Power Play: A Second Chance Hockey Romance (Sinners on the Ice)
Power Play: A Second Chance Hockey Romance: Chapter 12

Now, August

Her eyes, which usually remind me of milk chocolate, are a darker shade now. I can almost see lightning bolts behind her irises. Layla is pissed, just like Ava suspected she would be. Not that I care. I saw a chance to make a move and went for it.

It’s time I put my plan into action.

I am a winner…and I want my girl back.

“Clay!” Maya squeals excitedly.

I bend a little, smiling from ear to ear. She stands up from her chair and jumps into my outstretched arms. “Hey, Princess. How are you?”

“Good.” She glances at Layla. “I ate cupcake.”

“Really? Was it delicious?”

“Angie’s is better.” Her cheeks redden as she lowers her gaze.

“Can you believe I still haven’t visited Angie’s dessert shop?” I make my eyes round, raising my eyebrows. “Should I go?”

“Yes! She’s the best,” Maya tells me with conviction, resting her palm against my collarbone. My skin warms, and my heart swells in my chest. I think I can get used to feeling like this with these two around.

“Then it’s settled. I’ll go to Angie’s next time I want something sweet.” I smile, my heart pounding harder. Maya’s affection toward me makes my breath hitch. “Will you go with me?”

She nods. “Can Mommy go?”

I’m counting on it.

But instead of saying that aloud, I tell her, “Let’s ask your mommy.” My gaze collides with Layla’s the second I turn my head to her. She tries to play annoyed, pouting, but her eyes are soft, glimmering with warmth. “Will you come with us, Mama?”

Her mouth hangs open. “What?”

I repeat slowly. “Will you come with us? We want to go to Angie’s dessert shop.”

“We?” she asks.

“Me and Clay,” Maya clarifies, oblivious to her mom’s shocked state. “Can we go, Mommy?”

Layla swallows; the column of her throat twitches. Fixing her hairpin with trembling fingers, she holds my gaze. “We can…but I’m not sure when. I’m going to be very busy soon, and then Clay’s going to be busy. Preseason starts⁠—”

“I will replace time,” I interrupt her. “For you and Maya, I’ll always replace time.”

Layla’s chest rises and falls. Her eyes darken, and all the brightness dims. It’s like she’s not used to hearing things like that, and it fucking pains me.

Why couldn’t she keep her promise? That fucker never deserved a chance with her.

“Mommy, please.”

Blinking rapidly, Layla straightens her spine. “Then we will replace time and go together,” she says, then she peers at Maya. “I promise.”

Silence hangs between us, soothing and calm. Maya starts playing with my beard, tickling my skin with her little fingers. I watch her mom; my stomach is warm. After a few minutes in their company, I feel like I’ve been filled to the brim with positive energy. Light and weightless. And happy. So damn happy, like I haven’t been in years.

Layla clears her throat. “What are you doing here?”

“It happened that I was at the Thompsons’ when you called. I said I could come pick you up while Ava gets ready and heads to your place,” I explain to her. “I was leaving anyway.”

“Is it on your way home?”

“Doesn’t matter, it’s no problem.”

Another bit of silence follows. I continue smiling at her, then shift my gaze to Maya. Up close, I notice a little drop of icing on the tip of her nose. Gently, I use my finger to wipe it away. Our eyes meet, and she beams at me shyly. Her cheeks are covered in a pinkish hue. Such an adorable little girl.

“Ready to go home?”

Maya nods.

“Layla?”

Her eyes fly to me, and hesitation crosses her features. Then she nods too and stands up from her chair. The jeans she’s wearing wrap tightly around her legs; her round hips scream for my attention. The pastel purple of her tee looks beautiful against her sun-kissed skin. The loose waves of her hair rest on her shoulders. She fixes her hairpin again, and I catch sight of the ring on her finger.

My ring.

A long-forgotten memory appears in my mind.

I walk into her dorm room without knocking. The scent of apple and cinnamon hits me right in the face, and I notice one of the scented candles lit on her nightstand. Layla sits on her bed; her red-rimmed eyes meet mine. I rush over to her, dropping my sports bag and my stick on the floor on my way. Lowering myself in front of her, I search her face. Gently, I cup her cheeks with my palms, making her look at me.

“What happened?”

She sobs. “I-I…lost…I lost my ring.”

