Page 42 of Power Play

Four hours and countless mimosas later, I’ve recounted the entire conversation to Cassie, who honestly seems to be more in shock than I am. She stares at me once I finish telling her everything that’s happened.

“Wait. So, you’re telling me that you slept with him last night and today he kicked you out?” she asks.

“Yeah, pretty much. The worst part is that the man can fuck. He’s a God in bed. He did things I’ve only ever read about,” I muse.

“Sawyer, no sex talk yet.” Cassie holds her hand up, stopping me right as the waitress comes over with our food.

We ordered appetizers right away, like five of them. All of them different combinations of cheese and carbs. We’ve got cheese bread, cheese dip, and some jalapeño dip with chips, but obviously, we need them all.

“I’m still in shock that the man kicked you out. Like that he actually told you to leave,” Cassie exclaims.

“Yep. Me too. When we woke up, everything was fine. His sister got there and said Rory was on her way up with their mom, and he told me to leave.” I shrug.

“I mean, maybe he freaked out about his daughter seeing you and just overreacted. Have you thought about giving him some time and maybe he’ll realize what a dumb shit he was?” she asks, giving him the benefit of the doubt.

“That’s all fine and dandy, Cassie. I would have been fine if that’s all it was. But it doesn’t change that he then went on to tell me we were just a hookup for fun and that I should just go be happy with my two ‘very conflicting’ jobs. That’s beyond just overreacting. That’s taking shots at my character. I’ve dealt with that shit enough from my own family, and if I’m not going to deal with it from them, I’m sure as hell not going to take it from a guy. No matter how good he fucks.”

Cassie just stares at me in between bites of her gooey cheese bread before downing the rest of her drink. We may like to work out and stay in shape, but we don’t sacrifice bread or mimosas for it. Or cheese.

I don’t trust anyone who doesn’t like cheese.

“But this doesn’t sound like him. Yeah, he’s a grumpy dick, but he doesn’t seem like a legit bad dude,” she says.

“I didn’t think so either. He was always sarcastic and had this dry sense of humor, but for some reason, I really connected with him. He may have been a dick, but he wasn’t nasty about it. I mean, I shouldn’t care what one guy thinks, right? Especially not someone almost fifteen years older than me. That’s on me for going after someone who’s a dad,” I sigh.

“Um, don’t shame him for being older, especially when he’s a god in bed. Besides, thirty-seven isn’t old, and you may be twenty-four, but you’re mature.”

“I still haven’t told you the worst part,” I tell her, not sure I’m ready to say it. It kinda gives me the ick, but it’s also just more drama I don’t want to deal with.

“There’s more?”

“I mean... yeah. He’s a hockey coach and ex-NHL player.”

“Okay? I’m not following,” she says.

“He’s a hockey coach at Brooklyn U. For Max’s team,” I choke out.

“Well... fuck. That could be awkward.”

“Really, you think?” I deadpan.

Of course, it would be awkward. My brother is... interesting to say the least. There are many ways to describe him but overbearing comes to mind first. Followed quickly by controlling, manipulative, uncompromising, and unsupportive. In the background, there’s whisperings of him being sweet, loving, thoughtful, and just a pain in the ass little brother, but those voices are much quieter.

I don’t think those things are entirely his fault, though. My dad left a while ago, and after he did, my mom sort of fell apart. I was dancing all the time and getting ready to try out at Juilliard. I pretty much avoided my house and my mom like the plague. With Max being home, he took it upon himself to be strong for her and help her put herself back together.

After I got injured, I kind of fell off the deep end for a while and made a lot of questionable choices with drugs, and alcohol, and partying. He decided he was the man of the house and tried to make those choices for me, but I quickly put an end to that. Max also convinced my mom that I was going to throw my life away by trying to get a business degree to open my own studio. She believed him enough that she stopped paying for college—hence the second job. They wanted me to get a teaching degree and go work at the private school my mom teaches at in the city.

“What did he say when he found out?” Cassie asks.

“Honestly, he didn’t really give a shit. He was more concerned about getting me out of the apartment before Rory saw me. I’m sure it’s just another reason for him to be a jerk to me if he were to really think about it. More of a reason to not try and communicate with him,” I tell her.

“Okay. I have another question...” Cassie gives me a look that tells me I’m going to really hate her question, but she’s smart and tops off my mimosa before continuing. She knows me well.

“Definitely don’t like the sound of that,” I groan.

“Have you thought about talking to Max? Maybe answering one of the many messages he sends you? I know you’re pissed, and he’s trying to control you, but he’s still your brother,” she says softly.

“Yup. And my father’s technically still my father, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to show up at his house for dinner next week.”

---