Page 72 of Power Play

“Not my strong suit.”

She moves her attention to Liam. “We’re going to start doling out the food in a few minutes. I know you don’t like the pushing and shoving, so feel free to get a move on.”

“I appreciate the head start.”

Emmy’s eyes flick between us. “Are you two behaving yourselves?”

“If by behaving ourselves you mean admiring the napkins Liam folded, then, yes, we are,” I say. “Though you know how scandalous setting a table can get.”

“Mhm.” A loud crash comes from the kitchen and she groans. “Fucking hell. I knew we shouldn’t have used the nice plates. Maverick and I made a bet on how many would get broken tonight.”

“Let me know the spread and I’ll knock a few off it works in your favor.” Liam puts his hands in the pockets of his jeans and looks past her shoulder. “You want some help with that?”

“I’ve got it. Thank you, though. Glad you both are here.”

When Emmy disappears, I give Liam a sheepish smile. “I might have told the girls about our arrangement. I blamethe wine I’d been drinking.” I hide myPlease don’t hate meexpression behind my hands. “Hence her not-so-subtle innuendo.”

“Lovely. Now Maverick is going to give me shit I’ll never hear the end of.”

I wince. “Sorry. I’m not giving them any details, only that I propositioned you.”

“It’s fine. I figured you’d tell them eventually. They’re your best friends, and keeping a secret from them would be shitty. If Maverick says anything, I’ll kick his ass.”

“I’d like to see that. They know I wanted to explore myself in the bedroom, and it would’ve been impossible to hide why I’m walking funny when you eventually fuck me. What would I say? My ass is sore from riding a bike?”

He snorts. “I’m not going to rearrange your insides, Piper.”

“Are you sure about that? As for my friends, I swore them to secrecy. None of us would ever violate girl code.”

“Girl code?” Liam wrinkles his nose. “The fuck is that?”

“Unspoken rules of womanhood like not dating a friend’s ex. Holding her hair back if she’s sick. Talking her out of bangs when she’s intoxicated and thinks she can pull off a new hairstyle. Keeping your girlfriend’s secret from your partner because she asked you too.” I bite back a laugh at his confused expression. “Those kinds of things.”

“Women,” he mumbles. “So fucking complicated.”

“No more complicated thanyou, Scowly McScowlerson.”

“Look who’s coming up with the witty nicknames now.”

“Is that why you don’t date during the season? Because we’re complicated?”

“I don’t date during the season because it’s distracting and bleeds too much into hockey. It’s why I haven’t invited you to my hotel room at an away game. This part of my life is first during the season. I don’t need an orgasm to survive.”

“Huh.” I tap my cheek. Hehasn’tasked me to come to his room when we’ve been on the road. I figured it was because he was tired from practice or jet lag, and his reasoning makes sense. “Interesting.”

“Any other questions about my personal life before we start on the sweet potatoes, Pipsqueak?”

“About a million. I won’t be able to get to them all, and that’s disappointing.”

“I’ll give you a freebie during the green bean casserole course,” he says, turning for the kitchen. “Only because I really fucking hate green beans.”

I sit backin my chair, stuffed from a delicious meal. Half the food was catered by the most popular restaurants in town, and I don’t think I can eat another bite.

“This was so good.” Lexi sets her napkin on her plate and groans. “Someone is going to have to roll me out of here.”

“Give me ten minutes and I’ll be ready for round two,” Ethan says.

“We have a game tomorrow,” Hudson draws out. “If you puke, I’m not going to be happy.”

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