Page 126 of Powerless
Willa:That wasn’t advice. It was motivation.
Willa:Also, you’ll never do better than her. I don’t care how famous you are.
“So, she asked if you’d gamble your career for a shot with her and you didn’t say anything?” Harvey is glaring at me over the rim of his steaming coffee mug like I might be the stupidest thing he’s ever seen.
“I went straight to Roman’s house and we called team management to sort things out. Explained it all.”
“Did you tell her that?”
I just glare back at Harvey. “Maybe I should have, but I wanted to go to her with a plan.Proof.I wanted to be able to assure her that my career was safe. Thatwewere safe.”
Harvey must think my plan sucks because he says, “All you boys are idiots.”
I called Sloane on Monday. She ignored the call but texted me to say she was out with Summer and Willa. Didn’t stop me from sleeping on an air mattress in the empty house next door just to be close to her.
I went to our house on Tuesday after I’d finished at the rink, but when I went to the front door, I saw Sloane and Winter with a six-pack of Buddyz Best Beer and Chinese take-out boxes sprawled out between them. They were lying on the floor, staring at the ceiling, laughing uncontrollably. It seemed like a dumb moment to knock and interrupt.
I also just plain chickened out. Got stuck in my head and let all the self-loathing get the best of me. I walked away, settling for laying my eyes on her to get a fix. Slept next-door again.
Today is Wednesday, and I should be in the city getting ready for my game tonight, but I’m going out of my mind. Sloane has dinner with her dad tonight, and I have a divisional game with two points on the line that we desperately need.
But I’m here, talking to the only man I’d ever come to for real advice. Because, while I never met his late wife, Isabelle, I know he was an excellent husband. He has to know a thing or two about relationships, where I don’t know anything. Haven’t exactly seen great examples in my life.
“I froze. I panicked.” Like I always do.
“Jasper.” My name is a sad sigh on his lips.
“I’m trying to be respectful of her wishes,” I explain.
“Son, I’m going to tell you something that I’d only say to a man as good as you.” He pauses, eyes scanning my face. “In this instance, you’re beingtoorespectful.”
“Thanks for the words of wisdom.” I huff out a disbelieving laugh as I flop back on the couch, scrubbing at my face.
But every time I close my eyes, I see Sloane.
She’s dancing or carefully rubbing a clay facial on my face. Sometimes I see Sloane scaring other girls away from me in a random bar. Other times she’s swimming in a mountain lake. I see Sloane on stage.
The color of the lines on the ice? Remind me of her eyes.
When I put too much cream in my coffee the other morning? Her hair.
When I use my favorite bodywash? The way she leans into me and sucks in a huge breath.
Sloane iseverywhere.
“So are you two broken up then? Family reunions are gonna be awkward now. Violet is gonna kill you.”
“We’re not broken up,” I snap.
Harvey arches a brow at me as if to say,Watch your tone, idiot.“How do you know you’re not broken up? Did you talk about it?”
“Because . . .”
“Or better question. How does Sloane know you’re not broken up? Oh boy, did she even know you were together?”
I groan and stare up at the ceiling. Anxiety swirls in my chest. I rub at it as though I can ease it away, but it doesn’t help. “Yeah. She knows.”
“How?”
