chapter eleven

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p a r k e r

"Baylor! Parker, you there?" Medical staff surround me as I lay on the ice.

My head is pounding and I feel like the air got knocked right out of my chest. "Dude, are you okay? You look like you got hit by a truck." I hear Deacon say.

I might as well have been hit by one. Dominic, a burly player on the Jets, elbowed me right in the center of my ribs. Then, a puck flew at my helmet. You'd think the visor would have protected me, but it actually left a deep cut above my eyebrow.

I'm escorted onto the bench, while our team doctor examines my face. She tips my head back and presses a gauze onto the cut. I try my best not to wince, but damn, that hurts. I can sense the fear and anticipation of the fans. Some watching me as I get my cut checked out, others looking at the blood left on the ice.

"Baylor," Doc says with a solemn expression. "I don't think you're concussed, but you most likely have a bruised rib. Possibly fractured, but I won't know until I can complete a more thorough examine. You are definitely going to need stitches for that cut." She points to my bleeding eyebrow.

I close my eyes and grunt angrily. "C'mon Doc, the third period is almost over. Can't you just bandage the damn thing."

She gives me an incredulous look. "Parker, you know better than anyone on the team that the safety of all players is the first priority."

"And as the team captain, I also know that I need to be on the ice for my team," I challenge.

"BAYLOR! Get the damn stitches before you faint," Coach Matthew yells. "And get your chest checked out before I fracture your ribs myself," he threatens.

I stand up and look at the scoreboard. "Coach, there's only seven minutes left."

"Don't test me, son." I know this is a battle I won't win.

I stomp furiously into the tunnel leading to the locker room. The crowd boos as I exit because they want me to continue playing. Fucking Dominic. Usually, I'm a level headed and calm person, but right now, I'm feeling particularly violent.

________________________

"I hope you know that cut wasn't minor," Doc tells me as she packs up the first aid kit.

"I didn't feel a thing when my visor cut me or when you stitched me up." I shrug and she let's out a humorless laugh.

"Stubborn athletes," she mutters under her breath.

She leaves right before the rest of my team comes in, cheering loudly. Looks like we took home the victory. "BAYLOR! WE TOOK THE DUB!" I hear my teammates yell.

"Yeah, we did," I smile at Deacon and Miles. "Congrats, boys."

Deacon scoffs, "Just because you missed the last few minutes, doesn't mean you weren't an important asset to the team."

"Thanks, man." I pat Deacon on the back.

"I body slammed Dominic for you," he says.

I chuckle. "Good."

I quickly shower and pack up my things, wanting to see Olivia. My anger completely dissolves when I see my number displayed on her back. I sneak up behind her without warning and wrap my arms around her waist. She startles at first and pushes away slightly.

When she turns around, her frantic eyes soften. "Parker, you scared me." She puts a hand on her chest.

Her eyes fill with concern again. "Are you okay?" She places her tiny palms on my cheek. "I saw the blood on the ice and almost passed out. You were just lying there and I"— I cut her off by smashing my lips onto hers, not so gracefully.

After a few moments, she melts into the kiss. When we pull away, Olivia traces her thumb gently on the bandage covering the stitches. I become aware of the two women behind her with cheesy grins on their face. "Hey, Hayden and Anna."

"Hi, Parker," they reply.

"You took a pretty nasty hit, but otherwise, great game," Hayden states.

"Thanks," I say.

Deacon and Miles join us. "Hey, ladies," D says.

Anna looks at him with starstruck eyes and I stifle my laugh. "Someone has a crush," Olivia whispers into my ear.

I smile. I like Annalise. She'd be good for Deacon.

"We should celebrate at Urban New York," Deacon suggests. "For old time's sake." We all nod in agreement.

"I'm ready to drink!" Miles exclaims. "Sorry, Ollie. I'll drink one for you."

She giggles. "It's okay. I was never much of a drinker anyway."

When we arrive at the bar, the place is packed with Blaze fans celebrating the win, and they shout even louder when we arrive. "It's PARVIA!" A few people yell.

Olivia and I knew it was inevitable that are relationship would get out. Some people are like FBI agents. It's impossible to let anything slide passed them. I'm surprised there weren't any pictures of us at the OB/GYN clinic the other day. People would go off the rails if they found out about that.

