Page 16 of Power Play

I had my wild side. But I liked my sex with one woman and one woman at a time. Otherwise, I couldn’t focus, and when I was with a woman I really, really liked to focus. I did my best work that way.

It flashed, like it flashed every single damn time I thought about sex.

That night in Nashville. When being with Kit hadn’t felt like just sex. It had felt like more.

Immediately, I pushed the memory away and smiled wickedly at the guys gathered around.

“I’ll be an angel,” I said, folding my hands together like I was praying. Around me my team cried bullshit, but they did it with love. The cars were waiting out front to take us to the club. I pulled out my phone and gave it one more shot with my brother.

Me: Come have one drink with me.

Wyatt: No. I’m heading home. I’ll pick you up at your place next Wednesday.

Me: What’s Wednesday?

Wyatt: You better be joking.

Me: Totally joking.

I wasn’t joking.

Wyatt: We’re going to fucking Boston. Remember? Our brother?

Shit. I forgot.

When our mom died at the beginning of the post-season, she’d left a letter telling us about Nick Steffens. Her child from a previous marriage. A child she abandoned. Our mom had plenty of demons. I’d spent my childhood getting to know them and loving her despite them.

But leaving behind a kid? It was awful.

After we read that letter we hired an investigator to try and find him, which took weeks. Nick Steffens had some sealed juvie files and had changed his name when he got adopted. But eventually, we found him in a tiny fishing town up north in Maine called Calico Cove.

Wyatt had convinced him to sit down with us on neutral territory after the season was over.

Wednesday in Boston.

Me: Course I remember. I’ll see you Wednesday. Looking forward to it. You going to stick around Portland for the parade on Saturday?

Wyatt: Fuck no.

Smiling, I put my phone in my pocket, but it immediately buzzed again. I hoped it was my brother changing his mind, but I was shocked to see a text from Kit.

Kit: Nice one.

She was not a woman who should make me smile. But fuck if she didn’t. That cat costume? Come on. She was ridiculous and adorable at the same time.

Me: Nice what?

Kit: Game, asshole. What do you think I’m talking about?

Me: My smile?

Kit: I am not talking about your smile.

Me: What about my ass? I hear it’s pretty great.

Kit: You were insufferable before, but this win is going to make it worse.

Me: Does insufferable mean better? This win is going to make everything better. See you Sunday,

---