Page 74 of Power Play

“Meanwhile I’m over here wishing the season would slow down. I love my job.” I rest my chin in my hand and smile. “I’ve had fun every year I’ve covered hockey, but this one is by far the best.”

“A toast to our superstar rinkside reporter.” Lexi lifts her glass, and we all follow her lead. “To knocking down sexist pigs and taking the job that’s rightfully yours.”

I sip my wine and laugh. “You all are the best cheerleaders. Thanks for being my support squad.”

When I filled the girls in on the whole story involving my promotion, they were, as expected, livid.

There was crying.

Anger.

Lots of yelling and plans to ruin my former boss’s life.

It was hard to go through that situation, but having them by my side has made it easier.

“Speaking of December, how’s it going with Liam?” Lexi asks. “Have you two banged yet?”

I almost spit out my drink. “Jesus, Lex. Could I get some warning next time? A segue before we dive into my sex life would be nice.”

“When have Ieverbeen discreet? That’s not my style.”

Liam told me I can talk to the girls about our arrangement, but I’m not sure I want to.

I’m hesitant to tell them about the low rasp of his voice. How his teeth sink into my bottom lip and the look on his face right before he comes, half full of wonder and half full of insane lust.

It feels wrong to share parts of his private life with other people, especially after he told me about his bad experience with a reporter.

He’s my friend, and I don’t like thinking I’m betraying him if I give away specifics so freely.

“No,” I finally say. “We’re going slow.”

“Wow.” Emmy smirks. “I’m not sure I’ve ever met a guy who thinks with his head instead of his dick when it comes to sex.”

“Sometimes waiting is more fun,” Maven tells us with a sly grin. “It makes youreallywant it.”

“I didn’t think I’d like having to wait, but I’m learning so much about myself.”

“Like what?”

“Well, I found out I like foreplay, when that was something I never used to consider. I’m not going to run off and have a one-night stand tomorrow, but it’s empowering to finally be almostsure of myself. I’m getting back the pieces that belonged to someone else, and now they’re finally my own.”

“Goddamn. I love women,” Lexi says. “We’re so strong, aren’t we?”

“It amazes me how you’ve stayed so positive the last few years,” Emmy adds. “I know I’m not all sunshine and rainbows, but you’ve been through hell, Piper. You find out the man you love is having an affair—that alone would’ve led me to do something that would get me sent to jail. You get divorced. Your boss absolutelysuckedand said horrible shit about you. But look at you. You’re practically fucking glowing. When you could’ve given up, you didn’t. How the hell do you do it?”

“When my world was falling apart, it was like my brain knew it wasn’t the end of my story. It was the end of a chapter. Would I do it again if I had the choice? God, no. Divorcing an egocentric workaholic who refuses to take responsibility for his actions is draining. But Steven cheating on me was the best thing that could’ve ever happened. Imagine if I spent forty years in a soul-sucking marriage where I never got the things I needed? Where I never heard I was doing a good job or that he was proud of me? I can live without sex, but I can’t live without being hugged, and heneverwanted to hug me.” I pause for a breath. “I’m so glad I only wasted ten years of my life, not half a century.”

“Me too. And this next part of your story is going to be even better,” Maven says.

“It already is.” I laugh, desperate to tell them somethinggoodin my life for once. “I’ve orgasmed more with Liam in a month than I did my entire relationship with Steven.”

“Shut the fuck up,” Lexi squeals. “Hell yeah. That’s our girl.”

“I never thought I could be happy about my friend’s orgasm count, but here I am,ecstatic.” Maven claps. “You deserve a hundred more.”

“Okay. That’s enough about me. Someone else tell us something fun. Did you all get your gala dresses yet? It’s a week away,” I say.

“I got mine,” Maven says. “But I might not go. I’ve been so tired lately, and a party where I’ll have to be on my feet all night sounds miserable.”

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