Power Play - Brittney Mulliner Page 0,39

I remembered the look of hurt and betrayal on Taylor’s face when she saw me the first time in that sport’s bar. That wasn’t love or attraction.

Mom might think we were some storybook love story, but she never knew the whole truth. I never told her the real reason why I didn’t call Taylor that summer, or why I didn’t have her meet me in Ottawa like we planned. I kept that buried deep in my heart. If she, or anyone, knew about that, they would understand why there was no future for me and Taylor.

“I don’t think so, Mom. We were together a long time ago.”

“Four years isn’t that long.” Joey was really pushing me. If we weren’t in public, I’d shove him off his seat.

“It is when you consider we were eighteen the last time we saw each other. We’ve both changed and moved on.”

“We’ll see about that when we have dinner with her.” Mom set her jaw. Oh boy. She was already planning our wedding. I could see it in her eyes.

“Please respect her privacy, Mom. If she says she’s not interested or that she’s moved on, you have to let it be.”

“We all just want you to be happy. We remember how in love you two were and want that for you guys again.” Dad leaned back as the waiter appeared and placed two pizzas in front of us. They must have placed the order before I got there.

“I appreciate that, but this is all still very new. She’s here to find a job, not reconnect with me.”

“Who says she can’t do both,” Mom challenged.

Joey placed a few slices onto his plate and the food seemed to break my parents’ concentration on my love life, or lack thereof.

We ate and the topic changed to summer plans. Since the season was finally over, I had a few weeks before I needed to start training and practicing with the team again.

“Do you want to come home?” Dad offered. “We can do some fishing or go camping.”

That was a tempting offer. I didn’t have a reason to say no, except … Except, the small part of me that was stupid and insane and sadistic enough to wonder what might happen if I stayed here and continued to run into Taylor.

I would never admit that aloud, especially to my family, but everything my mom said was true. We were each other’s first loves. That feeling never completely went away from me. I didn’t deserve her, her love, or her forgiveness but I was also incredibly selfish.

Not only did we run into each other in a random city hundreds of miles from where either of us lived, but now she was here. She integrated herself into a major piece of my world. She lived with Brandon and Sydney. She was quickly becoming friends with the women of the Pride. It wasn’t that far-fetched to think we would continue to see each other.

Sure, she would likely still be here when I got back from my parents’ house, but did I really want to wait that long? What if I was too late at that point? Or she met someone else?

I couldn’t watch that happen.

Oh no. What if I left, and the Pride set her up with one of the other guys? And they fell in love. And got married.

I couldn’t live with that. I’d be begging for a trade.

“Jason?”

I glanced up to see my dad waiting. “I’ll think about it.”

He smiled and continued eating. Now I was going to have to visit, at least for a long weekend or something.

My phone buzzed and I pulled it out to see my agent calling. I let it go to voicemail while we finished eating. It was too soon for him to have news about my contract, so there was probably some press he wanted me to do. That could wait.

Maybe I could talk the guys into taking a trip this summer like they did last year to Mexico. And somehow convince Taylor to come along. A neutral, romantic setting would help me out.

15

Taylor

This whole situation wasn’t bad at all. I spent half of each day sending out my résumé, following up on previous calls, and––if I was lucky––having a phone or video interview. Once I was caught up on all the new job listings and emails, I joined Sydney and the boys in the pool. They loved having someone new to play with, and she said she was grateful for another adult to talk