Power Play: A Second Chance Hockey Romance (Sinners on the Ice)
Power Play: A Second Chance Hockey Romance: Chapter 9

Now, August

The birds are chirping in my backyard, and kids’ laughter reaches my room through an open window. I continue lying still in my bed, staring at the ceiling even though I woke up around thirty minutes ago. It’s like if I move, the illusion my dream brought me will dissolve into nothingness. And I don’t want that to happen.

Dreaming about my first kiss with Layla after spending the day in her company isn’t exactly surprising. I’ve been reminiscing about my college days a lot recently, and not a day goes by when I don’t think of her. At this point, I don’t think my brain even knows what it means not to have Layla Benson imprinted upon it.

It’s a scary thought to let sink in because I never would’ve imagined it would be me one day—hopelessly in love and unable to move on.

When I was growing up, I liked a lot of girls. Nothing serious, just a good time in each other’s company, and then obviously sex when I was older. I was a playboy, a flirt who had a new crush almost every week. It worked well for me, and I never complained. By the time I went to college, I was sure I’d stay single forever. I had so much to offer, why limit it to only one person? And, surprisingly, I never had any arguments with the girls I’d hook up with. Not in high school, not in college. They always knew where I stood, never tried to change my mind, and in nine out of ten situations, I was even able to stay friends with them.

It was all fun and games until one day, when I had one of the worst hangovers of my life, I met her.

Oh, the irony.

Did I sleep with other girls after that? I did. Layla was off-limits for me, and I convinced myself it was for the best. Yet I was always looking out for her. In the hallways on campus, at the parties she went to with Drake, at our games. I would fantasize about her wearing my jersey instead of her brother’s, dying from jealousy anytime I was sentenced to watch other guys approach her.

My cell starts vibrating on my nightstand, forcing me to stop this walk down memory lane. I turn onto my stomach and reach for my phone. It’s Thompson. I wonder what he wants at 9:00 a.m.

I press the speakerphone icon on my screen. “Hey.”

“Hey, Rodgers. Did I wake you up?”

“No, I’ve been up for a while. What’s up?”

“Get dressed. I’ll be at your place in fifteen minutes.”

“I haven’t even had breakfast yet.”

“So what? We can stop at some café, no big deal.”

“Thompson—”

“I’m on my way,” he interrupts me nonchalantly. “Oh, and I’m with Meghan.”

The line goes quiet, but I continue to stare at the screen, expecting Colton to say something else. What the hell is going on? After making the bed, I go to wash my face and brush my teeth, then proceed to my walk-in closet and quickly put on a white tee and gray shorts. As I’m going down the stairs, I hear a knock on the door.

It definitely hasn’t been fifteen minutes.

Opening the front door, I come face-to-face with a smiling Colt. His daughter is in his arms; her little pacifier moves relentlessly as she studies me. Chuckling, I step aside and let them in. Once I close the door, I turn around and walk up to my guests, focusing my attention on Meghan and ignoring her father.

“Hey, angel. How have you been?” I extend my index finger to her, and she takes it, wrapping her little fist around it. “I hope you had a great night’s sleep after spending the day surrounded by strangers.”

“She’s already used to everyone, except you.”

“Meghan, baby, do you know why your dad is talking to me when I’m talking to you?” I ask, trying to keep my face straight. She smiles, and her pacifier pops out of her mouth. Before it lands on the floor, Colton catches it. “Well, at least he has good reflexes,” I say and look up at Colt. “I’m impressed.”

He rolls his eyes. “As if I could be a good player without having good reflexes.”

“What makes a good player is very subjective. Don’t you think?”

There’s a bit of silence, then Colton looks me up and down and strolls to the door. “We will be in the car.” With that, the front door opens, and he walks out of the house.

Nothing has changed. He’s still as short-tempered as he was when we were ten.

I slip my cell into my shorts pocket, check the keys, and strut outside, closing the door behind me. To my surprise, Colt isn’t in the car—he’s not even alone. Dylan is with him, gushing over Meghan. Strolling down my porch steps, I come closer and stop beside Colton.

“Hey.”

Dylan straightens and meets my gaze. “Hey, Clay. I saw your friend and couldn’t stop myself from saying hi. This little girl is so precious.”

“Yeah, she is.” I nod, coasting my gaze over my neighbor. Her hair cascades down her bare shoulders, covering her cleavage a little bit. The dress she’s wearing today has tiny straps and a deep neckline, leaving very little to the imagination, just like the length of its skirt, which ends way above her knees. “Going to a party?”

“What?” She blinks, then glances down at her clothes and starts laughing. “I came from the party. I’m going home.”

“Oh.” And now I feel old and unrelatable. “Well, get some rest then.”

“And you three have some fun.” Dylan smiles. “It was nice to meet you, Colton. And Meghan. Bye, Clay.” Turning around, she shimmies to her house, her high heels clicking as she starts climbing up the stairs.

“Ready to go?” Colton asks. “Or do you want to stay a little longer and enjoy the show your neighbor is putting on for you?”

I shake my head and grab the door handle of his car. “Maybe it’s for you.”

