Page 3 of Power Play

I was still trying to figure out the entire process, since I was hired in the middle of placement season and Stanley had only told me what I needed to know during that time. He had shown me how to process two applications, how to place two kids, and how to fit two damn kids with hockey gear.Two.

“If I see that slimy bastard around, I’ll lure him out of his goddamn hiding spot, straight to a parking lot, and I will run his ass over—back up—and then run his ass overagain.”

“Thanks, Ali,” I chuckled.

“Still meeting me at Willow Avenue after work?”

“Of course,” I replied, scrolling through the emails I had missed while meeting with Andrew. “I’m off at four-thirty, so meet around five?”

“You bet.” Ali’s tone was always so chipper, no matter the situation. “See you soon, Sunshine.”

I ended the call and began responding to emails, printed off new applications, and devoured the apple pecan salad that had been sitting on my desk since noon.

CHAPTER2

JESSA

Drivingto 14 Willow Avenue had become muscle memory at this point. I could have steered my begging-for-death Elantra there with my eyes closed.

But now, it almost felt weird driving there after Ali and I had spent the entire weekend packing the majority of our lives into a moving van and unpacking it somewhere else. Our new apartment was nice, and at least it had a dishwasher, but it wasn’t 14 Willow Avenue.

I had rented a room in the light blue home during my final year of my degree, and although I had been absolutely terrified to move in with three complete strangers, Ali had welcomed me with a smile and a nickname.Sunshine.

Our other two roommates…weren’t so nice. We were certain they hated both of us, and Ali was happy to have someone on her side for once, since every other roommate had sided with the mean girls.

We had looked for an apartment for the two of us for months before we finally found one that was in our budget, but on the opposite end of the city. We didn’t care, though.

The mean girls had cared. They caused a stink and wanted us to continue to pay rent until they found someone to rent our rooms, but at the last moment, decided they were moving out too. And they’d moved out immediately, leavingusto deal with paying the extra rent for two months until we moved into our new place.

It was smaller, but cozy, and it was perfect for the two of us. Parking, though… That was annoying with such a small driveway.

14 Willow Avenue had a long driveway.

That was currently packed with cars.

Huh?

I parked on the side of the road a few houses down, because there were cars lining the road as well and got out. Ali stood at the end of the long driveway, staring at the house with her hands on her hips.

“What the hell is going on?” I asked, and Ali shrugged.

We technically still owned the apartment. It was the last of the month, and we had a few boxes of our things still in there. So why the hell did it look like someone had just…movedthemselves in?

Ali and I had been so busy that stopping at our old apartment to grab boxes filled with the most random stuff was the last thing on our minds. Work was…well, obviously wild, and Ali had started an internship on Monday that left her in tears every night when we did our living room debrief over seltzers and sour cream and onion chips.

“I seriously hope no one is in there,” Ali menaced and glared at each car as she passed them, hellbent on getting to the bottom of this.

I followed, gripping the railing of the staircase as Ali unlocked the door and pushed her way in.

“Motherfucker!” Ali screamed.

I contemplated turning around and leaving, because I had only witnessed the wrath of Alison Neale once, and once was enough for a lifetime. More than enough, even, but as I climbed the stairs and saw the state of the apartment, I could have cried.

Our boxes and beanbag chairs were nowhere to be found, replaced by cases of beer, a ping-pong table, and a tattered hockey net pressed against the counter in the kitchen.

All I could do was stare, at a complete loss for words, but Ali hada lotto say.

“Did someone break in and try to drink themselves to death?! What the actual hell? That jackass! That absolute waste of freaking space that took money from us! I’m going to find that tiny, insignificant man and I am going to rip him to shreds!”

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