Page 91 of Power Play

Piper pinches my knee. “The only time I’m in interview mode is at the arena. This is me being curious.”

“I think there’s a real chance we go far in the playoffs. We’re good enough to win the whole damn thing. Just need to stay focused the next few months.”

“I think so too. Boston is going to be tough to get through, but I think you all can do it. Do you have any pregame rituals? I only see you in the tunnel. What happens behind closed locker room doors?”

“I eat a candy bar and listen to classical music before every game.”

“A candy bar? What kind?”

“Something with chocolate, but I’m not picky.”

“Wow. I’m not going to lie, I’m surprised by that. I thought you’d eat oranges or something.”

“I’ll eat those too. They aren’t part of tradition, though.”

She pauses for a beat. “Thanks for the cuddling lesson, by the way. Now I know where I’m supposed to put my hands when a man has his arms around me.”

“You didn’t have to ask for this one.”

“No, I didn’t. Should we do some more get-to-know-yous? How else do you kill time in the middle of the night?”

“Give me your questions. I know there’s something churning in that head of yours.”

“Why do you rarely post on social media?”

“Ah. You’ve been stalking me.”

“Don’t flatter yourself.”

“I don’t care about social media, and I don’t think fans should have access to my life outside of the arena. They get me for eighty-two games a season, and that’s plenty. If a fan wants to take a photo with me when I’m out in public, I will. But to think I owe you constant updates about my day-to-day activities because you cheer for my team is fucking bizarre.”

“You’re so right. I stopped posting as frequently on social media after my divorce because I didn’t want people to know what I was up to and judge me for it. I know Steven keeps tabs on me, and it’s like he’s waiting for me to do something wrong so he can latch onto it and make it a big deal.”

“Why the hell did you ever marry that guy?”

“He wasn’t always like that. He used to be much kinder, but money changed him. When he was at work, he had to act like an asshole to get ahead, and that persona bled into his personal life. As time went on, I realized we weren’t compatible anymore. I would’ve ended it if he hadn’t cheated on me, and some days I’m mad I didn’t attack first.”

“Prick,” I mumble under my breath, and she hums in agreement.

“What do you want to do after you retire?”

“Coach, maybe. I’m not sure I’d be any good at it. My teaching style is probably yelling at people when they’re doing something wrong, but I’d like to have a hand in the next generation of players.”

“I could see that. You probably blow a whistle very aggressively.”

“Is there another way to blow it?” I pause and wonder what I should ask her. “What’s your biggest fear?”

“Wow.” Her laughter dies in her throat and she tips her head back until our eyes meet. “Heavy hitting stuff there, Sullivan.”

I shrug. “Way more interesting than what kind of potato you like best.”

“I’ve never thought about it. Huh. I guess I’d say tater tots, with curly fries as a very close second. As for my biggest fear…” She trails off and blows out an exhale. I see her breath in the cold air, and I hug her closer to me. “Being alone. All I want is to be loved. Romantically, I mean. I have friends who love me. Parents who love me. Colleagues who love me. But I want that… that consuming obsession that comes with someone else being your lifeline. The kind of love where, if they died, you’d be heartbroken. Bedridden for weeks because you’re not sure how you’d go on. It’s funny that I thought I had it before. I wasn’t anywhere close.”

“Would you get married again?” I ask, and she nods.

“I don’t want the whole production like I had last time—god, it was atrocious. The ceremony was in a church in the middle of summer when it was ninety-six degrees outside without any air conditioning. There were three hundred guests, and I knew about thirty of them. I hated it. But, yeah, I’d get married again. If I met the right guy.”

“I don’t think you’re going to end up alone.”

---