Page 25 of Power Play

I holda cup of coffee in my hand as Colton and I walk through the park. Meghan is peacefully sleeping in her stroller. The trees surrounding the path bring comfort and much-needed shade on this sunny, hot day. We chatted a little when we stopped at the coffee shop and I ate my breakfast, but it was more like small talk. The big conversation is coming. I have no doubt about it. He wouldn’t have come to my house so early if he didn’t want to talk about something.

Or someone.

“So how was it?” Colton asks as I take a sip of my drink. “How was seeing Layla again after all this time?”

“Was it your idea or Ava’s? This walk, I mean.”

He cracks a smile. “Ours. Ava cares about you just as much as I do. We want to know that you’re okay.” He nudges me with his shoulder. “How was it?”

“It was good. She looks incredible, exactly as I remember her,” I tell him honestly. Every chance I got, I was sneaking glances at her as subtly as possible. Layla is as gorgeous as ever, and I will never stop admiring her. No one looks better to me than she does.

“And that’s why you didn’t say a word to her?”

“I’m pretty sure that’s what she wanted.” She was avoiding me, and I decided not to push my luck. Instead, I spent the day winning over her little girl.

A tiny step in my big game.

“Really?”

“Thompson, do you think we didn’t know all of you were watching us?” I turn my head and meet his gaze. “I want to talk to Layla. About a lot of stuff, actually, but when it’s just me and her.”

He opens his mouth to say something, but I don’t give him the chance.

“I love you, man, and I know you all mean well, but this is between me and her. I don’t want to feel like I’m on display, exposed to everyone, so you can follow my every step and word.”

Colton is silent for a moment, mulling this over as he examines me. The corners of his mouth quirk up, his deep brown eyes shining with warmth. “You still love her?”

I take a deep breath and then say, without blinking, “I can’t imagine a day when I won’t.” I wrap my hand tighter around the cup. “She’s it for me, Colt. She always has been.”

“I actually don’t think Drake would be against it. He’s worried one of you will get hurt, but?—”

“Colt, Drake is my friend, but, respectfully, it’s not his business when it comes to Layla and me. She’s an adult. She can make her own decisions. I hope he won’t be interfering.”

He nods, rapping his fingers on the handle of the stroller. “I get it, you’re right.” Then he peers at me again, a lopsided grin lighting up his face. “You have a plan?”

A low chuckle rumbles from my lips. “I do.”

“Are you going to enlighten me? Maybe I can help.”

“I think I can handle it.” I throw my empty cup into a trash can.

“Okay, but remember that you can always count on me. And on Ava. My wife might be the biggest Clayla stan of all of us.”

“Clayla?” I arch an eyebrow, barely holding myself back from laughing out loud. Only sleeping Meghan is stopping me from that.

“Ava is still obsessed with her romances. Every good book has a couple, and the couple has a ship name. Clayla is yours.”

“I think you’ve been benefiting pretty well from her reading, so I’d say you’re just as obsessed with her books as she is.”

“Says the guy with a few dozen video games stacked at home.”

“Leave my video games alone!” I threaten him jokingly, and Colton lifts his hand out in front of him to block me. I’m debating in my head if I should ask him something that has been on my mind since last night.

He’s your best friend, for fuck’s sake. Ask him.

“Is Maya always like that? Like, does she always go so easily to other people?”

Colton turns his head to me, holding my gaze and studying me in silence. Then his lips break into a smile. “She’s a very friendly girl. Sure, when she was one year old, she was a bit hesitant around new people, but now? I don’t remember her ever hiding or being shy. Mine are like that too, both Michael and Meghan. But Ian, for example, is shy. Xander’s son is always very careful around anyone new.”

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