Page 33 of Power Play

thirteen

. . .

Al

After practice, Coach Turner calls me into his office. With lightning speed, I shower and change into a pair of athletic shorts and a quick-dry shirt with the team logo before knocking.

“What can I do for you, Coach?”

“Sit down and close the door,” he says, looking up from his computer with a frown.

As I take a seat, I fold my hands in my lap, my thumb running over the ring on my finger. The second I was out of the shower, I put it back on. I feel naked when I’m not wearing it.

“You’ve had a lot of changes lately. How are you holding up?”

My announcement—both of them—must have reached his ears. I’m certainly not trying to hide either Riley or Emmy.

“I’m fine.”

“Not distracted?” He studies me.

“I’m on a points streak, the second longest in my career.”

“Hmm.”

“I’m good, Coach.”

He picks up his tablet, tapping on the screen, before he hands it to me.

“There’s a Grizzlies Foundation gala next week. You need to bring your wife.”

“Right.” I glance at the photo on the screen. It’s me and Riley on the park bench, my arm around her as she holds Emmy. We look… like a family. Like we belong together.

After our walk in the park, we went to a nearby bistro. It’s one of only a handful of meals Riley and I have shared. Emmy fell asleep in her stroller, so we didn’t have to rush home, and our quick meal turned into a leisurely two-hour conversation. I can’t deny it felt nice to sit in public with my wife like all the other guys do, chatting and relaxing.

Coach scowls at me. “I don’t care if this is a business deal or if it’s the real thing. There will be fans at this event, and they’re paying a thousand dollars a plate to see you. It’s got to look real.”

“Got it.”

We were already planning on her bringing Emmy for her first game… I guess now we’ve got a doubleheader. Two public appearances in one weekend.

Passing the tablet back to him, I lift my chin and meet his eyes. “Anything else?”

“Dismissed.”

I head back to the players’ lounge, where most of the guys are hanging out. Stomach growling, I grab a plate from the stack and fill it from the chafing dishes laid out, then settle at a table with Mitchell, Jenkins, and Logan.

“Where’s your shadow?” I ask Logan, and he scowls.

“MacGregor’s getting treatment with Amelia.”

They’re usually attached at the hip. During practice, they’re on separate squads, but they sit side by side on every bus and plane ride, and they spend all their time together.

I chuckle. “But you knew who I was talking about.”

“Fuck off,” he says, rolling his eyes to take the heat out of the words.

“Are you and Hailey finally going to tie the knot?”