I breathe a sigh of relief. Sliding my hand to the back of her neck, I pull her close. Our foreheads meet, and I close my eyes. The way she affects me never ceases to amaze me. How could I have been so stupid to avoid her last year?

“I’ll buy you a new one.”

“It won’t be…it won’t be the same,” Layla whines, her lips trembling. “It was my favorite one, with Tinker Bell. I bought it myself…”

“I’ll buy you a new one,” I tell her again, bringing my mouth an inch away from hers. “I’ll buy you a thousand new ones if it means I can make you happy.”

“With Tinker Bell?” She hiccups.

“Yes.” I nod. “Though I’ve always been curious about this ring. Why Tinker Bell?”

Layla smiles despite her tears. “I remember watching Peter Pan with Ava for the first time, and how much she liked Peter Pan and lost boys, while all I could think about was Tinker Bell, and how beautiful and magical she was. It was my favorite Halloween costume for years. I loved dressing up like her. Until one of my classmates made fun of me, saying that I was lazy and that’s why I was wearing the same costume year after year. I stopped dressing like Tinker Bell, but I still loved the character. And when I saw the ring with her? I knew I needed it. I saved up some money and bought it for my sixteenth birthday. And now it’s gone.” A sob bolts out of her lips.

“Layla, baby, I’ll buy you a new one with Tinker Bell. Please don’t cry.”

“Promise?”

“Anything for you.” I close the distance between us and kiss her hard. Making her worries disappear is my only goal for tonight.

I kept my promise. The ring on her finger is the one I bought her to replace the one she lost. A smile blossoms on my face, one I can’t contain, not that I’m really trying.

She kept my ring.

All is not lost.

I walk to my car with Layla, still holding Maya in my arms. She’s chatting nonstop, telling us about her friends from preschool. I smile, listening attentively. Hudson, Kai, and Jax are the boys she spends most of her time with; Leah, Melissa, and Tammy are her best friends. I’m cataloging every single word she says, marking all of them as “Important.”

I’m not doing it with the sole purpose of winning her mom over. It’s about winning her over too.

“Wait a minute, I need to get her car seat,” Layla blurts and darts to her car. It’s parked a few feet away from mine. The black color shines brightly in the sun. I unlock my car and wait for her to return. Maya is quiet too, staring at her mom’s back.

“Mommy said her car isn’t working,” Maya tells me in a conspiratorial whisper.

“I’ll make sure it gets fixed.” And I mean it. “If you or your mom need anything, tell her to call me. Okay?”

Maya beams. “Okay. Uncle Drake helps Mommy too.”

“Your uncle is a great guy.”

“The best.”

I grin back at her as her mom joins us, Maya’s car seat pressed to her chest. I open the back door and Layla installs the seat, then steps back and extends her hands to me. I shake my head. “Get in the car. I’ll take care of Maya.”

The atmosphere between us shifts instantly. Her cheeks puff out as she exhales through her nostrils. “I can do it myself.”

“I know.” I move slightly, making Layla step aside. “I have everything under control. Get in the car, Layla.”

One heartbeat later, she gives me an eye roll and climbs into my car. I chuckle under my breath and place Maya in her seat. She wiggles to get comfortable, then I reach over and fasten the straps to make sure she’s safe and secure.

“Is that okay?” I ask Maya. She nods, smiling at me. “Then let’s get you home.”

After I close the door, I round my car and climb into the driver’s seat. I fasten my seat belt and glance at Layla to make sure she has hers on too. Flashing her a lopsided grin, I place my hand on the steering wheel and start the car.

“Do you know the address?”

“Yes.”

She sneaks a glance at me.

“Ava told me.”

Without a word, Layla looks away and stares ahead. I slowly drive away from the coffee shop, and once we’re stopped at a red light, I turn my head to Maya. “How is Bon-Bon doing?”

The change in her expression is priceless. Her eyes open wide, and her pouty mouth forms a little O. She stares at me, blinking. “You remember?”

“Of course. I’ve been curious to know what she looks like ever since the party,” I tell her, winking.

Maya clasps her hands together; her eyes sparkle in delight. “She’s a unicorn. Bright pink, with a flower here.” She points to her chest. “Mommy’s flower.”

I focus on the road again as the traffic light changes. I’m not quiet because I don’t remember what Layla’s favorite flower is but because I’m waiting for a reaction from her. Someone whose favorite TV show was Gossip Girl and whose favorite character was Blair, couldn’t love anything but peonies. Pastel pink peonies, to be precise.

