Page 11 of Power Play

“Well, in that case, we better go and help.” I veer to my right, ready to go to the backyard, when a child’s voice halts me in my tracks.

“Uncle Drake, I want with you.” Slowly, I turn my head, and my eyes fall on a little girl in a navy-blue dress standing in the doorway of the living room. I’ve seen her before, sitting on her mom’s lap during games, but never this close.

And now I have no words…

She’s just like Layla. The same big, chocolate brown eyes and little upturned nose, even her heart-shaped mouth with the puffier bottom lip. Her brown hair is collected into two pigtails sitting proudly on top of her head. My heart constricts as I watch her walk up to Drake and raise her arms. Without hesitation, he picks her up, and her tiny palm rests on his chest.

I swallow my initial shock as her gaze focuses on me. My lips stretch into a small, involuntary smile. It’s definitely not how I imagined meeting Layla’s daughter for the first time, but if this is what I get to work with, then so be it.

“Maya, honey, this is Clay,” Angie says, pointing her finger at me. “He’s your uncle’s friend.”

Maya’s eyes roam over my face, and then she says, “Hi.”

“Hi, Maya. I’m so delighted to meet you. I’ve heard so many things about you from your uncle Drake.”

A little beam forms on her mouth. Two tiny dimples appear on her cheeks. Her mother’s daughter through and through. The overwhelming emotions brew inside me, making my heart beat a mile a minute.

Maya puts her head on Drake’s shoulder. Curiosity swims behind her irises. Her gaze stays trained on me, and I’m unable to take even one step forward. “Do you want to go outside? Or stay with Angie?” I ask.

“With Uncle Drake.”

I chuckle. “Then let’s go. See you later, Angie.”

Whirling around, I’m ready to go to the backyard, but the person standing in the doorway makes me freeze. My eyes collide with hers, and a rush of energy spreads through my veins.She’s in a light blue dress that ends below her knees, and there’s a bow wrapped tightly around her waist. Her shoulder-length blond hair is pinned to one side with a little hairpin. Her makeup is impeccable, just a touch on her eyes and lips. Jesus, I knew I missed her, but this? The storm inside my chest grows stronger, more powerful and destabilizing. All I want is a chance. A chance to talk to her, to ask her the question that’s been burning my tongue since the day I found out about her daughter.

Why didn’t she keep her promise?

“Hi, Layla,” I croak, my voice unnaturally hoarse.

“Hey, Clay.” She lifts her hand in a stiff wave, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.

The silence that follows is suffocating. It reminds me of that time I got a concussion during a high school game when a puck slammed right into my face. Darkness starts surrounding me quickly, like waves crashing over the shore. Everything is spinning, and I ball my fists, trying to control my reaction.

“Clay, is everything all right?” Angie’s voice tears me out of my stupor. I blink and realize that Layla’s staring at my hands.

What the hell am I doing?

“Sorry, it’s nothing.” I glance at Drake. “Should we go outside?”

He studies me with his lips pursed. Then he nods and crooks a smile. “Yeah, let’s go. I’m sure Thompson needs our help.”

I shoot Angie a tiny grin and turn to peer at Layla. Her arms are crossed over her chest, her eyebrows pinched together. Her bottom lip moves; she’s probably chewing on the inside of her cheek. With the briefest shake of her head as if she’s dismissing something, she looks away from me and stares at her brother.

“Are you taking Maya with you?”

“She said she wants to,” Drake answers. “Don’t worry, I’ll look after her.”

“Okay, thank you,” Layla tells him. “Come on, Angie. Ava needs us so she can finish cooking. Meghan is glued to her hip. Literally,” she adds, acting as if I’m no longer in the hallway.

“Coming.” Angie kisses Drake on the cheek, gently brushes Maya’s cheek with her fingertips, then heads to the living room, following Layla.

Who still refuses to look at me.

Dammit.

Without waiting for Drake, I trudge out of the house and instantly see Colton. He’s setting a table on the terrace with five chairs placed around it. Noticing me, he tilts his head to the right, where more chairs are standing, and I head over. Turning off my emotions and all the thoughts that keep swarming in my head is the only thing I can do to distract myself from that disastrous meeting.

Why was it so awkward? It never used to be like that. Not even at Thompson’s wedding, when we first saw each other after she broke up with me. We always made it work, but now it feels as if we lost that ability.

---