Page 71 of The Power Play

“Connections.”

He chuckles, but it lacks any real humor. “Are you going to answer anything I ask you?”

“Maybe if you ask something I feel like answering.”

He’s right in front of me now, close enough that I could reach out and touch him, but I don’t. I keep my hands down by my sides, gripping the top of the boards that I’m sitting on.

“Why are you here, Audrey?” he asks softly, and I can see the underlying pain he’s hiding.

“I was concerned,” I answer quickly and then deflect. “What about you? Playing an entire game wasn’t enough hockey for you?”

He shakes his head, “I guess not.”

I give him a pointed look since he didn’t really answer me.

He sighs, “I had a lot on my mind, and I know the only way I’ll be able to sleep tonight is to work myself to complete exhaustion.”

“What do you have on your mind except the badass win you guys had tonight?”

He skates forward the short distance so he’s able to touch me. He’s standing between my legs, throws his gloves onto the floor behind the boards before his hands find my arms. He traces the exposed skin on my shoulder that’s not covered by my sweater. Then skates the tips of his fingers down my arms.

“Tabitha showed up tonight and bombarded me right before the game.”

My breath hitches, but I do my best to hide it. I can’t help the fact that my mind immediately goes to the negative thoughts. Clearly, he has so much on his mind because he is going to have to tell me we can’t do this anymore and I’ll have to find anotherplace to stay because he’s getting back together with his ex. She can give him a future I can’t.

And I can’t help the disappointment I feel at this possibly being what he’s going to tell me.

“What did she want?” I whisper, just as his hands reach mine. I let go of my grip and he laces our fingers together.

“She wanted what she has always wanted. Which is something I can’t give her,” his eyes meet mine, and there’s emotion there I’m refusing to read too much into.

“What happened?”

“I told her off, she’s been trying to contact me for the last couple weeks, but I blocked her. I wantnothingto do with her, I want you to know that.”

I nod, the whoosh of relief flows through me. “I know.”

He doesn’t look at my face as he talks, just watches our hands, sliding our fingers against each other’s. “After seeing her I just feel so…I don’t know…out of control, I guess. I thought the game would help, but it didn’t, and I just needed to come here.”

“I get that,” I say simply.

Charlie’s eyes snap up to mine, “You do?”

Nodding, “Yeah, I know how it feels to be out of control which is why I’ve found outlets to gain that control back.”

“Like what?”

I bite the corner of my bottom lip. “Well, the best way for me to regain it is to work it through with someone else,” I slide my hands up his arms. “Physically.”

His Adam’s apple bobs on a swallow, “I could try that.”

“You could.” My hands reach his shoulders and I’m about to move them back down, but he closes the minuscule distance between us, so his groin is pressed against me between my spread legs, his forehead drops down to mine.

“Are you volunteering?”

“Possibly.”

Charlie’s lips land on mine, and instantly I can feel the urgency there, he desperately wants this, I can tell. I meet his urgency with my own because as much as I’m against anything progressing with us, I know this part I can do. This part is what I’m good at. This is what he needs.

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