Page 63 of Power Play

twenty-three

. . .

Al

I’ve never been so fucking happy to go away for a road trip. Things have been tense with Riley since our improvised date night. The evening I’d hoped would end with us taking our relationship to the next level ended with her withdrawing from me even further. I guess it was too much to hope that we were on the same page.

Except last night… my bed felt empty. It’s been a long time since I had an overnight bed guest, and even longer since I had a partner I slept beside with any regularity. Years. Typically I prefer to sleep alone. Back in Arizona, I slept around a fair bit, but once I signed with Boston, once I was surrounded by family sticking their nose into my business all the time, I made the conscious decision not to bring anyone home, and they’d be invasively nosy if I didn’t come home at night. It was easier not to. The last person I slept with was… Carter.

I’m not sure why I pulled Riley into my room, only that I didn’t want to be by myself. Which is kind of ridiculous, because I like being on my own. I like being able to starfish in the middle of the bed. I like not having to worry about jostling anyone else, or my snoring keeping them up.

So why did one night change everything I’ve ever known about myself?

We agreed I’d take care of Emmy’s nighttime feeds on nights I’m home, so I didn’t expect to see Riley at two o’clock in the morning. But when I crawled back into my bed, a buzzing sounded from the room next door.

A very distinct kind of vibration, a steady buzz buzz buzz.

Followed by a moan, breathy and light.

My cock went rock hard in seconds, the rush of blood leaving me light-headed. I definitely didn’t shove my hand down my pants and jerk off at the thought of my wife getting herself off with a vibrator only a few feet away.

I did not.

But I wanted to. I wanted to know what she was thinking about. Who she was thinking about.

It wasn’t me, that’s for certain. I might have a healthy dose of self-confidence, but I’m not so full of myself as to think she’d be interested in me that way. If she were, she wouldn’t need to think about calling off the divorce. Maybe I should have waited to bring it up. It’s still a year or two away; so much can change between now and then.

I don’t only want to be married to her, though. I want to date her, spend time with her. For our business transaction to be an actual relationship.

And she… doesn’t feel the same. It’s a kick in the nuts.

“What’s wrong?” Chuck Gallagher, my future brother-in-law, sets a cup of coffee on the table in front of me. We’re playing Denver tonight, and ever since my brother started dating his sister, we’ve made it a point to hang out when we’re in the same city. After all, we’re family now… or we will be, once Tony gets off his ass and proposes. I don’t know what he’s waiting for. The ring is already sitting in his sock drawer. Then again, I’m more of a rip-off-the-bandage type and can’t wait for a perfect moment.

I shake my head. “Just… thoughts.”

“Is this about the wife or the kid?” He slurps noisily at his coffee. “How was the date night?”

“How do you know about that?” The only person I’ve told was…

He shrugs. “Cari and I chat.”

My eyes narrow. “You’re talking to my little sister?”

He and I were in the same draft class, so while we went to a few of the same hockey summer camps, we were never really friends. He played college hockey in the Big 10 and I was part of Hockey East, so aside from one year at the Frozen Four tournament where we both lost, our hockey social circles didn’t overlap. We were both passed over for the last Olympic training camp, and neither of us made the national team for the big international tournament—something my brother likes to rub in my face.

“I mean, one day she’ll be my sister, too, in a way.”

“I don’t think you understand how family systems work,” I mutter. “You don’t become siblings like that.”

“Okay, so fine, technically she’ll be Viv’s sister-in-law, not mine, but she’s my family. I get to choose who’s part of my family, and I’m picking her, just like I’m picking you,” Chuck says with a grin. “You fuckers won’t be able to get rid of me.”

Tapping the side of my coffee cup against his in a lukewarm cheers, I force a grin. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

He snickers and settles back in his chair. “So. Tell me about the wife. I want to meet her next time I’m up in Boston.”

“She’s…” I blow out a breath. “I really fucking like her.”

I wish that was enough, but I don’t think I have the words to describe how I feel about her.