Page 35 of Power Play

“Hey,” I say, and she looks up. “Want to order a pizza?”

“A pizza?”

“If we’re going to talk about fucking each other, you need to eat some food so you’re level-headed. Especially after those drinks.”

A blush creeps up her neck. The crimson color settles on her cheeks. “Did I really ask you to fuck me?”

“A little more eloquently than that, but, yeah. You did.”

“And you’re not kicking me out?”

“I’m not.”

“Does that mean you’re… you’re open to the idea?”

“What kind of pizza do you like?” I grab my phone off the coffee table. “Pepperoni? Veggie? Supreme?”

“Um.” Piper sits on the couch again and covers her face with a pillow. Her voice comes out muffled when she says, “Pepperoni with veggies, please.”

“Get comfortable, Piper. You’re going to be here a while, and you’re not going to hide from me again.”

ELEVEN

LIAM

I tossthe empty pizza box in the trash.

We went through almost a full pie while we watched some shitty reality television show Piper said she liked, and I put the last two slices in the fridge so she can take them home when she leaves.

I wash my hands and grab the bottle of whiskey, pouring a glass for myself. I never drink the night before a game, but this situation calls for it.

“We’re going to talk about this like adults,” I say, sitting next to her on the couch. “Why did you come here, Piper?”

She takes a minute to answer. If I had to guess, it’s because she’s afraid she’s going to get rejected. The second she puts this idea in the world, it gives me a chance to shoot her down. And, judging by the way she’s still not looking at me, I’m willing to bet she’s been shot down a hundred times in her life.

“I word vomited at the bar,” she starts. “I didn’t mean for all of that information about my personal life to come out, but it did.”

“That’s the unfortunate thing about vomit. You can’t take it back.”

Piper’s laugh is soft, and she relaxes marginally. “Please know I would never be here if I didn’t get the impression you might be interested in hearing what I had to say.”

“I told you you knew where to find me.”

“I didn’t, actually. I had to coerce your address out of Maverick and make up a lie about delivering a box of sponsorship materials.”

“You found me, though.”

“I did. And if he asks how you like the new brand of protein shakes I brought you, just roll with it.”

It’s my turn to laugh. “Noted.”

“After the bar, I went back to my room and did some reflecting about how I made a fool of myself. The more I thought about it, the more I thought an… arrangement between us could work. I want to explore my sexuality. You’re a single guy.” Piper sits up and her mouth drops open in horror. “Oh, no. You are single, right?”

“I am.”

“Thank god.”

“I’m flattered you want me so badly, Mitchell.” She lifts the pillow sitting on her lap and throws it at my head. I smile and catch it out of the air. “Goalie, remember?”

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