Page 28 of Power Play

“Unbelievable save, GK.”

“Hell of a stop there with a minute to go on the clock, Sul.”

“Play of the game goes to our Goalie Daddy.” Maverick jumps on my back and wraps his arms around my neck. “I knew all it would take is some positive reinforcement from yours truly to make sure you had your best stat line of the season.”

“It’s October.” I pull off my helmet and shake out my hair. I’m disgusting, and ten minutes under a blazing hot shower sounds like heaven. “No one cares about my stats in October.”

“Great win, boys,” a gentle voice says from my right, and I stop in my tracks. Turn my head slowly and spot Piper leaning against the wall. “Do you have a minute to talk about your performance, Mav?”

“Hey, Little P.” Maverick slides down my back. “Anything for the best reporter on her first official night with a microphone.”

Piper’s eyes bounce to me. “Mind if I talk to you next, Liam? You really did have a fantastic game.”

“Not doing an interview,” I say. “Sorry.”

“Come on, man. It’s Piper,” Maverick says.

“It’s okay. Don’t worry about it, Mav. He’s not forced to talk to the media, and I don’t want to push him.” She smiles. “Have a good rest of your night, Liam.”

“Oh, it’s going to be good all right. He’s coming with us to the western bar downtown. I hope you and the girls are going to tag along. We have a lot to celebrate,” Maverick says. “A victory. Your reporter gig. It’s going to be a blast.”

“Wait a second.You’regoing to the western bar?” Piper asks me. “You? In a crowd of people? Where they line dance and play country music?”

It’s my idea of hell.

The last place I’d ever want to be, but I bet it would be fun if she were there.

“Yeah.” I shrug. “I said something stupid to Riley during the game and dug myself into a hole. I’m not happy about it.”

“Please tell me I’m allowed to video you singing karaoke. It’ll be the greatest night of my life.”

“Dream on, Pipsqueak. I’m staying for one round, and if someone tries to get me on stage, they’ll end up worse for wear.”

“It was worth a try. Maybe you’ll have a different perspective after a drink or two.”

“Are you buying?”

Her lips split into a wide grin. “I could, if it’ll keep you around for longer than eight seconds.”

Maverick looks between us. “When did you two get so chummy?”

“We’re not chummy,” Piper rushes to say, her cheeks turning red.

She blushes a lot, I’ve learned.

When she saw me shirtless in the trainers’ room.

When I complimented her at team dinner.

When she knows she’s said something she shouldn’t.

It’s cute to see her panicking, and it kind of makes me want to push her buttons. Makes me want to see how close I can get to prodding her before she retaliates.

Maverick groans. “I have no clue what’s going on, and I hate being out of the loop.”

“You’re not missing out on anything, Mav,” she says, motioning for the cameraman to join them. “Let’s talk about the game tonight. You had two goals, with one coming in the final thirty-five seconds of the third period. How do you feel about the team’s momentum as we head into November?”

I trudge to the locker room, letting them talk shop and trying to ignore the way my mouth twitches up in a smile when I look over my shoulder and notice Piper watching me walk away.

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