Page 82 of Power Play

Hudson

Stay where you are. It’s not safe here.

Easy E:

Everyone loves karoke!!!!!

Riley

Look who is a spelling bee champ!!!!!!

Easy E:

Guck u

G-Money

Liam is probably missing us as much as I miss him.

*You have left the chat*

*Easy E has added you to the chat*

Easy E:

U can run but u cnt hde, mthrfkr

Hudson

A for effort, Richardson.

“What kindof music do you like?” Piper rests her head against the seat and turns her chin to look at me on the drive to my place. “Heavy metal? Gongs? Monks chanting?”

“Gongs? That’s not a thing, is it?”

“I don’t know.” She shrugs. “It could be.”

“Gongs are not on the list, believe it or not. I don’t listen to a ton of music. When I’m heading to the arena, I like to blast classical music. It mellows me out. Any other time, I’ll listen to anything except country. I fucking hate country.”

“You looked like you were having a blast at the western bar. I saw you smiling.”

“Now you’re imagining things. That was hell on earth.”

“Rude of you to insult Dolly Parton like that, but okay.”

I drum my fingers on the steering wheel. The roads are quiet for a Friday night, and I know we don’t have long until we get to my place.

“How much have you had to drink?” I ask.

“Enough where I had the balls to bid on you for over thirty thousand dollars knowing you were going to be the one to pay for it.” She laughs and closes her eyes. “Not enough to not know where I am. I’m mildly buzzed at most. Why?”

“We’re going to go a step further tonight, and I want to make sure you still want to do this.”

“I’m a big girl, Liam. I’m of sound mind and can make my own decisions, and I want you.”

I turn into my parking garage and shift my Range Rover to park. I glance over at her and rest my hand on her knee, squeezing once.

“Ready?” I ask, giving her one more chance to back out.