Page 76 of Power Play

With a deep breath, I drag my feet to his bed and stop at the foot of it. Clay smirks. “Come closer, Layla. I don’t bite.”

I do as he tells me, my eyes slipping to the nightstand, where the lamp is turned on. “Can I turn that off?”

“Why?”

“Can I turn it off?” I ask again.

Clay shakes his head but reaches for his nightstand and turns off the light. “Better?”

Without saying anything, I climb onto his bed beside him. Our shoulders brush, sending a thrill of excitement down my spine as I rest my back against the headboard.

“Will you be at the game tomorrow?” Clay’s voice is low, barely above a whisper.

“Yeah. I already told you. We always go to home games. The only time we miss them is when we’re sick.”

“Will you wear my jersey?”

“I can’t.” I shake my head.Not yet, I want to say, but I keep those words to myself.

“Drake doesn’t know you’re here?”

“No.”

“Okay.” There’s something in his voice that makes my heart squeeze. It’s the hurt and pain that I continue to cause him.

I don’t deserve him…I shouldn’t be here.

I start to stand up, but he grabs my hand. “Stay.”

“It’s pretty late, and I need to take Maya to school in the morning and get home before Drake wakes up and notices my car is gone.”

He releases my hand, and it feels like a gust of icy wind surrounds me. It goes right through my body, giving me chills. I’m ruining everything. Again.

“Night, Clay.” I drop my lips to his cheek, kissing him.

“Night, Layla.”

I walk out of the room, feeling his gaze on me. In his guest bedroom, I slip under the blankets and wrap myself aroundMaya. My eyes are full of unshed tears, and I do nothing to stop them from spilling.

The worst thing I could’ve done today is agree to stay.

Chapter 26

Number 37

CLAY

Now, October

The weather in Nashville sucks,just like my mood. It’s our first away game today, the first time I’m going to start, but I feel so fucking doomed that I can’t even be happy. I’m a loser, and nothing can make me feel better.

The game is scheduled for 8:00 p.m., so instead of staying in my room and resting, I decided to hit the gym and work my muscles. I’m staring at the ceiling above me, straining under the weight of the bar I’m lifting. My muscles are tense as I push it upward. Lifting clears my head, helping me get rid of the anxious thoughts I’ve been having for over a week. Since the morning Layla and Maya walked out of my house.

“Earth to Clay.” I blink and look to my left, noticing Roman hovering over me with a bottle of water in his hand. For a moment, I grit my teeth, trying to concentrate on my movements, not bothering to answer. Maintaining my rhythm and staying in control of the lift, I repeat the motion ten more times before I finally put the bar back into position.

“What’s up?” I ask, sitting up and wiping sweat from my brow. “I thought I’d be the only one here.”

This guy has a way of smiling that actually makes me grin back at him. It’s a half smile, a bit crooked when one corner of his mouth quirks up. It’s definitely something I’ve seen on his face more and more often. I take it as a sign that things between him and his accidental wife are changing, in a good way.

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