Power Play: A Second Chance Hockey Romance (Sinners on the Ice)
Power Play: A Second Chance Hockey Romance: Chapter 20

Now, September

Layla is beside me in the passenger seat, her elbow resting on the window trim. Wind rushes in with a whooshing sound, swirling around the car and tugging at her hair. Its rhythmic hum mixes with the music in my car and the game Maya’s playing on Layla’s phone in the back seat. Strangely, it doesn’t create a ruckus or an uncanny cacophony. It’s nice, natural, and I can’t stop myself from smiling. Not that I try.

Layla’s eyes are closed as she enjoys the seventy-five-degree day and the sunrays on her skin. I continue to sneak glances at them both, not quite believing that I managed to make them come with me. Or that I kissed the love of my life for the first time in several years.

It all feels unreal, but I’m not complaining. I feel so happy now.

“I’ve been thinking about it since yesterday, after you left,” Layla says, opening her eyes and turning in her seat to me. “Why Monterey? Couldn’t you replace anything closer?”

I smirk. “I could, but I didn’t want to.”

“Why?”

“I made quite a few friends in Chicago—outside the team, I mean—and one of them is Ethan. He owns a bar I used to hang out at. When he found out I was moving to Santa Clara and that I was taking my car with me, he suggested his uncle’s car shop if I ever needed anything, including a tune-up. I trust his judgment, and I love supporting my friends, so here we are.”

Layla smiles gently at me, her fingers brushing her hair away from her face. “You’re still a good friend, Clay Rodgers.”

“I am,” I confirm. “Though people like Ethan make it easy. He’s a great guy. I’d love for you to meet him and his wife one day.”

“He has a wife?” She blinks, her eyebrows knitting together for a brief moment. I nod, and Layla chuckles. “I have no idea why that surprised me. Maybe because you said he owns a bar.”

“Ethan met Brooklyn at his bar, and they were friends before things started to change,” I explain, remembering how their relationship started right in front of my eyes. They went through so much shit together, but it only made them stronger. “I was at their wedding,” I add quietly.

Layla’s gaze bounces to me, and I notice the column of her throat twitching as she swallows nervously. “In January? Almost five years ago?” Her voice is cautious and quiet, and I nod, confirming my answer to the question she doesn’t ask. “I’m sorry I couldn’t make it.”

“That’s okay. It was your final year of college. I knew you were busy.” With her studies—with that asshole she’d been fucking on and off. Weirdly, I don’t remember his name or what he looked like. Just that he was a douche and didn’t deserve her.

“Yeah…” Layla trails off, her finger drawing circles on the bare skin of her thigh as the skirt of her dark blue dress rides up. “I’m really sorry, Clay. I mean it.”

The feeling of comfort, completion, fills me up and flows deep in my veins. We have so many things to discuss, so many questions to ask, so many answers to get. If I want this to work, we will need to be honest with each other, to open up about all the mistakes we made. But not now. Not today. It can wait.

This trip is supposed to be fun and light. A chance for us to spend some time together, to get to know each other from scratch. It’s a chance for me to build a relationship with Maya.

“Princess?” I call out to her as I glance briefly over my shoulder. She looks up from the phone screen, her finger hovering over it. Her pink glasses, white tee with a rainbow-colored unicorn and light blue shorts look adorable on her. I still don’t know why she needs to wear glasses, but I suppose it has something to do with the doctor visit she mentioned before. I’ll ask Layla about it. “How is Bon-Bon doing? I haven’t heard you talk about her for some time. I’m worried.”

Her face lights up in an instant, and she puts the phone down on the seat beside her. “We were in Paris today. Me and Bon-Bon.”

“Paris?” I quirk an eyebrow at Layla, and she snorts, shaking her head.

“It’s Angie’s favorite city. Remember to never ask her about it, or she’ll talk your ear off. I made that mistake once. Not sure I ever want to go to France now, even if I wanted to before.”

“I remember Paris was on your bucket list,” I state. My eyes are on the road, but I feel her watching me. It’s all about the details, little and big. They will show her that I care. That I know her. That I memorized everything about her, and I don’t plan on ever forgetting.

I catch Maya’s gaze in the rearview mirror and ask, “And what do you think about Paris, Princess?”

We spent around two hours at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, going from one exhibit to the next, enjoying our time and having a lot of fun with Maya at the Splash Zone. Though we loved watching the otters the most. As Maya said, “They are the best animals in the world.” And I think she’s right.

Then we grabbed a quick lunch and went for a walk on the beach. My cheeks hurt from smiling so much. It’s impossible to stay unaffected when a child like Maya is with you.

Layla warned me against buying her a sandcastle building set, but of course I didn’t listen. I wanted to play with Maya. By the time we finally left the beach to go meet Dominic, three sandcastles of different sizes and shapes were standing on the sand, and a yellow bucket and a shovel were stored in the trunk of my car.

It’s one of the best days I’ve had in months. Just because Layla and Maya are here with me.

“When do you think my car will be ready?” I ask Dominic.

He turned out to be only twenty-three, with a short blond buzzcut and hazel eyes like his cousin Ethan’s. I’m still taller than him, but I think he’s a good six-foot-one, with broad shoulders and a lean frame. And the fella is handsome—I definitely noticed the glances Layla threw his way when we were talking about my car.

