Page 51 of Power Play

I look up at him. God, he’s so beautiful.

And in my heart, I do know that. I know that everything he did was for me.

I nod slowly.

“I know that,” I say. He nods back.

“Okay, good. The second thing I want you to know is that I haven’t done anything with the recording. I haven’t sent it or played it for anyone. It’s on my phone, unopened by anyone except me. And if you say the word, I will delete it right here, right now, and we never have to speak about this again.”

My eyes widen at the possibilities. One tap of his finger, and I could go back to life before yesterday. I could be blissfully ignorant to anything happening involving Thad except for what my dad mentions at the dinner table. I can carry on the lie that I don’t know who Harper’s dad is.

But my brother’s voice rings in my ears, rattling my conscience.

What if there are others? What if there will be?

I shake my head.

“I don’t want you to delete it,” I say. His eyes are wide, and he nods slowly.

“Okay, I won’t. It’s yours to decide what you want to do with it,” he says.

“Thank you,” I say.

Then he takes another step toward me and reaches a shaky hand out for mine. He brings my hand to his lips, and as soon as he presses them against it, I feel weak. My whole body shudders under his touch, and it’s really not even fair the power he has over me. But it’s power Iwanthim to have. It’s power I willfully and gladly give him. Because I know I have it over him, too. And when you love someone the way I love him, that power is such a gift. Because it lets me care for him, love him, surround him like no one else ever has. And I know it means the same for him.

“The last thing I came here to say, Lo, is that I have to have you,” he whispers, his voice shaky. “Even if it’s just a piece. I broke your trust, and I get that. And if you want space, I’ll give it to you. I’ll be whatever you want me to be. I can just stay ‘Fun Uncle Levi.’ But I have to have eyes on you two. I have to know you’re both okay. Please, Lo. Don’t take that away from me.”

His lip trembles, and I realize that I’m also crying.

I put my free hand to his cheek, and he slowly raises his eyes to me.

“You’ve had your eyes on me for four years,” I whisper. “I don’t want anyone else’s eyes on me.”

I press up onto my toes, and he wraps his arms around my waist, lifting me off the ground, kissing my lips like we haven’t seen each other in a week.

“God, I love you, woman,” he whispers, our foreheads resting against each other. “I love looking at you like this. First thing in the morning.” I smile against his lips.

“I’ve never felt as beautiful as I do when you look at me,” I tell him, and his eyes shoot open, looking at me. He smiles, and I suddenly wish we were both naked and not standing in my dad’s kitchen with my brother a few yards away. He kisses me again, then slowly sets me down just as Tyson is walking in.

“Ah, so we’re all friends again,” he says. “Thank the Lord. Picking between you two would be tricky.”

I playfully shove him, and Levi laughs.

Tyson smiles and leans back against the island.

“So,” he says, “should we give that recording a listen?”

Levi looks down at me, and I know they’re both waiting for my answer. I sigh, slipping my fingers between Levi’s.

“Yeah,” I say. “Let’s do it.”

We go into the living room, and Tyson sits on the chair adjacent to the couch. Levi sits down next to me and pulls his phone out, laying it on the coffee table in front of us.

“This is not easy to listen to,” he warns us. “I think it was even harder for me the second time. If you need me to turn it off, just tell me. Okay, Lo?”

I nod, squeezing Levi’s hand harder. I take a breath, and he presses play.

“So you’re close with Coach Calway, right?” Levi says.

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