Power Play - Brittney Mulliner Page 0,33

caught me up was when someone asked if I would be back next season.

“I hope so. We haven’t finalized anything yet.” I gave him a nod and continued walking past them until I reached the elevator. The second the doors slid shut, I let out a sigh and slumped against the wall. There would be more interviews later, but for the rest of the night, I was done.

“Jason!” Mom shouted as I stepped out of the elevator into the parking garage. I didn’t want to deal with any of the crowds, so I told them to meet me there after the game.

“Hey.” I gave her a hug while Dad squeezed my shoulders.

“You put up a fight,” Joey said as I stepped away from my parents.

“You were so great, babe!” Carmen appeared and wrapped her arms around me. I shot my brother a look but he just shrugged, smirking.

“Thanks.” I broke out of her grasp. “What …?”

She seemed to know what I was going to ask. “Oh, I called your mom and when she found out I didn’t have a ticket she got an extra from the front office. We sat up in a box with some other family members. It was so nice, babe. They brought champagne and a ton of food and everything we wanted.”

Her excitement was concerning. She tasted the VIP experience and was hooked. Great. This was why I didn’t introduce her to the team or the Pride. I could tell she was a low-key jersey chaser from the beginning. My number one reason for making it clear that we were not serious. I knew she wanted this lifestyle.

“Hey, Jason.” I turned to see Addison followed by more of the women from the Pride.

“Hey, how’s Grant doing?” It was hard not having him on my line. Everything felt wrong.

“He’ll be okay.” She smiled at the rest of my family. “Are these your parents?”

I went through the introductions. Fortunately only Lucy, Sydney, and Emma were with her. When I got to Carmen, she stepped forward.

“I’m his girlfriend.” She wrapped her hands around my bicep as if these women were a threat.

“Oh really?” Emma asked with a twinkle in her eyes. “I didn't know you were dating anyone, Jason.”

“Me neither.” Lucy narrowed her eyes.

“You haven’t mentioned me?” Carmen sounded genuinely hurt.

I closed my eyes. This was the worst kind of trap. I could feel Mom burning a hole in the side of my head. “We’re not actually a couple.” I bit out the words. “We’ve been hanging out for a few weeks.”

“And I’ve already met your family,” Carmen inserted.

Yes, because you broke into my phone and stole my mom’s number.

I didn’t argue because more of the guys were walking out of the elevator with even more of the Pride. Perfect, a larger audience.

“How interesting.” Sydney smiled widely at Carmen. “It was nice meeting you.”

The guys were too polite, or involved, and took the time to introduce themselves to my family. Carmen remained latched to my side despite my attempts to shake her off. What was she planning? Get my family on her side, and I would suddenly change my mind? I asked her for space. I told her I would reach out. How on earth did that translate to stalking my parents?

“Taylor Klein?” Mom shrieked, sounding confused yet excited. I turned around just in time to see Taylor’s eyes widen as my sweet mother threw her arms around her. “My sweet girl!”

I ignored Taylor’s horrified expression and looked around. We now had the attention of every single person in the garage. So basically the entire team and Pride were watching a reunion I never in a million years imagined possible.

Wait. We were home. Not in Raleigh.

What was she doing here?

I looked to Lucy, and she winked at me before taking in the rest of the scene.

Dad hugged Taylor next and then Joey wrapped his arms around her, lifting her in the air and spinning her around.

“No way! Tay Tay is here!” He set her down, and they looked each other over.

“You’re so tall!” She looked up at him, beaming. “And no more braces. My little Joey is all grown up!”

My parents barraged her with questions while the rest of the audience looked at me, then Taylor, then Carmen, and back to me. Yeah, enjoy figuring this one out, folks.

I broke free from my self-proclaimed girlfriend and wove through the line to Sydney and Colby. They stood together looking much too proud. “What have you done?”

Sydney cocked her head and