Page 189 of Power Play

I look at him and find him watching me, waiting for validation, and I don’t know what to say.

How do I tell him how thoughtful this is?

How do I tell him I’m not used to being listened to?

How do I tell him dinner at the rink is going to make me cry because it means I’m here with him, near the spot where we first met, wondering how my life has turned out this way?

How do I tell him it’s the most perfect thing in the world?

“Liam,” I whisper, his name coming out like two reverent syllables. “You did this for me?”

“I’d do anything for you.”

It’s simple. Short and sweet and five words I’ve never heard before, but they stick to my heart. They sweep out the cobwebs and air out the last remaining fears I have about starting something new. About starting over with someone I care about very much.

“This is…” I trail off, emotion threatening to grip me. Threatening to suffocate me, because this man is the epitome of kind and wonderful and perfect. “Thank you.”

“Come on.” He holds my hand as we walk across the carpet and scoots my chair in for me. “I hope you’re hungry.”

A noise from my left is magnified in the empty arena, and I turn, watching Maverick skate leisurely across the ice holding a server’s tray.

“Evening, folks,” he says, stopping in front of our table. “Thank you for joining us for dinner this evening. You’ll see a menu on your plate. Would we like to start with a glass of wine? I recommend the house red, but the Sauvignon Blanc is crisp tonight.”

I gape at Maverick and the tuxedo he’s wearing. He’s rolled the pant legs up on top of his skates, and he looks absolutely ridiculous.

“What do you think?” Liam asks me, and I shake my head.

“I’m sorry. I’m still processing Maverick’s outfit. You’re in atux.”

“YouthinkI’m in a tux. It’s actually a Halloween costume from the thrift store.”

“Wow.” I laugh and glance at Liam. “Red sounds good.”

“Red it is,” Maverick says, skating away.

“Are we having any other visitors?” I ask, and Liam shrugs.

“Guess you’ll have to wait and see.”

Hudson comes out next, setting down bread and mozzarella sticks as an appetizer. He talks for ten minutes about the Italian breadcrumbs covering the cheese, only leaving when Liam shoots him a look that has me trying not to burst out laughing.

Grant comes next, handing us both a salad before tossing me a wink. Ethan brings out a plate of hot dogs and cups of condiments, letting us know he called in a favor with Dave to have the food delivered.

Riley is there too, passing off our entrees and helping Maverick refill our wine glasses. When I’ve eaten every bite of the pasta dish in front of me, I lean back in my chair and grin.

“Wow. You got everyone to help. How’d you pull that off?”

“I told them I was nervous as shit about taking you on a date, and they jumped in. They know you’re my favorite person, and they know I wanted to do this right. I would’ve done the same for any of them.”

“You would’ve?”

“Yeah. Would’ve complained for hours, but I would’ve done it.” Liam stares at me across the table and tips his head to the side. “Ready for the next part of the date?”

“What else do you have up your sleeve, Sully?”

He bends forward and pulls a pair of ice skates. “Want to be an idiot with me, Pipsqueak?”

“Oh, god. What’s that saying about returning to the scene of the crime?”

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