Page 41 of Power Play

“What? No. Ms. Daniels is her teacher. She talks about her all the time,” he says cluelessly.

“I am Ms. Daniels,” I tell him, slowly trying to catch up. “My name is Sawyer Daniels.”

Wait. If Stella is Rory’s aunt, does that make Rex her dad? Motherfucker.

The look on his face says it all. This situation is fucked. Rex is a dad? And his daughter is Rory? The little girl I’ve gotten so close to these last few weeks.

“How do you not know who her teacher is, Rex? Don’t you have to pick her up and drop her off most days? What? You think that just because you’re the big, bad, new hockey coach there that you can be lazy?” Stella questions.

“No. They do things differently there. A red-headed girl comes out in the mornings to grab her from the car, then brings her out when I call. I guess I just assumed that she was Ms. Daniels,” he mutters.

“Nope. It’s me. And honestly, you’re the only one that does drop off and pick up that way. Everyone else comes in. Claire, the redhead you’re talking about, is nice enough to accommodate you,” I snap.

I wouldn’t believe it if I didn’t see it with my own two eyes, but Rex looks embarrassed. I’m not sure if it’s because he’s an idiot and doesn’t do the drop off and pick up correctly, or if it’s the fact that he didn’t know who I was, but I’m reveling in the fact that he’s not the confident one right now.

“And wait, you’re the hockey coach? Where?” I ask.

“He’s the head coach for the university,” Stella answers for him while Rex continues to stare at me, a shocked look covering his normally neutral face.

“Fuck. Yeah, okay. Well, yeah. This just got awkward.” I rub my hands together, a nervous tick I’ve always done.

“Why? I’m pretty sure there’s no rule about people who work for the same university not fucking. It’s a big campus,” Stella says, confused.

“No, it’s not that. It’s, uh, my brother. He’s on that team,” I reveal.

“Excuse me?” Rex finally speaks up at that. “Name. Now.”

Stella glares at him, and my eyebrows are raised so high, they’re probably in my hair. I’m not sure what he’s used to getting with that tone of voice, but it sure as fuck doesn’t work on me.

“Try that again if you’d like an answer,” I bite back.

Rex sighs, obviously getting irritated. “Sawyer, please. Who?”

“Daniels,” I tell him.

“Max? My fucking captain?” Rex barks, his eyes darkening again, but this time with anger, not lust.

Rex looks uncomfortable, running his hand across his face and slightly pulling on his hair like he’s trying to get a grip on this situation. When he finally looks at me, he’s angry.

“You need to go,” he says in a low, almost pained voice, his eyes matching his tone.

“What?” Stella and I both say in unison.

“I’m not introducing anyone to my daughter. You may know her at daycare, but that’s not her home. She’s not about to see a woman in her house who isn’t family. Besides, there’s no way I can hang out with one of my players sisters. It’s just fucking wrong.”

“Rex, you can’t—” Stella starts to argue, but he cuts her off with the raise of his hand.

Standing up, I decide I’m over his tantrum. “Don’t worry, Stella. He’s not offending me. I really don’t care about Max. That fucker can eat rocks for all I fucking care for all the shit he’s put me through, I use the word brother loosely. As for you, Rex? I get that you have it in your head that you need to keep everyone at arm’s length to protect your daughter, but you don’t have to be such a brute about it. I wish you lived up to the version Rory shared with me. Instead, you’re just a dick, acting like I’m in the wrong.

He has the decency to look apologetic for a moment, but it doesn’t change anything. “Sawyer, don’t make this more than it is. We had fun, but that’s all it was. You have your life and your two very conflicting jobs to keep you busy,” he says.

That alone stings worse than anything else he’s said. Having him use my second job against me, like I should feel guilty about it, stings. If anything, I thought he would understand that I’m doing everything I can to follow my dreams.

“Fuck you, Rex.” Grabbing my stuff, I walk out, ignoring Rex entirely. I put my shoes on before giving Stella a quick hug and walking out. “One day you’re going to kick yourself when you’re all alone in your bed with no one to share memories with, because that’s all we were doing. Having fun, but even that’s too much for you.”

With that, I slam the door. On him and any emotions he was beginning to awaken in me.

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