Page 74 of Power Play

“It is,” I said carefully. “But she misses you.”

Janice turned her face away and blinked. I was suddenly so sad for her. She was a single mom trying her best, believing she was doing the right thing for them both or she wouldn’t have taken the job.

“Sometimes,” she said, wiping under her eyes. “I think I’ve done this all wrong. And if I’d just been… braver, or more confident in myself, maybe it wouldn’t have to be so hard.”

I had no idea what to say to that.

“I’m sorry, again,” she said with a big fake laugh. “Whew! I’m having a night tonight.”

“Hey,” I said, pulling the screen closer and lowering my voice. “Tess is okay. She’s safe. She’s having fun. Liam is entertaining and I’m…responsible. You have nothing to worry about.”

Janice’s face melted like she might cry for real and I wondered if I could somehow hang up on her before that happened. Then her face morphed from near tears to wide-eyed terror. “Kit,” she breathed. “Behind you.”

“What?” I asked, her fear spreading through the screen to me.

“Don’t look.”

I mean… does anyone not look behind them when someone says that to them? I immediately looked behind myself.

Apparently, the moth the size of my hand had friends. Lots and lots of them.

“All right,” I said, standing up. “I’m going inside.”

“Do it slowly,” she said. “I think they’re listening.”

18

Liam

It was a beautiful morning, so I jogged from our cove to Dillon’s bar, The Gull. It was an epic day, sunlight sparkled all over everything, covering the world in glitter. Why didn’t I take more vacations like this? It was so wholesome. So soul-filling.

I understood now why my brother hid out in his mountain cabin – because he was a recluse who hated people – yes. But fresh air and physical activity in the off season was so much better than being squeezed in a bar or at a club. Dancing and drinking all night until you woke hungover and with half the day gone.

A woman with a baby stroller was jogging the opposite way and we waved at each other.

I wasn’t Wyatt. I liked people. And I really liked small towns where everyone knew each other.

I came to a stop in front of the One-Eyed Gull that did a bang on impression of being an absolute dive bar. Which wasstrange because Dillon was a multi, multi millionaire. He could be running a slick joint.

“Hello?” I yelled, stepping from the bight outside into the dark and dim interior of the bar. It didn’t just look like a dive bar, it felt like one. It was a kitschy nautical themed place with a gigantic mermaid mural on one wall. It was the kind of place that might make you roll your eyes, but settle in for a long, fun night just the same.

“Yep!” Dillon shouted. “Back here.”

Two kids came tearing around the back of the bar and stopped on a dime in front of me. Dillon’s kids, twins.

They looked like holy terrors. Twelve-year-old miniature Dillons in girl and boy form.

“Who are you?” the girl asked.

“Liam,” I said. “Who are you?”

“I’m Anna,” said his daughter with pigtails. “This is Matt.”

“Hey!” Dillon said, coming up from the kitchen with plates full of eggs and bacon. “I let Liv sleep in on Saturday mornings. So the kids and I come over here and have a civilized, quiet, well-mannered breakfast, without fighting or throwing food or making anyone cry, don’t we?” he asked, setting the plates down on the table.

The kids, laughing and shouting at the same time, bombed into the chairs like the floor was lava. Honestly, they were so different from Tess, it was like looking at a different species.

“I actually know who you are! You’re Liam Locke,” said the little girl, before shoveling in a bite full of eggs. She never broke eye-contact. “Nice job with the Stanley Cup,” she said.

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