Page 22 of Power Play

“I won’t bother you again,” I state with a nod. “Bye.”

I walk away from her, limping harder every time I shift my weight onto my right leg. My fucking knee is like an imposter. Right when I need speed, I’m moving like a turtle.

“You did turn me down before, Rodgers.” Her words are like a bullet that found its way right to the target because my heart squeezes painfully.

Turning around, I find her rushing toward me, her face contorted in anger. She doesn’t pause, though, just passes me at full speed with her chin held high. I’m ready to fucking scream in frustration.

“Layla, wait.”

She whips her head and looks me up and down as I’m trying to catch up with her. “You said you wouldn’t bother me again, so please, Rodgers, keep your promise.”

I close my eyes, silently cursing my life. “Bullshit.” I seethe through my teeth. With one hard burst, I chase after her, wincing every time my right foot touches the ground. I’m going to pay for this later, but for now, I ignore it.

When I reach Layla, I grab her elbow and pull her back into me. Her body collides with mine, and a whoosh of air leaves my mouth.

“What the hell?” she yells, trying to push me away.

Without taking a moment to assess the situation, or even thinking it through, I wrap my arm around her waist from behind and drag her with me to the alleyway between our dorms. I turn her around to face me; her back is pressed to the wall. Her chest heaves. A few locks of hair have fallen out of her high ponytail. Red blooms on her cheeks because of the cold wind. She glares at me, her lips in a tight line.

“What do you want?” Layla hisses.

“When did I turn you down?”

“Really? You have a very short memory, Clay Rodgers. Did you forget how you flirted with me when we first met? How you invited me to that party?” She drops her bag to the ground, and I do the same. My hands are still balled into fists. “Remember that?”

I nod.

“Well, do you remember how you bailed on me the second you realized Drake was my brother?”

“I wanted?—”

“No.” Layla shakes her head vigorously. “You acted as if we’d never even met when Drake introduced me to you and Thompson. I was just your captain’s little sister.”

“You were off-limits.”

She raises her voice, stepping into me. “If Drake knew I was happy, he would’ve accepted it. You didn’t even try!” We’re chest to chest now. All I need to do is loop my arm around her waist and pull her against me. To finally know what it feels like to hold her. “You’re a coward.”

I slap my hands against the wall near her head, caging her in my embrace. “Take it back,” I growl.

“The truth isn’t something that can be hidden or stored away. You better learn to accept it. I’m not taking back what I said.”

“I didn’t try because I’ve never even dated anyone! Do you think that’s what your brother wants for you? Does being with a college fuckboy sound like a good idea for Drake’s little sister?”

“Were you going to date me or Drake?” Layla answers my questions with her own, staring at me defiantly.

I have no words because nothing I can say is going to be enough. Actions speak louder, and I did nothing to show her that she’s the girl I haven’t stopped thinking about for over a year.

My gaze bounces between her eyes and her lips. The air stills around us. Layla is waiting for my answer, but I’m fucking done talking.

I’m done denying myself something I want.

Slowly, I cradle her cheek with my palm, enjoying the warmth of her skin. Her lips part, her eyes becoming bigger as she holds my gaze.

“I want to kiss you,” I whisper. “I’ve wanted to kiss you since the day we met.”

Standing on her tiptoes, she closes the distance between us. Her lips are an inch away from mine, tempting me out of my wits and making me so damn weak for her. “Then why are you wasting our time talking?”

A smile curves my lips, but it’s gone quickly because I smash my mouth on hers. When our lips touch, a rush of energy zips through my body. All I can think about is her and how perfectly our mouths mold together. I tilt her face up to me, deepening our kiss and urging her to open for me.

---