Page 59 of Power Play Pursuit

“Yep. When you know, you know,” he says simply. Elizabeth’s face appears in my mind, and there’s a sting in my heart. Even if I've been feeling a different vibe lately, we’re a far cry from where Miles and Marissa are.

“How’s Hayley doing?” Hawthorne asks Beaumont while Miles starts up the gaming console.

“Good.” His lips tilt into a smile. “She’s excited, though lately, she’s been getting more and more anxious when I take a hit.”

“Last night was kind of brutal, dude,” Miles says, and Hawthorne nods.

“Bad hit?” I ask with a frown. “I haven’t had time to catch the replay yet.”

Beaumont rakes a hand through hiswavy hair. “Yeah, I guess it was. You know how Dobrovsky is, but it’s fine. Hayley is just a little worried, that’s all.”

“Understandable,” Hawthorne says, throwing a few pieces of popcorn in his mouth. “Dating a hockey player isn’t exactly a walk in the park. You’ve got the impossible hours, the away games, the routine, the fame, and the violence of the sport. Hardly a treat.”

Beaumont arches an eyebrow. “Is that why you don’t date, Cap?”

Hawthorne nods. “Yep. And because I want to perform my best while I'm at my peak. I don’t think I could juggle having a relationship and being pro.”

“You’ll never know until you try,” Miles says, handing us the controllers. “All right, ready?”

We all nod, but I’m still ruminating on what Hawthorne said. Suddenly, I understand where Beth is coming from. Dating already isn’t easy. You need to make concessions, you’re vulnerable, and there’s always the risk of getting your heart broken. But when you add all the baggage that comes with being a pro athlete, it can be even harder to take the plunge. Especially when you’ve already been burned by one in the past.

“Dude, come on,” Miles says, snapping his fingers in front of me. “You said you were ready.”

I swallow hard, shifting back into focus. “I am. Let’s play.”

After enjoying a sumptuous meal of lasagna that Elizabeth prepared—her parents’ recipe—we’re now doing the dishes together.

“Do you want to watch a movie?” I ask, handing her the lasagna dish to dry.

She arches an eyebrow. “We already have plans for tonight, or have you forgotten?”

I blink back at her. “Wait. We do?”

“It’s Skincare Night,” she announces with a full grin.

I cough out a laugh. “Do you Bowens have a theme for every night of the week?”

“You betcha,” she jokes. “Anyway, we talked about it yesterday before I let you put fake blood on my face. We had a deal.”

“Yeah, yeah.” I shake my head. “I remember.” I’m not sure slathering oils and creams on my face will do my sex appeal any favors with Elizabeth, but a promise is a promise. And if I’m being honest, a skincare night doesn’t sound that bad. Nothing involving Elizabeth does.

“Great.” She slides the dishback into the cupboard and scurries out of the room.

After I finish tidying up in the kitchen, I take a seat at the counter. I’m guessing whatever we’re doing will require running water.

“Okay,” she says, walking in with a huge beauty bag on her arm and additional products clutched between her fingers. “We’ll start with a full cleansing routine followed by a few treatments.”

“Terrific,” I say, using my best “sarcastic Elizabeth” voice.

“Don’t be like that,” she chides, placing the products on the counter. “Your skin will thank me. After this, you’ll be begging me to come back once I move out.”

I frown, my insides twisting. “You found a place?”

It may sound crazy, but I’ve enjoyed having her here so much, I completely forgot this situation was temporary, or that she was even looking.

She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “Not yet, but I came across an apartment that might work. I’m touring it tomorrow.”

My heart falls to my shoes. “You are?”

---