Page 69 of Power Play

I give Harper back to Lo and guide them off the ice, skating to center ice to celebrate with my team. Coach announces that my jersey will be retired, and the NHL commissioner makes his way out onto the ice to announce the establishment of the Levi Buck award. I thank them all graciously, hug my teammates, and wave goodbye as the crowd starts to dissipate.

We clear the ice, and I shower quickly and change. As I’m walking out, Roy claps me on the back.

“Wanna go out tonight? Celebrate yourretirement?” he says in a mocking voice. I laugh and shake my head.

“I’ll catch up with you in Spokane,” I tell him. “Tonight, I just want to go home with my girls.”

CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO

lo

“But I wantto see Levi again,” Harper pouts as we make our way out to the VIP lot that Levi got us parking in.

“I know, baby,” I say.So do I.“But he’s had a big night. He’s probably going to want to celebrate with his team. But we will see him soon, okay?” I say, shifting her up as I carry her. Just then, my phone rings in my pocket. “Whoop, Dem, can you grab that?” I say. She reaches into my back pocket and pulls it out.

“Hello, Mr. MVP,” she says. “Congratulations! We are so proud of you. Yep, she’s right here. Uh-huh. Yep, we’re all set. Okay, here she is.” She takes Harper out of my arms and hands me my phone.

“Hi,” I say. “I’m so proud of you. And I’m really glad you’re in one piece.”

He laughs.

“Me, too. Where are you guys?” he asks.

“Almost to the car. Where are you?”

“About to be there. Wait for me?”

I nod, the butterflies swirling in my stomach. And I wonder how long those will last.

“Of course,” I say. We get to my dad’s truck, and I strap Harper into her carseat. Just as I’m closing her door, Levi pulls up in his rental car. He throws it into park and gets out, practically running to me. He swoops me up in his arms and spins me around, not giving a shit about my family or anyone else around us seeing. And I kind of love that. Dad and Tyson and Demi all take their turns with him, and then he opens Harper’s door. He kisses her forehead and thanks her for coming.

“You’re welcome,” she says. He rubs her head.

“You remember the plan, right?” he says. She thinks about it for a moment, but she’s too tired to argue. She nods.

“You and Mommy are having a sleepover, and I’m having another sleepover with Uncle Ty.” He smiles, then kisses her again and says goodbye.

Before I can interject, Demi throws her arm around me.

“This was a full weekend arrangement,” she says. “Tyson is taking her tonight.” I look at my brother, who shrugs and winks. I thank them all over and over, then kiss Harper goodbye. I’m feeling so guilty for having everyone else take care of her for the last few days. I tell them to be careful and to let me know when they’re home.

“Hey,” Demi says out the rolled-down passenger window. “Stop. You have been through more in the last forty-eight hours than anyone should have to go through in a lifetime. I know that look. Stop it. Let yourself enjoy tonight. Let the rest roll off you. Okay?”

I smile and nod, squeezing her hand before she blows me a kiss and drives away. I’m not sure who told Demi and Tate—if it was my dad or Tyson. But either way, I’m grateful that I don’t have to relive it. I’m grateful that, as much as I know they both wanted to, they haven’t committed murder. And I’m glad that they know to let me bring it up to them in my own time. I’ll get there. Just not tonight.

And then, a moment later, I’m climbing into Levi’s SUV, and he’s closing the door for me. And we’re on our way out of D.C.

“Where are we going?” I ask. The second he is buckled in, his hand is on my thigh.

“Home,” he says. I raise my eyebrows.

“Seriously?” I ask. “You don’t want to go celebrate, you know, your career ending? The win you just had? Handing it to fucking Leray?”

He laughs and shakes his head.

“No,” he says. “I just want to go home with my girl. I wanna lie with you naked and let it all soak in. I want quiet. I want you. That okay?” he asks. I squeeze his hand on my leg.

“Of course,” I say.

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