Page 26 of Power Play
I expect him to be offended, or hurt, or fucking something, I don't know. But when I peek at him out of the corner of my eye, I see only confidence. "Whatever you say, doll."
I roll my eyes, annoyed.
But I leave the elevator car, find my room, scan my card and sneak in. The room is dark. Tracey seems to be asleep on her bed, but she's not snoring - something I know for sure she does when she's actually asleep.
I take a quick shower to wash off the day, the sex, and get myself in bed as quickly as possible.
But when I open the bathroom door, and the light from the bathroom spills across the bedroom, it illuminates something tucked under Tracey's nightstand.
My fucking purse.
Chapter fourteen
Garrett
I'm in a shit mood.
I finally got under Lacey's skin and had the hottest sex of my life. I realized after she walked away from that elevator what I had been missing in my sex life. Emotion. Passion. Feeling anything more than a physical release.
But she walked away like it was nothing. And I don't know if I did more harm than good. I wanted to see her claws come out. I wanted to see her take all of her pent-up pain and fight for herself for once.
And when she did, it was glorious. Like watching a star explode or a volcano erupt. It instantly made me itchy for more.
But the next day in California, she was PT-Lacey again. Buttoned up, sad, small. And she gave me the cold shoulder, even when I teased her about the elevator.
We flew back to NC this morning, and I got another phone call from my father.
The practice afterwards made me look like I was in junior league again. Coach narrowed in on my weak performance and doubled down on me.
Now we're at Hat Trick, a local hockey-themed pub. So, add alcohol to that shitty combination.
I'm vaguely listening to the conversation happening around me. Just stewing in my own self-loathing. Someone was saying something about the rise in genetic disorders in children.
I mutter something about Darwin and natural selection, not realizing I’ve said it loud enough for anyone to hear. The words feel bitter on my tongue, but before I can think, a small gasp sounds but before I can look up it's followed by a crack and blinding pain in the middle of my fucking face.
Ben's got one hand bunched in the neck of my shirt as he brings a hook to my left temple.
I shove hard, knocking him on his ass. Blood pours out of my nose onto my shirt.
"Fuck, man! That just healed!" Someone gives me a napkin to stop the bleeding, and I bend over, hanging my head.
Ben’s back on his feet in seconds, fists clenched, jaw tight. He glares at me like I’m the scum of the earth, and honestly, I don’t blame him. "She lost her baby sister to Tay-Sachs, you piece of shit. She had to watch her suffer, watch her die. And you sit here spouting garbage like that? Fuck you, Jonesy." He spits the last three words and surprise surprise, my self-loathing really can get worse.
I groan. Fuck.
"I didn't know," I say, locking eyes with him. "I'll make it better."
"Yes, you will. Right. The. Fuck. Now." He growls, pointing at the women's restroom door.
I walk to the bathroom and knock on the door. "Lacey?" I say, sounding all nasally and lame.
"Go away, Jonesy."
I shoulder my way into the room, closing my eyes. "Gentleman in the room. Eyes are closed though!" I say, feeling around the space with my left arm while my right one keeps the towel to my nose.
"There's no one else in here, dumbass, come here."
I find her leaning against the sink, eyes red rimmed and glossy.
