Page 95 of The Power Play

“I love you, fuck I love you. I’ll give you everything in the world, be whoever you need whenever you need me.Fuck, you really love me?”

She smiles brightly up at me. “I really love you. So fucking much, Char–”

I crash my mouth onto hers before she’s finished saying my name and I kiss her like she’s the air I need to breathe. She kisses me back with the same intensity. She breaks us apart before I’m ready and holds her hand to my chest as I try to chase her lips once again.

“I’m scared,” she admits.

“I’m scared too, but isn’t it better for us to be scared together?”

This time when I take her mouth once again, I don’t stop. Neither does she and we don’t care to break apart for anything for the rest of the day. I can’t help but think about the fact that this could be the rest of our lives. And that is the one thought thatdoesn’tscare me. Because I know she’s it for me. Audrey was always going to be it for me.

37

When I show up to Chandler’s house the next day while the guys are at practice, I think I scare the shit out of her. I call out her name the second I step foot inside and she comes running down the stairs with her long brown hair a mess, only wearing a large t-shirt that I assume is Brent’s.

“What?!” she exclaims clearly panicked.

“I told Charlie I love him.” Even saying the words out loud to her surprises me and the panic is still lingering, but I’m trying to push through.

Her draw drops, “The L word?!”

“I’m able to say it now. Kind of. Most of the time. It really depends. I freaked out at first, but I said it. I fucking said it, Chan!”

“Okay, wait, wow, hold on, you’re going to tell me everything.”

I follow her upstairs into her room so she can put on some pants while I start the story, starting with how my grandmashowed up and ending with the sex and love filled day Charlie and I had yesterday.

My best friend, ever the romantic, is swooning the entire time. By the time I’m finished she’s beaming at me, and I swear there are tears starting to form in her eyes.

“Don’t you dare start crying,” I scold.

“I’m not,” she lies, waving me off. “I’m just so fucking happy for you, I meanfinallythis happened.”

“Hey, I’ve been happy with my life without a man,” I jest.

“I know you have, that’s not what I mean. You totally don’t need to be in a relationship to be happy, but I’m glad that you’re finally accepting love. This is huge and you deserve the world.”

Now I feel like I’m about to cry. “Do not make me cry, Chandler Hart, I swear.”

With that we both laugh through the tears we end up shedding because it’s impossible to hold them back. I’ve always been so thankful for her as my best friend and chose her as my family a while ago. She’s the sister I never had, and I know she would be with me through anything and everything. My true ride or die. Even if I showed up here heartbroken for the first time in my life, she would’ve gotten me through it. Because that’s what we do for each other, and nothing could ever change that.

I also text my support group chat with the massive update.

Audrey: I told him I love him.

Jade: OMG!

Skylar: Congratulations. Lacey is locked down?!

Audrey: Never thought I’d see the day.

Jade: He must be something special.

Skylar: His dick must be something special. Does he have a brother?

Audrey: No brother. He does have teammates, though.

Jade: Teammates?! Wait, who is this guy?

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