DAKOTA

Parker is heavy. I knew he had a lot of muscle, but I underestimated just how much weight it adds to his frame. It doesn't help that he's draped over me, using me as a human crutch in his drunken state.

"Baby," he whispers as I try to get him upstairs. "Wanna fuck?"

My head drops, and I can't suppress my laughter, patting his chest. "I don't think tonight's the night for that, Park."

He groans in annoyance, adding even more weight to my side. Connor and Brooks held back on the alcohol, but those idiots ran inside so they wouldn't have to deal with my plastered boyfriend. They're bunking in Brooks' room tonight so Ellie can sleep in Connor's.

After five grueling minutes, my legs are on fire when I drop Parker onto his bed. He lays there half-asleep as I pull off his shoes, shirt, and pants, making sure he'll be comfortable. I also selfishly don't want his jeans to be rubbing against me all night, knowing he'll want to cuddle.

I quickly change and go to the bathroom before settling under the covers next to him, making sure to keep my distance so I don't accidentally wake him. Shitty plan, though, because the second I get comfortable, his big hand wraps around my waist and hauls me into him until my chest is on his.

"Kota," his eyes are closed as he speaks.

"Yes?" I rub my thumb over his cheek.

"Do you know you're my best friend?"

"No way," I mock gasp. "You're my best friend, too."

"I don't want you to leave me," he slurs.

"I promise I'll be here when you wake up," I smile at his needy self.

"No," he frowns. "I don't want you to leave me when I go to play hockey."

My smile drops, "what?"

"Don't follow Connor when he leaves. I want you to come with me instead," his voice drifts off at the end, and he begins lightly snoring.

He and I only briefly talk about this. We've never had an actual conversation about my future plans, worried one of us will end up upset.

I watch his face for the next few minutes, needing to make sure he's really sleeping this time. Once I come to the conclusion he's out for good, I scramble out of bed, rushing to Connor's room and bursting in.

Ellie sits up fast, holding a hand to her chest. "Jesus fuck, Kota. You scared the shit out of me."

Ignoring her, I move forward until I'm next to her, laying on my back. "Parker just told me he wants me to follow him when he's called up."

She's quiet for a second, looking down at me. "You're surprised?"

My eyes flick to hers, brows furrowed. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"Dakota," she laughs lightly. "You two are basically attached at the hip, and you're absolutely obsessed with eachother. Of course, he wants you to come with him."

"My brain feels like it's spinning," I groan.

Her comforting hand lands on my shoulder. "I know we haven't gone into detail about your offers, but I think you need to tell me. You've been keeping it all to yourself, and it's only going to make things more complicated."

She's right. I know she's right. How do you tell your other half that you may be separated next year?

"Think of this as practice for when you tell Con," she voices my worries.

"I've got five offers. Nashville, Tampa, New York, Detroit, and LA," I say quickly.

I see her jaw drop from the corner of my eye. "Offers? I thought you were just talking to people?"

"Offers," I breathe out heavily. "Offers that I have to decide on by January 5th."

She lays down next to me, our shoulders touching. "Holy shit."

"I know."

"That's less than a month away."

"I know, Ellie," my words come out harsher than intended. "Fuck, I'm sorry."

"It's okay, Kota," she rolls onto her side, facing me. "Do you want to sleep here tonight?"

"Please," my voice is strained as I hold back tears.

I feel like I just fell asleep when I feel my body being lifted off of the bed. My eyes shoot open in panic, but I relax when I realize Parker is holding me, and it's now light outside.

"Goodmorning?"

He glances down at me but continues walking until we're back in his room and I'm dropped on the bed. "I woke up and couldn't find you," he mumbles into my neck, fully laying on top of me.

My nails drag up and down his back. "Sorry, bub. I needed to talk to Ellie and accidentally fell asleep in there."

Another half-truth for the pile.

"My body feels broken, baby."

"That'll happen when you drink enough for the entire bar," I whisper, not wanting to hurt his head. "Want me to go grab you Tylenol?"

"Not yet, I just want to snuggle you for a while longer."

I lightly kiss his head in response but reach over to grab his remote so I can watch TV. He starts snoring again only a few minutes later, and I find myself studying his face. He has some old scars, no doubt from hockey, and small smile lines around his mouth.

If I do decide that I want to stay with Parker next year, I'm going to have to make a guess of where he'll end up when picking my program. Right now, I know he's had Nashville show interest, but that's the only location we have in common.

The last thing I'd want is a long-distance relationship on top of the job. We'd probably end up playing phone tag every day, and I have no idea what my schedule will look like, so there's also a plausible chance I'd never be able to make the trip to visit him.

No matter what, we should have at least another three months before he's called up, which is why I force myself to turn my attention back to the TV for the next hour until Ellie texts me saying she's ready to go.

"Park," I say softly, tapping his shoulders. "I have to leave."

