Page 39 of Power Play

We get our own plates, she pours herself a cup of coffee, and then we sit down with Tyson. We talk about the game, the players we saw, and some “gorgeous” sportscaster that Tyson can’t stop talking about. He’s asked me twice if I think I’d be able to “hook him up,” and I’ve told him twice that she doesn’t even work for the same network as I do.

We finish up, and I see her glance down at her phone for the fourth time since we started eating.

“Everything okay?” I ask. She nods and slides her phone back into her pocket.

“Just making sure I didn’t get a call from Harper’s school or anything,” she says with a shrug and a nervous smile. “I guess I’m one of those nervous moms.”

Under the table, I slide my hand onto her knee.

“You’re an amazing mom,” I tell her. Her cheeks flush as Tyson gulps down his last sip of juice and puts the glass down on the table.

“I do have a shift at noon, though,” she says. I nod and tap the table.

“Let’s get you on the road,” I say. I stand and reach for her hand, but Tyson shakes his head and walks between us.

“You don’t gotta be all touchy-feely just because I gave you my blessing, Buck,” he says, pushing through us. He turns to face us, walking backward. “Don’t make me regret this.” He points at me just as he crashes into a couple walking through the revolving door at the front of the hotel. Lo and I bust out laughing as he helps them pick up the bags he knocked out of their hands. Out front, I hand the ticket to the valet, and in a moment, he pulls up in my black Range Rover. I tip him, wait for her to climb in the front, and close the door. I throw our bags into the back, wait for Tyson to get himself situated, and head back in the direction of Crooked Creek.

We drop Tyson off at his place first, and I’m grateful that I get these extra fifteen minutes alone in the car with her. She’s been looking out the window, her caramel hair blowing in the wind. Her hand dances outside the window to the beat of the song that’s playing, and every few seconds, she closes her eyes and lets the wind hit her in the face. I’ve had my hand on her thigh for most of the ride, and her fingers are interlocked with mine. She subconsciously strokes my hand with her thumb, and it sends chills up my spine every time she does it.

I give her leg a little squeeze, and she looks over at me.

“Hmm?” she asks. “Did you say something?”

I chuckle and shake my head.

“Nope,” I say. “I was just watching you. You look like you’re…”

She cocks her head and lifts an eyebrow.

“Like I’m what?” she asks, biting her bottom lip.

I shrug.

“Happy.”

She lifts my hand to her lips and kisses it.

“That’s because I am,” she says. But as she rests our hands back on her leg, I see her eyes drift back out the window, and the expression on her face changes.

“Hey,” I say, giving her a nudge. She looks to me again, a tight grin on her face. “What is it?” Her eyes widen when I ask, like she’s surprised I caught on. I squeeze her hand gently. “I’m here. Tell me.”

She lets out a long breath that lifts her hair from her face before she tucks her legs underneath her and turns to me. Her eyes drop down to our hands before she lifts them slowly to mine. I look from the road, to her, back to the road.

“I…I don’t think I want to tell Harper about us—yet,” she says, her voice low and shaky. “I don’t want you to think I’m trying to hide you, or-or—” she starts, but I squeeze her hand again.

“Hey,” I say, stopping her. “We don’t have to tell her anything. I’m just fun Uncle Levi,” I say with a smile. “Or if you’d rather me keep my distance until you feel more ready, I can do that too.” I guess it was a bit presumptuous to just expect that I’d walk into their lives with open arms, like I’ve been here the whole time. I know I have missed a whole hell of a lot. And it’s not just her life I’m walking into. As much as I’d like to swoop in right now, in this moment, and tell her to quit her job at the restaurant, tell her to pack up that little girl and come with me, I can’t. Not yet.

I’ve been all over the place.

She never had the chance to get out of this sleepy little town.

I’ve seen the world.

Hers is confined to Crooked Creek and revolves around that little girl.

I know that I need to give her the time and the space. And I’ll sit here and wait for as long as I need to. As long as it takes. Because I can’t imagine life ever feeling full again if I don’t have her in it.

She looks immediately relieved by my response, and I raise her fingers to my lips.

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