Page 53 of All In: The Price We Pay

Say hi to her. And good night.

There are a lot of things I need to think about urgently.

Chapter 13 – Evan

My legs are shaking. Every step is a test to see if they can support my weight.

After ice training, I overdid it at the gym. My mind still won’t settle, even though I’ve done everything I can to calm it down. Too many reps of the same exercise. My thighs and calves are twice as thick as they were yesterday.

Hopefully, I didn’t push it too far. We have a game in two days. To be safe, I’ll take my stretching and mobility training just as seriously tonight.

The question is whether I’ll do this alone or if I’ll have company.

On the way to my apartment, my heart is pounding just like my muscles tremble during bench presses, and I don’t know what to wish for.

Two buildings away from mine, I see from the Uber that paparazzi are standing in front of the entrance.

Shit. Valentina’s last visit to the game has reignited the whole discussion. Which is fine, since I’m back in the media, but I don’t care why.

What I do care about is whether the photographers snap pictures of Parker leaving my house.

It’s now completely clear to me that I desperately want Parker to still be up there. I don’t even want to know why right now.

My longing for him is once again being devoured by the fear that we’ll be found out. After just one night.

I pull my phone out of my pocket and quickly scroll through social media on my personal account. No pictures of Parker.

Either they’re being processed right now or . . .

Without wasting a second, I get out at the corner, walk around the back to the underground parking garage, and hurry up to my apartment from there.

My hands are shaking so much that I can barely open the door. This time, it’s not from physical weakness, but from . . . mental weakness.

The door swings open, and I hear Parker on the phone.

My heart rate drops immediately. My muscles relax, and my mind calms down.

So as not to disturb Parker, I walk into my apartment as quietly as possible.

He’s sitting on the sofa. His tablet is on the table in front of him, the phone to his ear, and the entire contents of his bag are scattered around him.

I stop and watch him. My chest fills with warmth.

It’s the relief that the paparazzi didn’t catch him, because he’s still here. The news from my lawyers that a settlement with Joaquin is imminent also plays its part. The legal team and Derek have promised me that the matter is as good as settled and that I don’t have to worry at all. A small bank transfer will at least take care of this problem.

However, the sight of Parker, completely relaxed on my sofa, throws me back into an age-old fantasy.

My Puckling with me when I come back from practice. No stress, no one around to burst into a dorm room and blow our cover.

The certainty that we can be here together is breathtaking.

That’s all I’ve ever wanted.

With a cute growl, Parker sets the phone aside and turns to me. “Hey. You’re back. Wait, what time is it?” He grabs his phone again and grimaces. “Shit. I was supposed to be gone by now.”

I lean toward him and cup the back of his neck. An inch away from him, I pause and gaze into his eyes. “I’m glad you’re still here.”

His smile is brighter than anything I’ve ever seen.