we leave," she gives me a pointed glance, eyes flitting to the boy next to me.

Parker places his hands on my waist, turning my body to face his. "Can I ask now or would you rather me do it later?"

"Later, please," I breathe out. "I'll tell you all about it."

He softly kisses my forehead, "no rush, I'm only curious." He pulls out bodies flush against one another, smiling brightly down at me, "I'm excited for you to show off your new skating skills."

"You seem to have a lot of faith in me. We'll be lucky if I can even get onto the ice myself," I joke.

"And I promise not to laugh if you can't," Parker throws back at me, that low chuckle I love so much filling the empty kitchen.

"What a gentleman."

"My mama raised me well," he pauses for a second. "I'm excited for you to meet her next week," he squeezes my hips.

"I'm excited to meet her. Both of them," my voice is sincere. "I wasn't kidding the first time, though, I want to see about getting myself a bedazzled jersey."

"I'll see what I can do," he grins, releasing me as our friends come back downstairs, ready to leave.

~

"When do you hear back about your applications?" I ask Ellie, raising my voice slightly so she can hear me over the sounds of the boys slowly shuffling off the ice, practice coming to an end.

Practice is normally a closed event, but Coach has a soft spot for Brooks, which is why Ellie and I are bundled up in the bleachers. I've always loved getting to sit in on the occasional practice, there's a much lighter feeling to the room when nobody is worried about winning a game.

"This weekend," her voice is laced with nerves. "It's not my acceptance yet, just interviews." Ellie has worked her ass off trying to get into vet school, and I'm excited to watch all her hard work finally pay off.

"What if you get an interview for all of them?"

"Unlikely, but I love the possibility of having options." She nudges my shoulder, "who knows? You and I could still end up in the same city if that happened."

I scoot closer to her, interlinking out arms. "Fuck the guys, El, let's just stay roommates forever," I'm only half-joking. We became best friends instantly on freshmen move-in day, only separating when we go home for the holidays.

"Part of me wishes we could all just stay here forever," I sigh. "We should probably start heading down," I look to the three boys waving us over like idiots, acting as if we're miles away.

A body slams into mine as I turn the corner to the tunnel. "Oh my god I'm so sor-" my words end abruptly as my eyes meet Lincon's.

"All good, can I talk to you for a second?" He scratches the back of his neck, almost looking...nervous?

I glance at Ellie, who is subtly shaking her head side to side at me. "El, go ahead, tell the boys I'll be right there," I gesture towards the rink.

No part of me wants to be alone with Lincon, but if he wants to talk that badly I'd rather it happen when the boys are in the vicinity.

"What do you want?" My voice is cold, arms crossed against my chest.

He quickly glances toward the end of the tunnel before turning back to me, "I just wanted to apologize for what happened last year."

I scoff, "it feels a little late for that, Lincoln."

"I know it is," he briefly pauses, looking for the right words. "Listen, I've changed a lot, please believe that."

"No, you listen to me," I shove a finger into his pad-covered chest. "You humiliated me, made me feel like a piece of fucking meat. I will never believe your half-assed apology, try it on someone else." I turn away from him, needing to leave before I do something I regret.

I don't even take two steps before Parker flies off of the ice, headed straight for Lincoln and me. "What the fuck did I tell you, Ricard." Ellie obviously told him why I wasn't with her.

I quickly step in front of him, placing my hands on his biceps. "Not today, Parker, and not here. Please." Parker's narrowed eyes remain on Lincoln, though he lets me push him backward, guiding us to the player's bench.

"I told him to stay away from you," Parker's voice is rough.

"And I took care of it," I place my hands on the sides of his hardened face. "It's Brooks' birthday, now can you please take advantage of the few minutes he'll let us spend together and help me put on my skates?"

Parker's eyes finally meet mine as he nods slowly.

"Thank you," I place a quick kiss on his lips before I sit down, watching as Connor helps Ellie next to me.

Parker's features remain tight as he bends down, pulling off my shoes and ever so slowly lacing up my skates, tapping the side of my calf when he's finished.

"Come on Kota, let's see what you can do," Brooks yells at me, standing by the net with Connor and Ellie.

"I'm coming, I'm coming," I nervously turn towards my still brooding boyfriend. "Slap a smile on your face and help me get out there so I don't bruise my ass," I lightly slap his padded butt for good measure. Definitely not just because I wanted to touch it.

"You're right I'm sorry, let's go, Bambi," Parker smirks, stepping back onto the ice while holding his hands out to me.

I laugh at his attempt at an insult, placing my hands in his before tentatively stepping over the threshold. Parker's hands tighten on mine as I start to wobble, pulling me closer to him just in case he needs to grab my waist.

"You're cheating," Connor yells at us, "let her go."

Parker looks at me kindly, "do you want me to keep holding on, or do you think you've got it?"

"I've got it, just stay close," I remove my hands from his, slowly moving towards the group as he moves to be right behind me.

"Well I'll be damned, look at you go, Kota," Brooks gives me a proud smile.

"It was all me," Parker boasts from behind me.

I go to slap a hand at him, but the quick movement causes my body to lean backward, right into his waiting arms. "As I said," he smiles, "all me."

The boys quickly set us up with sticks and pucks, Brooks moving to his spot in front of the net. For whatever reason, his big birthday wish was to have Ellie and I come and play around with him after practice. We've never even played street hockey before, so he has no idea I actually have a shot at getting one past him.

I urge Ellie to go first, watching as he stops her puck with ease. He mock flexes, smirking at me under his mask as I step up to go next. Parker and Connor grin at eachother, knowing what's about to happen.

I give Brooks a nervous look, wanting to fake him out a bit before I send a slapshot straight past him and into the net.

"What the fuck?" His voice is high-pitched as he turns back to us, jaw dropped. He looks at Connor and Parker, who are leaning on eachother, laughing loudly. "You two assholes set me up! Go again!"

I laugh, shooting a few more at Brooks, not hitting as hard so I don't bruise his ego. It is his birthday after all. The boys step up next, allowing Ellie and I to stand back and talk for a couple of minutes.

"So what did Lincon want?"

I roll my eyes, "he apologized for the bet."

"Bullshit. Anyone with half a brain knows he'd never be sorry for that," she scoffs.

"Trust me I know, I told him off," I look back to the guys just as Parker steps up to take a shot.

It feels like time slows down as I watch the puck go past Brooks, hitting the glass behind him, before coming straight at Ellie and me. My hands fly to my face, not fast enough, just as the puck slams into my face.

"Dakota!" Ellie reaches for me as I lean forward, hand covering my nose and mouth.

Connor is next to me in an instant, placing a hand under mine to help catch the blood seeping through my fingers. "Holy shit," he sounds breathless. "Come on, the athletic trainer should still be here." He and Ellie guide me off of the ice towards the offices, just as my vision turns spotty.

"Don't just stand there, Parker! Get the fuck over here and help us," is the last thing I hear before I see black.