Page 56 of Power Play

“And Pop,” she corrects me. I smile.

“Of course,” I say. “And Pop.” She just nods in approval. “Do you think your mom is happy?”

She nods.

“Mommy likes it when you come over, too. She loves you more than all the stars,” she says. My eyes widen.

More than all the stars.

I see a big yawn take over her little body, and her little legs slow down.

“Are you tired, Harper?” I ask. She nods slowly, looking at me with sad eyes. “What if we rest for a few minutes, and then we can play more after?”

She thinks about it for a minute, and then she puts her foot down to stop the swing. I hope off mine and hold out a hand for her. If my mornings always looked like this, I would die a happy man.

CHAPTEREIGHTEEN

lo

I blink slowly,then wildly when I realize how much light is streaming through my bedroom window. I sit up in a panic, tapping my phone and seeing that it’s almost nine o’clock in the morning. I can’t remember the last time I slept this late.

I jump out of bed and pull my pajama shorts back on, hopping out the door on one foot while I slip them on. I open my bedroom door, but I don’t hear anything. The house is completely quiet. I run down the stairs and turn toward the back door. But when I reach it, I don’t see anyone.Where are they?

When I walk back out to the foyer, my dad startles me. He’s standing in the doorway of his study in his pajamas, with a cup of coffee in his hands. He motions for me to be quiet, then smiles and takes a sip. He nods toward the front door, and I raise an eyebrow, walking quickly toward it. I pull it open and step out onto the porch, and I freeze. There, sitting on the rocking chair, is Levi. And asleep on his chest is my daughter, her little body curled up in a ball, arms wrapped around his neck.

He’s leaning back in the chair, slowly rocking back and forth. He smiles at me faintly, his hand on her back, his eyes sleepy, too. I feel my knees get wobbly. I don’t think I’ve ever seen something this perfect. The two of them, out here in the sunshine, her completely at peace. She knows she’s safe with him.

Just like I do.

I walk toward them, wanting to freeze this moment. I don’t want to forget anything about this. Not about how sweet and angelic she looks. Not about how calm and natural and sexy he looks. He smiles up at me as I approach.

“We played a little too hard. She needed a nap break,” he whispers. I bend down and lay a soft kiss on her forehead. And then I lay one on his lips.

“I…I just…I…” I whisper, and to my own surprise, I feel tears welling in my eyes. My throat gets tight, and I’m overwhelmed at the feelings rushing through me. His eyes widen, and he takes my hand. I don’t know what is happening right now. I know this feeling. It’s a familiar feeling of surrender, when you realize there is nothing you can do about it. I want to give myself to him.

Well, what’s left of me, anyway.

“Hey, come here,” he says, reaching up with his free hand and tugging down on my arm. I kiss him again softly. “What you’re feeling right now, Lo…that’s love. And you’re afraid to admit it, and that’s okay. I just need you to know that however much you figure out you love me…I love you more than that. And I love her, too,” he says, motioning to Harper. “I’m going to be here. I’m going to stick around. So take your time. Because I’ll just be patiently waiting till you believe it.”

I don’t say anything else. I just close my eyes and let the tears roll off my cheeks onto his shirt while he kisses my forehead again. I know he’s right. I know this feeling. I know that this pain I feel, this pain that comes along with it, is that fear that creeps in when you realize you don’t think you can live without someone. When you learn that you love someone, you also learn that you need them. And that’s a beautiful, terrifying realization.

Harper woke up a little bit ago, and we’ve all been playing tag, gravel, and Simon Says. Levi has won nothing. He’s really bad at kids' games. But the sound of Harper laughing at him when he loses is the best thing I’ve ever heard. And the smile on his face as he plays with her is enough to make me explode.

A little while later, Tyson walks through the yard. His face is serious, and Levi immediately puts his arm around me.

“I got Thad’s number from Dad’s phone. I texted him and told him that we wanted to have him over for dinner before the draft. Tate is going to take Harper out to dinner—he doesn’t know what’s going on yet. It’s up to you who else you tell, Lo. I have the letter drafted up that my coworker’s lawyer wife sent. It’s all set up. Tonight at seven,” he says. Levi nods and looks at me.

“You still good? Is this still what you want?” he asks me. I sigh.

“I don’t know if it’s what I want. But it’s what needs to happen.”

“He’s got a weakness,” I tell her, “and we know what it is. He’s down a player, and he doesn’t even know it.”

Tyson smiles.

“And that’s the best time to strike, Lo,” he says. “It’s a power play.”

I look up at both of them.

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