Page 15 of Power Play

“My dad mentioned it. But listen to me, Levi,” she says. “You need to let this go.”

My hands ball into fists again.

“Let thisgo?” I ask her, my voice low. I’m enraged, but I don’t want to scare her, especially with the delicacy of this situation. “How am I supposed tolet this go?”

She shrugs.

“You just are.”

I run a hand down my face and turn around. I take a deep breath, then turn back to her.

“I will let this go,” I say, looking right into her eyes, “if you tell me that Thad Dietrich is not Harper’s dad.”

She swallows, narrowing her eyes at me. Then they fill with tears, and I’m transported back, four years earlier. And I fucking hate myself for making her relive it.

four years ago

CHAPTERSIX

lo

“I don’t know,”I say again to Emma, watching as she scrunches her hair with mousse in her bathroom mirror. She scoffs and rolls her eyes as she flips her hair to the other side and does the same.

“Come on, Lo,” she says. “We’reseniors.This is what everyone expects of us anyway. And I told you, Dean said that Thad asked about you specifically.”

The butterflies swirl in my stomach again.

Thad Dietrich wantsmeto come to a party.

I’m already dressed and ready, but the cold feet are setting in.

I don’t get invited to parties often. Being the football coach’s daughter has its perks, but one of the downsides is that people are scared to engage. Guys—specifically football players—typically see me and run in the opposite direction. No messing with Coach’s daughter.

But Thad Dietrich…he was different. He wasn’t scared. He smiled at me. He told me he liked my sundress in sixth period. He said I had nice eyes. And most importantly, my dad loves him. And Thad knows that.

But me, I’m not a rule breaker. I’m a play-it-safe kind of gal.

I sigh and blow a piece of hair out of my face.

“YOLO, Lo,” she says, turning around and presenting herself to me. I smile.

“YOLO,” I whine as she pulls me off the bed and downstairs. My dad is on a fishing trip this weekend with Tate and the other football coaches, and it’s the first time I’ve been allowed to stay home by myself for the weekend. Of course, I’m not without watch. All three of my siblings are on standby and have strict instructions of when to “drop in” casually.

Jeff Calway is anything but casual when it comes to his kids.

Especially me.

Since my mom died, it’s been even more intense. He watches me carefully but still gives me everything I could ever need. Sometimes I wonder if it’s because I’m the baby, or if it’s because he feels like he’s doing it for my mom. Or maybe it’s a combo of both.

We get in Emma’s car and head out to the Mickelsons’ house. Scott Mickelson is a linebacker on the team and is graduating this year with us. He’s been playing for my dad for all four years, varsity since we were freshmen.

When we pull up, the driveway is already packed. Teenagers and Solo cups are everywhere, and I already feel the anxiety building back up in my chest. She leads me inside, and I’m just soaking it all in. It takes me all of sixty seconds to realize that I was never missing out on much. And I’d be totally happy turning right back around and walking out, calling my brother and asking him to come get me, laying it on thick not to tell my dad.

In fact, I lose my composure altogether. I reach for Emma’s shoulder, letting her know I’m chickening out, when I feel a tap on mine. I spin around to see Thad, standing tall and broad and sun-kissed in his letterman jacket.

“You made it,” he says with the killer smile that I’m pretty sure makes even our principal weak in the knees. Whoa. He reallywasasking about me. I smile nervously and tuck a piece of hair behind my ear. I shrug.

“I made it,” I say. He hands me the cup in his hand.

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