“I’m a married man with a little daughter glued to my hip. It was definitely not for me,” he says, opening the back seat door, and puts Meghan into her car seat. After he makes sure Meghan is comfortable, he rounds the car, climbs into the driver’s seat, and starts the car. “What do you think about this Dylan girl?”

“She’s my neighbor.”

“Just a neighbor? I think she’s interested in getting to know you better.”

“I’m not interested,” I deadpan.

Colton studies me with an eyebrow arched, then shrugs. “Okay. So do you want to have breakfast? Or we can go for a walk?”

“Breakfast would be really appreciated. Thanks.”

“Gotcha.” He winks at me and focuses on the road.

Today is going to be a very long day.

I hold a cup of coffee in my hand as Colton and I walk through the park. Meghan is peacefully sleeping in her stroller. The trees surrounding the path bring comfort and much-needed shade on this sunny, hot day. We chatted a little when we stopped at the coffee shop and I ate my breakfast, but it was more like small talk. The big conversation is coming. I have no doubt about it. He wouldn’t have come to my house so early if he didn’t want to talk about something.

Or someone.

“So how was it?” Colton asks as I take a sip of my drink. “How was seeing Layla again after all this time?”

“Was it your idea or Ava’s? This walk, I mean.”

He cracks a smile. “Ours. Ava cares about you just as much as I do. We want to know that you’re okay.” He nudges me with his shoulder. “How was it?”

“It was good. She looks incredible, exactly as I remember her,” I tell him honestly. Every chance I got, I was sneaking glances at her as subtly as possible. Layla is as gorgeous as ever, and I will never stop admiring her. No one looks better to me than she does.

“And that’s why you didn’t say a word to her?”

“I’m pretty sure that’s what she wanted.” She was avoiding me, and I decided not to push my luck. Instead, I spent the day winning over her little girl.

A tiny step in my big game.

“Really?”

“Thompson, do you think we didn’t know all of you were watching us?” I turn my head and meet his gaze. “I want to talk to Layla. About a lot of stuff, actually, but when it’s just me and her.”

He opens his mouth to say something, but I don’t give him the chance.

“I love you, man, and I know you all mean well, but this is between me and her. I don’t want to feel like I’m on display, exposed to everyone, so you can follow my every step and word.”

Colton is silent for a moment, mulling this over as he examines me. The corners of his mouth quirk up, his deep brown eyes shining with warmth. “You still love her?”

I take a deep breath and then say, without blinking, “I can’t imagine a day when I won’t.” I wrap my hand tighter around the cup. “She’s it for me, Colt. She always has been.”

“I actually don’t think Drake would be against it. He’s worried one of you will get hurt, but⁠—”

“Colt, Drake is my friend, but, respectfully, it’s not his business when it comes to Layla and me. She’s an adult. She can make her own decisions. I hope he won’t be interfering.”

He nods, rapping his fingers on the handle of the stroller. “I get it, you’re right.” Then he peers at me again, a lopsided grin lighting up his face. “You have a plan?”

A low chuckle rumbles from my lips. “I do.”

“Are you going to enlighten me? Maybe I can help.”

“I think I can handle it.” I throw my empty cup into a trash can.

“Okay, but remember that you can always count on me. And on Ava. My wife might be the biggest Clayla stan of all of us.”

“Clayla?” I arch an eyebrow, barely holding myself back from laughing out loud. Only sleeping Meghan is stopping me from that.

“Ava is still obsessed with her romances. Every good book has a couple, and the couple has a ship name. Clayla is yours.”

“I think you’ve been benefiting pretty well from her reading, so I’d say you’re just as obsessed with her books as she is.”

“Says the guy with a few dozen video games stacked at home.”

“Leave my video games alone!” I threaten him jokingly, and Colton lifts his hand out in front of him to block me. I’m debating in my head if I should ask him something that has been on my mind since last night.

He’s your best friend, for fuck’s sake. Ask him.

“Is Maya always like that? Like, does she always go so easily to other people?”

Colton turns his head to me, holding my gaze and studying me in silence. Then his lips break into a smile. “She’s a very friendly girl. Sure, when she was one year old, she was a bit hesitant around new people, but now? I don’t remember her ever hiding or being shy. Mine are like that too, both Michael and Meghan. But Ian, for example, is shy. Xander’s son is always very careful around anyone new.”

The hopefulness I felt slowly dies inside me. And here I thought I was an exception.

“But I don’t think I ever saw Maya be so affectionate with someone new. Come on, man, she came to you herself, without Layla or even Drake. She was sitting with you, talking to you about her mommy and her favorite toys.”

And about Bon-Bon, her imaginary friend. Maya still doesn’t know what she looks like. She hasn’t decided yet.

“I’ll give you a piece of advice—not that you need one, but still.” The tone of his voice becomes more serious, and I glance at him. “For Layla, there’s nothing more important than her little girl. The whole reason she agreed to move to Santa Clara is because she wanted Maya to be surrounded by people who love her; she wanted her to grow up with her uncle by her side. Everything she does is for her. And if you want a chance with Layla, Maya should always be your priority too. That’s the only way.”

“I know,” I admit. “Maya isn’t mine, but…I want her to be. That fucker never deserved to be her dad.”

Colton reaches over and claps me on my back. “You’re a great man, Rodgers.”

“I’m trying to be,” I say, and we continue our walk.