Power Play: A Second Chance Hockey Romance (Sinners on the Ice)
Power Play: A Second Chance Hockey Romance: Chapter 28

Now, November

I sit on the floor of the bathroom, running my hand up and down Maya’s back. She rests her chin on the toilet. Her eyes are closed. Her skin is pale, and there’s a miserable expression on her face.

“Sweetheart, let’s go back to your room.”

“No.” Her bottom lip trembles as she starts crying again.

“Maya, you haven’t thrown up for ten minutes. We can go back⁠—”

“No,” she whines.

Taking a deep breath, I stand up from the floor and look down at her, pursing my lips. When her teacher sent all the parents a text to let us know there’s a stomach bug going around school, I crossed all my fingers and even my toes, hoping it wouldn’t affect us. That Maya would stay healthy.

It’s like I jinxed her.

“I’ll bring you some water, okay?” She doesn’t bother with an answer. Pressing Skye tighter to her chest, Maya turns her head away from me.

I head out of the bathroom and into the kitchen. My phone starts buzzing in my pocket, and when I pull it out, the first thing my eyes land on is the time. The game against Vancouver will start in two hours. I need to let Clay know we won’t be there.

“Hey.” I answer the call, putting Angie on speaker.

“Hey. How’s Maya?” Her worried voice warms my skin. It’s always so nice to know that there are people who care about me and my little girl. Who love her just as much as I do.

“She’s okay.” It’s a white lie, but I don’t want her anxiety to spike. With her pregnancy, it’s the last thing she needs. “I’m gonna try to tuck her in soon. Sleep always helps.”

“I’m so sorry, Layla. I wish I could be there for you.”

“No, I told you, I’ve got it all under control. I don’t want you to get sick too.”

Angie chuckles. “Got it.” Then I hear someone else’s voice in the background. “Nev says hi. She’s wishing Maya a speedy recovery.”

“Tell her hi and thank you.” I lick my lips. “Have fun at the game. I hope I can watch once Maya’s in bed.”

“We’ll cheer the boys on for you. Especially Clay. I hear he’s starting tonight.”

I wish she hadn’t told me that. His first starting home game of the season, and Maya and I can’t be there to support him. Fucking awesome.

“Thanks, Angie.” I turn on the lights as I step into the kitchen. “And please, Clay and I are still…a secret. The more people know⁠—”

“The higher the chances you’ll be found out,” she finishes for me. “Don’t worry. Nev doesn’t know anything, and she didn’t hear me. She’s on the phone with her boss.”

I know I’ll need to talk to Drake about Clay soon. Things are getting good between us, and I’m tired of lying to my brother and everyone else. Clay doesn’t deserve it.

He’s the best thing that happened to me along with Maya.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I hope Maya feels better soon.”

“Me too. Bye.”

“Bye.”

Once I hang up, I quickly send a text to Clay. Hopefully, he’ll see it before the game starts. I don’t want him to be disappointed when he doesn’t see us sitting with the girls.

I put the phone down and walk to the cupboard to get a glass. When I start filling it with water, my phone dings. The butterflies in my stomach come to life, flying around excitedly even though they don’t know for sure that it’s Clay. They only hope it’s him. Just like I do.

You.

Smiling to myself, I slip my phone into my back pocket, pick up the glass of water, and go back to the bathroom. I need to convince Maya to go to bed. Sitting on the floor and trying to throw up won’t help. She needs rest in her warm, cozy bed.

“I talked to Angie. She and Nev hope you get well soon,” I say once I step into the bathroom. “Clay does too.”

Maya lifts her head from the toilet; the tiniest smile peeks onto her lips. “I miss Clay.”

“I know, sweetheart. Maybe he’ll come visit us soon. He has four home games in a row, so he’ll be home for a week.” I sit down beside her, extending the glass. “Drink this but with little sips, okay?”

She nods, taking the glass from me. The heat of her skin strikes me, and my eyes round. No, please…As Maya starts sipping on water, I move forward and gently press my palm to her forehead.

Fuck.

She has a fever.

Well, my day officially got worse.

I leave Maya’s door cracked when I slip out into the hallway. Thankfully, the chewable tablet I gave her helped bring the temperature down before she fell asleep, from 102 to 98. And she didn’t throw up again—another small win.

It’s all good, but I’m exhausted. My head hurts, a dull pain pulsating in my temples.

I drag my feet to the living room and slump onto the couch without turning on the lights. Instead, I light up the scented candle and the smell of peonies fills the room. Drake and Angie are already home; he called me on his way from the arena. To check on me and Maya. He sounded so defeated that I didn’t dare to ask what the final score was.

All I know is that Vancouver won.

My heart constricts as thoughts of Clay reappear in my mind with full force. I wish I could’ve been there for him, that I could’ve been the support system he always was for me.

I run my hand over my face and down to my chin, pausing before it gets to my throat. Wait a minute. I return my palm to my forehead and instantly close my eyes when I realize I probably have a fever too. That definitely explains why I feel like shit.

I grab the thermometer from the little table, and after a few moments I see 99.5. It’s not much, so instead of going to the kitchen for a medicine I head to Maya’s room. I lower myself down on her covers, and curl my hand around her shoulder, holding her close. My eyes start growing heavy, so I close them and just lie here. A few more minutes…

A knock on the door makes me sit up in bed. I’m a bit disoriented, my head feels like it weighs a ton. My fever definitely got worse while I slept. A knock on the door repeats, and panic rises inside me. My eyes dance between sleeping Maya and the door to her room.

Who is it?

