Page 46 of Power Play Pursuit

I nod. “Yep.Always has been.” Which is why I suspect he never liked Lucas, or made a real effort to get to know him.

A small spark lights up James’ eyes, and it warms my chest. “Well, that changes things. We should definitely go to the game and show him a good time. I could take him behind the scenes, and he can meet the guys. We’ll grab seats in the VIP suite. That’s always fun.”

“Really?” I lean forward, happy my idea is working. It’s great that he’s been taking it easy this past week, but all the down time messes with his mood. We have to find a balance. “Isn’t that too much?”

He finishes his muffin and shrugs. “Piece of cake. Will your mom come too?”

“If she can, yeah. That’d be great.”

“Awesome. I’ll text Jenna, our PR manager,” he says as he gets up to rinse his plate. He turns to me with an intense glint in his eyes. “There’s just one condition.”

I cock my head to the side, a grin tugging at my lips. “And what’s that?”

He flashes a bright smile. “You have to wear my jersey.”

I press my lips, struggling to contain my own smile. “Fine. It’s a deal.”

As soon as he turns back to the sink, an elated smile stretches across my face. I must say, I’m proud of myself for crafting this plan. But most ofall, I’m glad that James Adler is back.

The next day, James wakes up early. He even sings in the shower again. Seeing him back to his old self eases my worry a little. He told me he’ll take care of everything today, including getting me my own Number 8 jersey.

When I reach the coffee shop and tell Marissa about it, however, she immediately eyes me with suspicion.

“Why did you ask him? You know I could have gotten you the same deal.”

“I know, but it was a spur-of-the-moment thing, and he was there. Don’t read too much into it.” I sigh. “Besides, he needed it. It’s been hard on him, being away from the game and the guys.”

“Oh,” she says with a frown. “I didn’t realize that. I don’t think the guys have either. He looked fine when Aaron chatted with him on the video call.” Marissa traveled with the team for a few games to be there on Aaron’s birthday.

“Please don’t say anything,” I beg. “I don’t think he wants the guys to know, but yeah, it’s been rough. Talking about surprising my dad seemed to help, though. He’s excited for it.”

“Good,” she says quietly, probably worrying over James. “I won’t tell Aaron, I promise, but I’m glad he’ll be back for a while. Looks like his friend needs him.”

“Thanks.”

Her face brightens slightly as she asks, “So, does your dad know yet?”

“Nope.” I smile. “We’re going full surprise mode on him. We’re meeting my parents at a restaurant not far from the arena. He thinks we’re eating there.”

“Ohh, nice. They’re going to love James, I’m sure. They’re goofy like him.”

I can’t fight my grin. “Yeah. That’s what I thought too.”

“What about you?” She arches an eyebrow.

I give her a pointed look. “Nothing has changed. We’re still friends, and I like it that way. Honestly, he’s the perfect roommate. And I love cooking in his kitchen, so it’s a win-win.”

I return to my batch of brownies, happy she’s not pressing the issue further. Frankly, I haven’t given our relationship much thought lately. With James being so down, it wasn’t really on my mind. Not to mention I still have trust issues to overcome before I can even think about dating anyone else.

22

"I don’t need the Raptors gear. I am one."

James Adler

I love making people happy. Whether it's signing a kid’s jersey, giving a hug, helping someone propose, or crafting the perfect birthday surprise. It’s in those moments that I feel most like myself. And if it involves Elizabeth Bowen, well, that’s just the cherry on top.

“Come on, we’ve got to go,” I say, adrenaline pumping in my veins as I wait for Elizabeth in the living room.

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