"No," he groans, nuzzling his head further between my breasts. "Stay."

Reaching over to the nightstand, I grab a water bottle and Tylenol from his drawer. "I'm sorry, El needs to get back and she's my ride. Here, take these."

He flips onto his back, leaving his head propped up on my boobs, and opens his mouth. I laugh at his clinginess, popping the pills into his mouth before lifting the water to his lips. When he's finished, those green eyes bore into me. "I'll drive you back later if you stay."

"Thank you, but I have new recipes I need to try, and I was hoping to hit the gym while she does her interviews." He pouts as I finish my sentence, leaning into my hand as I run my fingers through his thick hair.

Managing to escape his tight hold, I slip out of bed and change quickly, stealing back one of his crewnecks. He watches me from the bed while I do so, and even shifts his body so he can continue to watch me in the bathroom as I brush my teeth and wash my face.

Grabbing my wallet, I move back to the bed. "Text me when you manage to feel human again, and you can take more Tylenol in a couple of hours if you need it."

He grunts in response, sitting up and pulling my head down to his. "You're the best, in case I haven't told you enough."

I smile, pushing our lips together for a moment, but pull away when his tongue tries to invade my mouth. "Nope, you have morning breath and I have to go."

He flops onto his back dramatically, "I take my previous statement back."

"Goodbye, Parker," I sing-song, heading to the door.

"Can you hear my heart breaking, baby?" He calls out.

"Loud and clear," I close the door behind me, laughing.

~

At the gym, I just end up walking for an hour after a light yoga class because my muscles are screaming from having to basically carry my two-hundred-pound boyfriend last night.

I'm cleaning my machine when I see someone approaching from the corner of my eye. Glancing up, my whole body tenses, and I visibly flinch when I realize it's Lincoln.

"Dakota," he says carefully.

"Leave me alone," my words are cold.

His eyes close for a moment, "I really need to talk to you."

"You lost that privilege."

"Dakota, I wouldn't be coming to you if it wasn't important. Just give me five minutes."

Ignoring him, I turn away and start walking toward the exit.

"I know about Josh cornering you," his sentence makes me halt.

"What?" I slowly turn back to him as he comes closer again.

"I know he cornered you at the game before break. I heard him talking about it the other day."

"Three minutes," I cross my arms. He tries to step closer but I hold up a hand, "don't."

He puts his hands up, nodding. "I was at a part on frat row the other night and heard him telling some of his buddies about it. I also heard him say that he was planning on making his move after winter break when the team is on an away series."

"Why should I believe you?"

"Dakota, why would I lie about this?"

I raise an eyebrow.

"Okay, was I an asshole in the past? Yes, but I'm not going to sit back and watch this all happen," he stresses.

Biting my lip in thought, I look anywhere but his face. This isn't something I'd put past Josh, so I'm torn. Regardless, this is something that needs to stay between Lincoln and me, I'm not going to watch Connor, Brooks, and Parker lose their shit if they catch wind of this.

"Okay," I finally breathe out. "Thank you."

"Be careful," he warns, walking away.

Great, just another thing to worry about.

~

I haven't heard from Parker since earlier, which is weird, but I'm sure Connor or Brooks would have texted me if he was still feeling under the weather.

But I'm also whipping up some muffins just in case he is.

The banging noise starts the second I take them out of the oven and I jump a mile, almost throwing them. I see El fly past the kitchen, running for the door.

"Kota! It's for you," she yells.

She walks back down the hall, giving me a weird look as she does. I'm confused until Parker rounds the island and kisses me hard. I'm not insane, so I kiss him back with just as much urgency, even letting him feel me up a little.

A few minutes later, he pulls back breathless, lips red and swollen. "Hi."

"You moving in or something?" I joke, nodding to his suitcase.

"The Predators just invited me down for the weekend," he grins.

My jaw drops, "what?"

"It's obviously not an official visit or anything, but they want me to come to watch practice and a game."

"Holy shit," I jump into him, wrapping my arms around his neck. "Parker, that's amazing!"

He hugs me back tight, "my flight is in two hours, so I have to leave now. I just wanted to tell you in person first."

I scramble back down to the floor, running around the kitchen to box up a couple of muffins. "For the road," I thrust them into his arms.

"Fuck, I lo-" he pauses. "I like you so much, Kota. I'll be back in three days."

A smile splits my cheek as I push him toward the door. "Go before I start crying."

He laughs at my teary eyes, kissing me again quickly, "I'll call you when I land."

I lean on the doorframe, watching him walk backward down the hall as we continue to stare at eachother. "I'll be waiting for it."

The second he disappears from my view, the past few minutes become clearer in my mind. Did he almost tell me he loved me? I'm sure it's my brain just messing with me, but I swear I heard it.

I don't think I stop smiling for the next few hours, that is until he never ends up calling. I only know he's made it when I see a picture of Bridgestone Arena on his Instagram story.