Dominic scratches the back of his head, thinking. “Will Friday work for you?”

“Not sure. I have a home game on Friday, and then we’re flying to Vegas on Saturday for the last preseason game.”

“I can drive it to Santa Clara for you or have one of our guys bring it?”

The bell above the door rings, and Dominic and I turn our heads. A girl with long, jet-black hair steps into the shop and looks around. She’s in a short floral dress and a black leather jacket. A little purse hangs over her shoulder. Dominic stiffens beside me, crossing his arms over the chest of his black hoodie. His eyes are glued to the new addition.

“What are you doing here?” he asks.

Her gaze snaps in our direction, and she purses her lips, eyeing Dominic from under her furrowed brow. “Mom told me Allan wants to see me. Is he here?”

“In the office,” Dominic grumbles.

The girl rolls her eyes and strolls toward a side door near where we’re standing. She’s younger than us, probably a college kid. And she’s very beautiful, with smooth, sun-kissed skin and plump lips painted red. Her dark green eyes, framed by long black eyelashes, are shooting daggers at Dominic as she gets closer to us.

“Next time, call him,” he says. “Dad could’ve been anywhere.”

Instead of gracing him with an answer, the girl lifts her hand and gives him the middle finger. I glance between the two—the tension could seriously be cut with a knife. What am I missing here?

“Sorry about that,” he tells me when she steps into the office and closes the door behind her.

“Don’t worry,” I say with a smile. “It was highly entertaining.”

Dominic chuckles, and Layla walks up to us, holding Maya in her arms. She stops beside me, and I hide my hands in my pockets, restraining myself from reaching out and wrapping my arm around her shoulder. We’re not there yet…but we’re definitely moving in the right direction. Yesterday’s kiss is the best evidence of that.

Calculating the right move when it comes to Layla is feeling more and more like a power play. The advantage I have now, with all the big and little gestures I’m showing her, is definitely playing into my hands. I’m here to stay, and it’s best she understands that.

“That’s Mia. She’s my best friend’s little sister.” He swallows and looks away for a moment. “And my stepsister.”

A stunned silence hangs between us. Then Layla snorts. “A sibling’s love is priceless, isn’t it?”

Dominic winces as if Layla’s words bother him. “We never really got along,” he mutters. Then he clears his throat. “Sorry. It’s a very long story, and you’re not here to listen to it.” He claps his hands together. “So will you be okay with me driving your car to Santa Clara?”

“Totally. I just hope it won’t be a problem for you.”

“Not at all. I’ll call you beforehand to make sure you’re home. Plus, that way I can drive our car back, so it’s all good.”

We talk some more about the things I want them to do with my G-Wagon, and then we say goodbye. As we are about to head to the exit, the door of the office opens, and the girl who came in earlier storms out.

“Thank fuck—I’m so going to be late now,” I hear her mumble as she fishes for something in her purse. “Where’s my damn phone?”

“Do you need a ride?” Dominic calls out to her, and she pauses for a second. Her gaze meets his, and it dawns on me. These two have a history together. It’s so fucking obvious, I wonder how I didn’t figure it out from the start. The longing, the unasked questions. It’s all so familiar to me.

“Not from you,” the girl deadpans. She straightens her back, lifting her chin up. She walks past Layla and Maya, sending them a little smile on her way, then she’s gone.

I clear my throat, trying to ease the tension because Dominic is looking damn near ready to run after her. “Bye, Dom.” We shake hands.

“Bye. And sorry again.”

“It’s totally fine,” Layla chimes in and opens the door, letting Maya walk out first. “It was nice to meet you, Dominic.”

“You too.” A crooked smile grows on his face, then instantly disappears when he looks away.

I follow Layla and Maya outside, carrying a car seat in my right hand. We head to the black SUV Dominic loaned me for the ride back. Once I set up the car seat and put Maya into it, I make sure her seat belt is on and comfortable for her. Then I climb into the driver’s seat and start the engine.

“Interesting dynamic those two have, don’t you think?” I ask Layla, driving away from the shop.

She sighs, glancing at me sideways. “You’re too nosy, Clay.”

“I’m curious, Mama. There’s a difference.” Her cheeks flame, and she turns to look out the window, twisting her Tinker Bell ring around her finger. “Thank you for agreeing to come with me. I would’ve been bored out of my mind otherwise, but with you”—I pause, checking Maya in the rearview mirror—“and your little girl, I had the time of my life.”

“Thank you, Clay. We had a great time too,” Layla murmurs, sneaking a glance at me. “But I think you’re exaggerating. We were just there⁠—”

“You were there for me, and that’s what matters.” Instead of holding myself back, I reach out and catch Layla’s hand in mine. “Every minute with you and Maya makes me a little bit happier. I don’t need anything else.”

A shy smile graces her beautiful features, and she intertwines her fingers with mine.

Justin Bieber’s “Baby” is playing on the radio, and Maya sings along, laughing happily. My hand cradling Layla’s is lying on her knee. And honestly? I’ve never felt better.

They are my destiny…they just don’t know it yet.