The girls head to the booth in the back, while my friends and I get the drinks. When I hand Olivia her Arnold Palmer, I have a flashback of the day we first met. God, I am so grateful for Deacon and Miles wanting to go to the bar that day.

As the rest of the table engages in conversation, I catch Olivia staring intensely at the bar area. When I follow her line of sight, I see a pair of familiar green eyes glaring back at her. She gets up from her stool and walks over to us with an evil smirk accompanying her face. My jaw tightens and my breathing turns erratic with anger.

"Hi, Parker," she says with a seductive smile.

I grind my teeth. "Bianca, what are you doing here? And what the hell were you doing at the game?" I hear gasps from Olivia, Hayden, and Anna.

"Oh, Parker. Didn't I tell you we'd be seeing each other, soon?" Her lips pout.

Olivia's face morphs into confusion. "Parker, you know her?"

"I'm Bianca," she says, before I can respond.

"What do you want from me Bianca?" My temper rising.

"I'd like to speak to you," she says.

I don't budge. "You're going to want to hear this," she states.

I turn to Olivia and kiss her on the cheek. "I'll be right back," I whisper into her ear. She gives me a hesitant nod.

Reluctantly, I stand up and exit the booth, following Bianca out of the bar. We find an empty ally, away from all the people and noise.

"It's been a while," she says. When I don't respond, she adds, "I moved to here, yesterday."

My stomach turns. "Why?" My annoyance very evident.

"Change of scenery," she shrugs.

I roll my eyes. "Mhm."

"Parker, why are you acting so rudely towards me? We used to be in love," Bianca whines.

"In love?" I scoff. "You're delusional."

"No, you're delusional," she counters. "You think that model is going to stay with you? Think again. She's only using you."

I smile at her hypocrisy. "Olivia is not using me. But, I know someone who did," I glare at her.

Instead of denying my statement, Bianca says, "When your fling fails, you'll come crawling back to me."

"Says the one who came crawling back to me after I broke up with you," I point out.

I'm so over her bullshit. I start walking back to the bar's entrance. Before I round the corner, I glance back at her one last time. "Bianca, leave Olivia and I the fuck alone. Don't call me, don't text me, don't come to any of my games. Believe me, there will be consequences." She might be living in the same city as me, but there is no way I'm letting her ruin my life.

I slide back into my seat. "Sorry about that," I tell Olivia.

"What was that about?" She asks worriedly. The table awaits my answer. Deacon and Miles already know my situation with Bianca after the security guards had to physically remove her from the arena, when she claimed she was my girlfriend.

"Bianca is my ex-girlfriend," I tell the girls.

"What!" Annalise says.

I see a hint of jealousy wash over Olivia's features. For some reason, I'm oddly satisfied with her reaction. It shows that she cares.

"She wanted to tell me that she moved here from Boston," I explain.

Hayden brows furrow. "Why'd you break up?"

"She was psycho," I shrug. "Bianca only used me for my status. Honestly, I don't know why I dated her in the first place."

Olivia still looks tense. "Don't worry about her, okay?" I brush a piece of hair behind her ear.

She relaxes a bit and stares at the table deep in thought. When she looks back at me, the worry in her eyes are replaced with something darker. Desire.

Olivia peers back at our table and glances around at everyone. They're talking about Drake's new song or something like that. I can't really focus on anything except Olivia.

She leans in closer to me and places a kiss on the sensitive spot just below my ear. I let out a deep groan. "Olivia," I say in a warning tone.

"It's getting late. How about we go back to my place?" She says shyly.

You don't have to tell me twice. I'm already standing before Olivia can register what's going on. "Hey, guys. It's past midnight. I'm going to take Olivia home," I tell everyone.

They all give me knowing smirks and Olivia's cheeks redden. We bid our farewells and I escort her out of the bar in a hurried pace. I can't concentrate with the tightening of my pants. Calm down, buddy. My emotions are a whirlwind, today. First, I'm mad about my cut, then I'm angered by Bianca's presence. Now, I'm turned on.

When we get in my car, I start my car and book it to her apartment. I don't know what it is about Urban New York, but Olivia and I always seem to end up in this position when we go there. But hey, no complaints on my end.

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