I get up from the bed, and my vision starts to blur. Closing my eyes, I take a few deep breaths and then quickly tiptoe out of Maya’s room. I pull the door closed and rush to the front door. I have a fever, Maya is asleep after feeling terrible all day, and I’m not in the mood for guests. Whoever this is, their timing is terrible.

I swing the door open and come face-to-face with Clay. He stands in front of me in his black pants and a white shirt with a black bowtie, the box with Maya’s surprise in his hands. A gentle smile crosses his lips, and his eyes are full of joyful energy. Any other day I would’ve been happy to see him, but not tonight. My limbs are tingling with fatigue, my heartbeat is in my throat. I feel like I’m ready to throw up.

He shouldn’t be here.

“Hey, Layla,” he says. “I thought I’d stop by and bring Maya her surprise. I’m sure she needs something to cheer her up.”

“Uh-huh,” I mutter. “I wasn’t expecting you.”

“I was on my way home and decided to take a detour.” Clay shifts awkwardly. “How’s Maya?”

The dull pain in my head becomes more prominent. I feel like a boiled fish, which in my book is awful.

“How is Maya?” Clay asks again.

“She’s finally asleep, and I was able to manage her fever.”

“I thought you said she had a stomach⁠—”

“I thought so too, but then, when I finished texting with you, I went back to her, touched her forehead, and it was sizzling hot.” I cross my arms over my chest. “She’s been throwing up all day, but the thermometer showing 102 was definitely the highlight.”

“I’m sorry. Is there anything I can do? Do you need some meds or maybe food? When was the last time you ate?” Clay asks. His tone is annoyingly placating.

He shouldn’t be here. Not when I’m in this mood and state.

“Everything’s fine. This isn’t the first time Maya’s been sick, and it’s not the first time I’m dealing with several things at once. I’m sure tomorrow morning will be better.” My stomach aches, and I press my hand to it. I need him to leave, or I’m going to puke at his feet. “What I need right now is to be alone.”

He frowns, his eyebrows pulling together as he takes a step forward. “You want me to leave?”

“Um, yeah.” The pounding in my temples becomes harder, my vision darkening. I grasp the door with my hand for balance. “I don’t feel well, and it’s late.” I jab my thumb toward Drake and Angie’s house. “Plus, Drake is home…and I don’t want to deal with him now if he sees your car in my driveway.”

Silence follows my words; only my own ragged breath interrupts the quiet. Clay stares at me with an unreadable expression on his face.

Then he takes a step forward and stops before me, his head tilted so our eyes are level. He scrutinizes me with his lips pursed into a tight line. “It’s always going to be like this with you, isn’t it? Always hiding our relationship, always pretending that there’s nothing going on between us? That’s what you want? For me to stay your fucking little secret? Your fuck buddy?”

What? “Clay, I⁠—”

“I came here because I was worried about Maya. I was worried about you, and I felt bad that you were dealing with this all alone. I wanted to help. To be there for you. To be present so you’d know that you can count on me no matter what.” He keeps his voice low. “We fucking lost tonight. Five to two. It was awful. I was awful. I left with so much pent-up frustration and anger…but I knew that seeing you would help me feel better. But apparently I’m not welcome here.”

“Clay, I’m sorry that you lost, but it’s really not the right time…” A wave of nausea hits me and I shut my mouth. Oh my God, what’s happening now is disastrous. He’s taking it all wrong. “Clay…”

He hands the box he’s been holding to me and takes a step back. “Okay. I better go.” Another step away from me. “We don’t want your brother to see my car parked in your driveway. We don’t want him or anyone else to know that, God forbid, we’re fucking, or maybe that we are together. We don’t want him or anyone else to know.”

“Clay, wait⁠—”

Shaking his head, he turns on his heel. I try to catch his elbow, to stop him.

“No. I better go.”

“Clay, wait.”

He’s ready to walk down the stairs when I finally line up with him.

“Please, I can explain⁠—”

“Explain what?” Clay brings his eyes back to my face, and I’m drowning in how sorrowful his gaze is. Everything he’s been hiding, all the hurt and anger is spilling out of him. And I can’t even blame him for that…I am the reason he feels this way. “Isn’t this the same thing that happened to us three years ago? You made a fucking promise and didn’t keep it. Everything was exactly like today, with the exception of your absent ex. You promised to stop hiding the truth, and yet even three years later, you’re still lying through your fucking teeth.”

My eyes veil with tears. I swallow down my saliva, hoping it will stop me from throwing up so I can talk to him. “Listen, Maya felt terrible, and I was nervous.” My fingers are trembling as I hold the box close to my chest. “I have a fever too. I’m not feeling well, and⁠—”

Clay steps back. His eyes are full of disappointment. “Hope you feel better soon. We can talk later.”

“Clay, please don’t go.”

“Night, Layla.”

With that, he stomps down the porch steps and straight to his car, while I stand here frozen. Only when his car is gone do I go back inside. I place the box on the floor and storm to the bathroom, bending over the toilet. I don’t know for how long I stay on the floor, but when I finally feel good enough to stand up, my legs are shaking.

I go to the living room for a thermometer. My eyes fall on the box in the hallway with Clay’s surprise for Maya. Slowly, I walk closer and slide down the wall to sit on the floor. I open it, and a gasp springs out of my throat. Oh my God. I cover my mouth with my palm, and tears start streaming down my face.

It’s a custom-made toy. A bright pink unicorn with a pastel pink peony on her chest. He bought her a Bon-Bon, her favorite imaginary friend.

I sit on the floor in the darkness of my hallway. My heart hurts. My miserable soul is wailing from all the pain I caused myself, and him. I’m in my own little world of hurt, fevers, and stupid decisions.

A world that is full of regrets.