Remembering every little detail about her is my favorite sport. I love it just as much as I love hockey.

“Seems like your memory is failing you,” Layla quips.

I hold her gaze for one long moment. “Never.” I chuckle as I turn left at the intersection. “Does Bon-Bon have a pastel pink peony on her chest?”

“Yes!” Maya claps. “She’s so beautiful.”

“I have no doubt,” I tell her, discreetly watching her mom.

Layla balls her hands into fists, her jaw clenching. She tries not to look at me but fails, and our eyes clash. I smirk, even if I shouldn’t. My smugness is so evident she rolls her eyes. Again.

“That’s a coincid⁠—”

“No. I remember everything about you.”

She expels a prolonged sigh and turns away from me, gazing out the window. I decide not to push her buttons more than I already have and start chatting to Maya instead. Apparently, she and Bon-Bon met in one of her dreams.

“I saw my daddy once,” Maya says quietly, as I turn into their driveway.

Layla swivels her head, her eyes narrowed. “Who did you see?” Her voice shakes a little.

“My daddy.” Maya’s cheeks are a light shade of pink as she talks to her lap. “I don’t see his face. Bon-Bon showed him in a crowd.”

My hands are gripping the steering wheel so hard, my knuckles turn white. I breathe through my nostrils, trying to force myself to stay calm. Didn’t he leave them when she was a baby?

“Sweetie, it could have been anyone. Maybe it’s just⁠—”

“It was my daddy. I know it.” Maya’s eyes veil with tears.

“Okay, sweetheart, you’re right,” Layla adds soothingly and turns away, her eyes fixed ahead of her. The expression on her face is vacant, and she looks a little lost.

The desire to replace this dude and fucking kill him rises in my chest again. What kind of prick would abandon such a precious little girl? Would leave someone as loving as Layla behind?

He’s a useless idiot, and I would do anything for them to never have to think about him again. They deserve to be loved and happy, and it’s clear this man isn’t capable of that.

If my plan is successful, he will be nothing more than a ghost. A distant memory for them both.

“We’re home,” I say, stopping my car. The implication of my words registers in my brain too late. “You have a nice house,” I add, trying to dissolve the tension.

“Thanks.” Layla unfastens her seat belt, and within a second, she’s already climbing out of my car.

I follow her, beating her to the back seat. Opening the door, I smile at Maya as I reach over and unbuckle her seat belt. “Let’s get you out of here. I’m sure you want to go home.”

I take her in my arms and slowly set her on her feet. Maya catches my fingers and wraps her tiny hand around them. “I want play.”

My gaze darts to Layla, and I tip my chin up, wordlessly asking her if I can stay. But before she can answer, Ava’s car pulls into the driveway, and I know it’s time for me to leave.

Crouching down to Maya, I look her in the eyes. “I’d love to play with you but not today.”

Her mouth collapses into a frown, and I see sadness in her eyes.

“Ava is here with Meghan. I’ll come play with you some other time. Deal?”

“Promise?”

“I promise, Princess.” I stand up. My eyes replace Layla’s, and I smile. “It was nice to see you.”

“You too,” she murmurs, sneaking a glance at Ava climbing out of her car. “Thank you so much for bringing us home.”

“Of course. Next time you need a ride⁠—”

“Don’t worry. I’m sure my car is fine.”

“Okay.” I take a step back and remove Maya’s car seat from my back seat. “I’ll text you later so we can make a plan to go to Angie’s shop.”

“You have my number?” Layla takes the car seat from me, and my fingers brush hers on purpose. The feeling is still the same: powerful and endearing. It’s a need. Like a hot shower on a cold day, when you finally get inside and don’t want to go back out because it means you’ll be freezing again. I want to stay like that forever. With her and her little daughter.

“Is it still the same?” I manage to ask, barely escaping getting lost in my own memories. She nods. “Then yes. I have it.” I wave to Maya. “Bye, Princess.”

“Bye, Clay.”

Skirting my car, I catch Ava’s gaze. She smiles mischievously as she heads toward Layla with Meghan in her arms. She loved playing matchmaker; I have no doubt. I wink at her, open the door, and climb into my car.

When my window is down, I set my elbow on the trim. “See you later, Mama,” I tell Layla, watching her intently. She snickers, shaking her head, but doesn’t say anything. One point in my favor.

Driving away, I can’t help but smile. My plan is working, and before she knows it, she will be mine.

Forever this time.