Page 73 of Triple Power Play 3
“I’m exhausted. I’ll stay with Reece the entire time. You’ll have nothing to worry about.”
“He didn’t say he’d stay, baby girl.”
Pushing Ethan aside, I hop off the counter and make a beeline for Reece’s room. “He will. I’ll go ask him.” More like beg him—just not with my body. Apparently, he doesn’t appreciate that, and now, he’s about to find out how awkward I am.
“We’re still banging it out!” Jax yells after me.
32
REECE
“Um, I’m selfish. I am. I know that.”
She’s adorable. Cheeks flushed, Aurora stands in front of me, her hands clasped at her chest, as she no doubt tries to convince me to stay without saying the words.
I bite the inside of my cheek to stop from smirking.
Her gaze strays to the bookshelf behind me, anywhere but my face. “But sometimes, it’s like that, you know? When a person…” She fiddles with her fingers, and her expression becomes curious. “Who brought these books?”
“I haven’t a clue. I’m assuming whoever your husband paid to furnish the house.” I relax into the plush reading chair and stretch out my legs. “You were saying?” I bring her focus back to the painful conversation at hand.
This is not unpleasant for me at all. I’m enjoying this awkward attempt at getting her way immensely. I love it when she’s tongue-tied. Any minute now, she’ll give up talking and resort to nonverbal communication.
“They say when you…” Her attention drifts to the ceiling, as if she’s praying to God for help. “…when you love somethingyou should set it free, and if it loves you, it’ll return.” She gestureswith her hand. “But what if the bird doesn’t know you love them, and they find someone else to love them, you know?” Her face reddens further, and her breath quickens.
My chest vibrates with a silent chuckle. I should save her from this nervous fit she’s having, but I’m too entertained.
This might be better than her persuading, flirtatious hugs.
No, definitely not, but I suspect her rambling is because of myonemistaken rejection.
Her hair is up in a ponytail, her pulse visible, fluttering at the base of her throat. “So, sometimes, you have to be selfish or lose what you have.” She nods repeatedly to convince herself that was a good argument.
I muffle my grin with my fist. “I see. So what you’re saying is…?”
She shifts on her bare feet, toenails painted teal-blue, the color of their hockey team. “After my doctor’s appointment, are you leaving?”
Ah, there it is.
“I haven’t decided yet.” I put on a severe scowl. “Why?”
She swallows. “We could hang out.” Noticing my tough façade, she babbles again. “I don’t know what you like, but we could do something before the game. Get pizza, or…” She flattens her lips. “Axe throwing?”
My forehead furrows in surprise. “You think I like axe throwing?”
Her gaze wanders over me slowly. “Shooting?”
This time, my amused grin is unavoidable. “Are you gonna throw an axe or shoot a gun, princess?”
“I’ll watch you,” she offers with a weak tone.
“You dislike loud noises. You’d hate a shooting range.”
“I’ll wear headphones and cheer you on.”
“With pom-poms?” I joke.
Her eyes narrow. “If you want me to, Viking, I’ll wear a full cheerleading uniform. It’ll look weird since I’m pregnant, but whatever.”
