Page 84 of The Power Play

As we start the third, tensions are a bit high since we are tied, but it continues to be a clean game. We end up going into overtime, and the first three players on the ice are myself, Collee, and Dumont.

I end up mishandling the puck and losing it, which gives the other team a prime opportunity once they have possession. Onethey take full advantage of and Colver isn’t able to save the puck as it sails through his five hole.

It feels shitty to be going into a break with a loss, especially since we’ve been on such a winning streak. No one ends up giving me shit for my mistake, even though it was the one to cost us the game. I know Colver feels shitty about his part too, but I shoulder all the blame since they wouldn’t have even gotten the puck if it weren’t for my fuck up.

“It’s all good, Mann, just enjoy the next couple days. We are still having a helluva season,” Collee tells me once we are back in the locker room.

“Thanks,” I grumble, showering and changing quickly so I can get out of here and meet up with Audrey.

By the time I’m done I see her standing in the hallway talking to Chandler. I immediately smile just at the sight of her, even with her back turned she has so much power over me, and I don’t think she even knows it.

Chandler clearly sees me approaching and tries to smother a smile when I press a finger to my lips to signal that I don’t want her saying anything. They continue their conversation and I only hear the tail end when Audrey says something like, “But he looked good–” I cut off the rest of what she was saying by wrapping my arms around her middle and lifting her up. She squeals in my hold before I set her down.

I spin her around in my arms and she looks up at me with shock and confusion while Chandler is laughing behind her.

“What was that?” she asked, smiling slightly.

I dip my head closer to hers so she’s the only one that can hear me, “I needed to touch you.”

Her eyes flare with heat, a look I’m so intimately familiar with from her at this point and I never want it to stop.

She lowers her voice as well, “You never need an excuse to touch me, and you know that.” She winks.

“Sorry about your loss,” Chandler says, drawing my attention from where it was completely focused on Audrey’s eyes.

I didn’t even notice McQuaid join Chandler’s side.

“It’s okay, Bunny, nothing you can’t help make better,” he smacks her on the ass, and she yelps before hitting his chest with the back of her hand as he chuckles.

Collee and Dumont join all of us as well, and I didn’t even notice that I naturally wrapped my arm around Audrey, resting my hand on her hip. What is more surprising is that she isn’t fighting the touch or trying to escape it. If anything, it feels like she’s leaning into me. Something that hasn’t gone unnoticed by the other people around us if Chandler’s clear approval toward her best friend and Dumont’s sly smile at me is any indication.

“Alright, well we should probably call it a night,” I announce.

“I’ll head out with you if that’s okay?” Audrey questions like it’s not completely obvious the reason we both want to leave together.

“Well, we are going to the same place,” I joke.

Audrey and Chandler hug each other goodbye and I give a quick wave to my teammates before we leave. Once we are in the privacy of my car, Audrey looks over at me as I start driving.

“What?” I ask.

“Nothing, I think they suspect something is going on between us.”

“You mean you haven’t told Chandleranything?”

“Oh, I have,” she laughs.

“And you think she doesn’t tell the guys?”

“She doesn’t tell them everything. Some stuff is purely girl code and stays between the two of us.”

“Like what?” I pry.

She shakes her head, “Nope. You’ll never know.”

“Please? I’ll beg. I’ll get on my knees once we get home and reallybeg.”

“Oh, you’ll get on your knees for me when we get home. You might even beg, but it won’t be for me to tell you about some girl talk. Trust me.”

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