Page 82 of Power Play

“I was actually talking about our mother. She had me so convinced that our father was controlling Sawyer. So convinced it’s not even funny. But I never knew that she stopped paying for her school. She’s been on her own all this time... everything that happened was because of that horrible fucking woman. But you’re right. Sawyer has always been a good person. She has the best heart, always so giving. I hope she actually does give me a shot.”

“You need to tell her the whole story. She loves you, even if right now she hates you.” I shrug. “But from now on, you’ve gotta leave this off the ice. The Cyclones will be at the game tomorrow. I know it’s your dream to stay in New York, and they’re coming to watch you. They’re interested, so play like the Mad Max we all know and love, and everything will fall into place. Your sister is an amazing woman. I’m sure once she sees you’re making an effort she’ll give you another shot,” I tell him.

“Coach, you know the same goes for you, right?”

“What are you talking about?”

“If you make the effort, she’ll give you another chance,” Max says, standing up.

“No, she won’t. She made her choice, and she chose you, which I understand, you’re her family.”

“But she didn’t choose me. She chose you. She was fucking livid that I threatened your career, which is why she made the call. She wanted to see you follow your dreams. But don’t worry, Cassie has made sure to tell me all about how I’ve fucked everything up.” He looks at me, contemplating his next words. “I hated the idea that someone was closer to her than I was. She was always my best friend, and I lost that. But I guess I also thought you were just fucking her. Now, though? I can see that you’re in love with her.”

“Max, no—” I start, but he cuts me off.

“She’s in love with you too.”

“I’m not so sure that’s true.”

“I am. Everything she did, she did for you,” Max says, like that’s the answer. “I know my sister, she’ll do anything for the people she loves, and you are definitely someone she loves. She gets the same look in her eye when she sees you that she got when she was dancing, like she’s finally found her peace. Fight for her. I won’t stand in the way, and I’ll make sure she knows that. It still doesn’t mean I like the idea of you with my sister, especially because you’re old as fuck.” He winks, knowing I can’t hit him, so I just glare.

“But I know you’ll take care of her, and that’s more than I’ve done in a long time,” he says, sounding disappointed in himself.

“You’re right. I do love her, but sometimes that’s not enough.” Standing up, I walk over to Max, handing him an envelope. “Please find a way to get this to her. It’s important.”

“Give it to her yourself,” he tells me.

“No, this needs to happen right away, and I’m giving her the time she needs to figure out what she wants.”

“Okay, coach,” Max pauses. “Just think about what I said. I shouldn’t have acted the way I did without knowing the whole story.”

“It’s fine. Like I said, just keep it off the ice next time.”

“I will,” Max answers. “But coach? Just remember that she’s worth the fight. It seems like our family might’ve fucked up a lot for her. Just please don’t let it stop you from fighting for her.”

I just nod.

“Let’s go finish out practice,” I tell him, gesturing him out of my office and back to the ice.

Miraculously, the rest of practice went exactly as we needed it to. Which impresses Trevor and Bernard, thank God. Apparently, Max just needed to clear the air a bit and hear things from an outside perspective, because now he’s playing like the crazy son of a bitch we all love.

Through the rest of practice, though, the only thing that came to mind was Sawyer and thoughts of how she was doing.

Why is she still the only thing I can think of, and what the fuck do I do now that I’ve finally realized it?

I’m in love with Sawyer.

22

SAWYER

What are you supposed to do when it feels like your heart has been ripped out and stomped on?

Even worse, what do you do when you’re the one who caused it? I’ve been going on autopilot these last few weeks, barely doing anything outside of my typical routine. I’m either at school, daycare, the club, or in my bed hiding from reality. I haven’t had the energy to socialize with anyone lately, regardless of Gwen and Cassie trying to kidnap me a couple of times.

I don’t want to do anything. I only want these feelings to go away. I’m so confused. So anxious all the time about everything, and I don’t know who to turn to. It’s been weeks since Max found out about me and Rex, and it still hurts the same as it did when it happened. It’s been a week since I ended things with him, and that pain is only getting worse. I feel empty. I miss him. I want to take it all back and be lying in his arms, warm and safe, but I can’t. I’m still not willing to risk Max following through and ruining Rex’s chances for a career with the NHL.

Rolling over, I attempt to fall back asleep, but I hear a knock on my bedroom door, followed by Cassie letting herself in. I’ve been holed up in my bed after I got sent home from Atlantis earlier tonight. Molly was adorable and totally supportive, but I just couldn’t snap out of my bad mood. Molly said people don’t tip well when there’s a sad girl around, so I came home and crawled back in bed. At least here, I can cry without ruining someone’s boner.

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