Page 167 of Like a Power Play
“And after the Hornets game?” she presses, flicking a sculpted brow at me. “You weren’t in your room.”
I glance over. Her cheeks are pink from the wind, black hair whipping across her face, and suddenly, it hits me.
“Shit,” I mutter. My stomach folds in on itself, over and over until it becomes tungsten and sinks to the bottom of my body. “I forgot you wanted snacks.”
“And you promised to walk with me to the store,” she finishes for me.
My feet slow to a stop, snow piling over the tops of my boots as I blow out a breath. “I’m really sorry, Bails.”
“It’s fine,” she replies with a little smirk. “Harlowe took me.”
But it’s not fine. Not to me.
This is exactly why I don’t do this. Between practice, games, and school, my time’s already sliced to pieces. Whatever’s left, I owe it to my people. To the ones who don’t have a family like mine. Bailey, whose parents treat her hockey career like a cute little detour on the way to something “real”. Harlowe, whose moms split their attention so thin, she sometimes vanishes right under their noses. Indie, whose family is stuck in Buttfuck, Oregon, and my brother, who, no matter how many times he ignores my texts, is my best friend.
But Darcy has become my people too.
I shake my head and rub the heels of my hands over my eyes. “No, seriously, I’m really fucking sorry.” I look up at Bailey, my voice dropping. “I promised I’d take you. I always keep my promises.”
Her smirk falls. She steps forward and puts a mittened hand on my shoulder. “Hey. It’s okay. It was just a trip to the store. I could’ve taken the bus if I had to.”
“Still.” I shake my head again, sucking in a slightly shuddered breath. But before I can spiral into a mental disaster, Harlowe reaches out, tugging my beanie teasingly over my eyes.
“Chill, Pey. Nobody’s perfect,” she cuts in, flicking me on the nose. I scowl, rubbing it to soothe the sting as I pull the hat back up, but when I catch sight of her, I can’t help but smile. “Not even you.”
I give her a light shove, positioning my tube at the top of the hill. She huffs as she drops the other two.
“Yeah, yeah, I know.” I sigh. “I just hate that.”
“I don’t know,” Bailey chimes lightly, tipping her head to the side. “I feel like I’m pretty close to perfect.”
Her wide brown eyes flick between us, and we all break into laughter, clouds forming from our amused breath.
“Such a princess,” Harlowe tuts, brushing the snow off Bailey’s tube. She beams.
“My gallant knight.” She pauses, turning to me, popping a hand on her hip. “So, you never answered my question,” she presses, the corners of her glossy lips quirking.
My brows furrow. “What question?”
She rolls her eyes. “Where were you?”
“I was…busy,” I deflect, waving her off. I crouch to adjust the velcro on Mr. Bubbles’ boot, mostly so I don’t have to meet their eyes.
“Busy doing what?”
“Darcy,” Harlowe chimes, grinning.
I shoot her a pointed look, but again, when my lips part to argue, nothing comes out. My heart begins palpitating as my mouth snaps shut.
Bailey’s brows shoot beneath her bangs.“Oh my God.”
“Don’t—”
“Youdid!”she gasps, pointing at me with her mouth stretched wide. I can see every single one of her perfect white teeth.
“No!” I lie, my tone betraying me. “I—We—”
“Oh my God,”Harlowe echoes, her face blank with shock, pouty lips parted as she stares at me.
