Power Play (Nashville Assassins Next Generation 2)

He’s good but not great, and while I love him and support him, I don’t think he’ll make it. I’ve grown up around the sport; I know when someone can make it. They have this “It” factor, this passion that won’t let them quit. And unfortunately, Maxim doesn’t have that. He wants the NHL handed to him. He doesn’t want to work for it. And while that irritates me, I think when we’re together, I help his work ethic. I make him better, and I want to continue doing that. I just hope he loves me and wants to include me.

I get out of the car and throw my backpack over my shoulder. I usually don’t wear jeans, but today I did and with a T-shirt. An Assassins T with my dad’s number on the back. My auburn hair is down in curls, the way Maxim likes it. I hate curling my hair, but for him, I will. As I head up the driveway to the door, I feel my heart pounding in my chest. I am so excited to see him, but I’m terrified at the same time.

He’s the first guy I have ever loved, and I’m about to throw my whole self out there. Something I don’t do. I don’t have to. I keep to myself, do what I gotta do to get by, and stay moving. Unlike my siblings, I don’t have huge dreams. I’m just going with the flow.

I rap my knuckles against the door and rock back on my heels as I look around. It’s a nice neighborhood, just as he described.

It isn’t Nashville, but I could live here.

When I hear the door handle jiggle, my lips curve up and my heart almost stops. Here we go.

But instead of Maxim answering the door, it’s Stella Brooks.

My heart drops to my gut, through my colon, and out my ass.

Stella Brooks should be a model. She is absolutely stunning, with one hell of a body. Her metabolism is real good, and that frustrates me. Her hair is long, dark, and lustrous. Her makeup is always applied flawlessly, her hair styled to the same level, and even her lounge outfit is chic. My shirt never matches my PJ bottoms. Hell, neither do my socks.

Stella annoys me greatly, which is sad since I have known her for as long as I can remember. Our parents are best friends, and my sister is engaged to her older brother. I do love her. But mostly, I’m jealous that she’s everything I’m not.

I have a feeling this is about to be a shitshow.

Stella pulls in her brows, and my jaw is on the ground. She recovers well and grins as she gushes, “Posey! What are you doing here?”

I clear my throat. “I could ask you the same thing.”

We stand there, staring at each other. Almost in a standoff. Both our parents would shit pucks if they knew we were here. She bites her lip and blurts out, “Please don’t tell my parents. I’m supposed to be on a school tour with some girlfriends. But instead, I came to see Maxim.”

I should call her parents right now.

I force myself to swallow, and I feel the emotion taking over. “Funny, I came to see Maxim too.”

She eyes me, but before she can say anything, Maxim is beside her in all his beautiful glory, wet from a shower. “Posey!” he exclaims before moving around Stella to wrap me in a tight hug. “I did not expect you!”

I hug him tightly, pressing my face into his neck, fighting back the tears. The scent of soap is fresh on his body and in his hair, making me a bit dizzy. “Surprise.”

“Yes, so much so,” he says, pulling back and looking down at me. “I wish you had called. I would have told you Stella was here.”

I can’t look at her, but I feel her staring at me. He doesn’t have to say it for me to know I’m not welcome. This is what I get for being spontaneous. “Oh, it’s okay. I was just passing through.”

“Where are you staying? Can we have dinner tonight?”

Well, I wanted to stay here, but I can tell that’s out of the question. Run, Posey, run. Instead, I say, “Actually, I’m leaving in a bit. I had a meeting and wanted to surprise you before I flew out.”

He just stares at me with a grin on his face. I wait for him to invite me in, but it’s Stella who asks, “Do you want to come in?”

I will not cry.

If she feels comfortable inviting someone into his place, then this isn’t new. I knew they were fooling around for a minute there, but I thought it had ended. Guess I was very wrong. “Thanks, I’m good. I just have to talk to Maxim real fast.”