Page 163 of Power Play

This sport is fucking brutal with the road games and the taunts from fans. Being away from home and spending night after night alone. It can fuck you up if you’re not careful, and leagues don’t give a shit about our mental health.

It’s all about the money to them.

Fuck if one of their star players has a breakdown.

Maybe I should go talk to someone too.

“Go on. Break it down for me,” I say.

“It means you do things that would block your success or prevent you from accomplishing your goals.”

“Uh, yeah, I do do that. It’s why I don’t date. Why I don’t go out and party. Because my goal is to win the Stanley Cup. To be the best goalie in the league.”

“I don’t mean hockey, you big doof. You’re almost thirty. You have a few more playing years left in you before someone younger and better comes along and takes your job. Then what’s going to happen? The girl of your dreams will have settled downwith someone who didn’t make her wait or put hockey above her and where will you be? All alone.”

“The girl of my dreams? Piper and I—it’s… sex. That’s all. I don’twanta relationship and I can’t be the guy Piper needs. The guy she fucking deserves. She needs stability. Someone calm who comes home to her every night and worships the ground she walks on.”

“You’re such an idiot and, as disgusting as it is to talk about my brother’s sex life, webothknow it’s not just that.” The music in the ballroom starts, and Alana tugs me toward Dad. She loops an arm through mine and an arm through his, watching as the line of bridesmaids head down the aisle. “You’re going to lose that girl, and you’ll have no one to blame but yourself.”

The backdrop of the sunset waits for us as we walk toward Harry and the rest of the wedding party. I scan the crowd, looking for a five-foot blonde and not caring about the flower arch in front of me.

She’s easy to find.

She always is.

I spot her in the second row of chairs on the left, a bright smile on her face. Her hands are clasped in front of her, fingers intertwined, and even from here I can see a twinkle of hope in her eyes. I watch her gaze shift from Alana to me, and her smile melts to something different.

Tender, yeah, but hesitant too. Like she doesn’t know what she wants from me, and acid bubbles on my tongue.

Would I be okay hearing about the dates she goes on?

Would I be okay watching her fall in love with someone else?

We’re friends after all, and I’m supposed to support my friends. I’m supposed to be happy for them and cheer them on.

But I really fucking hate the thought of her with another guy.

Alana’s right.

It’s not just sex for me.

It hasn’t been for a long time.

And I’m going to lose Piper if I don’t get my head out of my ass and decide what the fuck I want.

The reception is rowdy.

Music blares from tall speakers, and I escape outside to take a break from the noise. The patio is quiet and empty, and I smile when I hear footsteps approaching behind me.

“You’ve never been stealthy.” I look over my shoulder and smirk at my mom. “Did you forget all the times we’d drink hot chocolate in the kitchen at midnight after you woke me up with your heavy feet?”

“I have no clue what you’re talking about.” My mom grins and walks over to join me. “What are you doing out here?”

“Needed a minute to breathe. You know how Lani is.”

“The life of every party. It’s a shame you have to head home tomorrow. We’ve hardly gotten to seen you.”

“I know. And I’m sorry I couldn’t make it out at Christmas. I shouldn’t go six months without seeing you and Dad, and you shouldn’t be the ones always coming out to visit me. I’m going to get better about that. I promise. Feels like I have so much going on lately.”

---