Page 12 of Power Play Pursuit

I nod. “Are you sure, though? Idon’t want to steal your thunder.”

He shakes his head vehemently. “No, no. She’s going to love it. Where can we meet so I can give you the ring?”

My eyes widen slightly. Right. I didn’t consider the part where a stranger has to entrust me with his most precious piece of jewelry. “Um, at the last possible moment would be best,” I say with a chuckle. “How about we meet at the player entrance around four p.m.?”

“Perfect. Thank you so much, man.” He starts moving toward the bar entrance.

“Absolutely. My pleasure. Hope it goes smoothly.”

“Are you kidding? With you bringing the ring,” he says, turning back with a smile, “there’s no way she’ll say no.”

I bark out a laugh. “Smart move, man.”

After the door closes behind him, Elizabeth comes back, and we walk home in silence. It’s a warm night for this time of year. There’s a slight breeze, but we’ve been having spectacular fall weather so far. She stares straight ahead, her gaze distant and unfocused.

“Are you okay?” I finally ask. I know, it’s pretty much the only question I’ve been asking her lately. But one look at her, and it’s all I can think about.

“You always ask me that,” she says, echoing my thoughts.

I arch an eyebrow. “Only because you keep lying to me.”

She looks at me, then brings her gaze to the pavement before sighing heavily. “Fine, I’m not okay. But isn’t that to be expected after a breakup?”

“I think so.” Not that I’ve really ever dated. “But I also think you made the right decision.”

She rolls her eyes, smiling. “Of course you do.”

“I mean it. He wasn’t good for you, Elizabeth.”

She puffs out a laugh. “And let me guess, you would be?”

My heart quickens as I imagine us walking down this street hand in hand. “Absolutely. You deserve someone who sees you, who values you. Not a dumbass who jerked you around for all those months, never realizing how amazing you are.”

Her cheeks pink ever so slightly. “Thanks for saying that. I don’t know why I stayed with him for so long.”

Beats me.

“But it’s hard sometimes,” she murmurs. “You feel so many things about a person, you can’t even label them all.”

I shove my hands in my pockets. “And what are your feelings now?”

She glances at me, her grayish eyes piercing through to my heart. “Relief?”

I raise an eyebrow. “Is that a question?”

“Relief,” she repeats with more certainty. “Yes, that’s what I feel. I’m glad it’s over with Lucas, and I can concentrate on myself again. He was a bad boyfriend, and I won’t keep looking into the past.”

“Good for you. Now that you’re a full-fledged Raptors fan, maybe you can wear my jersey instead of that generic one you have on?” I tease, glancing at her top.

She shakes her head, smiling. “You’re impossible. I like this jersey, and I just got it tonight. Plus, I know how you guys get worked up when a girl you know wears your jersey. I don’t want to give you any false hopes.”

“There she goes breaking my heart again,” I breathe out, and she chuckles.

She shrugs. “What? How could I date a hockey player again after what happened with Lucas?”

“Wow. He really screwed this up for me, didn’t he?” I say it with a lighthearted tone to make her feel better, but deep down, I mean it.

“Yeah. I’m afraid that ship has sailed,” she replies.

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