Power Play (Nashville Assassins Next Generation 2)

I just blink, and then slowly, I turn my face up in a grin. “Thanks, man.”

“I got you, dude,” he says simply. “And believe me, when you watch your dad go through females left and right because not many women want to stick with a guy who loves the sport and his son more than them, you learn a few things. My dad was constantly working when he wasn’t at the rink with me. It takes a unique woman to want this life, to want you, and I don’t think Julia was it.”

“Is that why you’ve stayed clear of relationships?”

He laughs but then presses his lips together. I’ve seen this look; it always comes when we talk about his relationship status. Sometimes, I think he might be gay. I wouldn’t care, it’s his life, but I have seen him hit on women. Though, the moment it gets serious or too intimate, he bolts. I don’t get it. And the one time I asked, he freaked out. So I don’t bring it up. At all.

“I’m weird. Let’s leave it at that.”

“Sounds good,” I agree as I reach for the controller. “I don’t know.”

He reaches for one too. “Don’t know what?”

“I don’t know.”

“Oh…well, good talk,” he teases, and I laugh. “I know you’re pissed she’s moved on, but the thing is, that can be you. I know you say you have moved on, but I haven’t seen you go out with anyone or even try to.”

I make a face. “I just met and slept with Brianne not that long ago.”

“You met her at the cupcakery. Told her you wanted a side of her with your cupcake, and you did her in her car.”

“Yeah? Good times.”

“Did you call her back?”

I meet his gaze. “No, but I know her name, which is good when I go to get more cupcakes next week.”

He chuckles. “This is true, but you could have taken her to dinner.”

I shake my head. “I wanted dessert.”

He snorts. “You’re a pain in the ass.”

“Not the first time I’ve heard that.”

“And you don’t want to let anyone get close.”

“Neither do you.” I shrug.

He doesn’t look at me as he hit the start button on our game. “So, good talk.”

“Real good talk.”

Like the men we are, we start our game and leave our relationship issues behind us. I won’t lie, though; Julia is on my mind, and I wish she weren’t. I do hate that she is in a relationship and getting married to someone else. I wanted that to be me, not to be the one who was hurt by her, but that isn’t the case. She gets to hurt people and be happy. It isn’t fair. Which I guess means Wes is right. I haven’t moved on. But that doesn’t feel right. I don’t want Julia, but I really don’t want anyone else either. No one has caught my eye or made me want to be close. To move on.

Maybe I’m not even trying.

Or maybe no one has given me a reason to try.

There is a knock at the front door before it opens, and our buddy and linemate, Aiden Brooks, comes into the living room. “Who’s moving?”

“Whore ex-fiancée,” I answer as Wes’s and my characters do a dance after winning.

“No shit. Was that the bastard Phil?”

Wes nods. “Yup, but we can’t kick his ass. Mama Hoenes said so.”

“Well, that sucks,” Aiden says before dropping down beside Wes. “It’d be an easy ass-kicking anyway. Pretty sure Shelli could kick his ass.”

I scoff. “Shelli could beat all of us up. They don’t call her Slap Shot Shelli for nothing.”

Wes chuckles as Aiden smiles proudly. “I only get the loving side of that woman.”

We both laugh at that. Sure, he gets the loving side of his beautiful fiancée, but Shelli Adler also does not take his shit. She is fierce and strong, knows what she wants. Lucky for Aiden, she wants him. “Sure, you do,” I tease, and he flashes me a cheeky grin.

“On the topic of my soon-to-be bride. We set a date.”

Both Wes and I look up. Word on the street was they were going to wait awhile before they got married. There was no rush, Shelli is on the younger side, and they didn’t need to be married to be happy. Apparently that isn’t the case anymore?

When neither of us says another word, Aiden realizes we’re waiting. “Oh, next summer. July.”

“Cool,” Wes says, hitting start once more. “I’ll be there.”

“Yup, just make sure the bar is stacked,” I say as I look back to the game.

Aiden chortles a bit before leaning on the sofa. “Um, so my brother is going to be my best man, but I was wondering if you two would be my groomsmen.”

I look up just as Wes does, and I hit the pause button. “Don’t you have better friends than us?” I ask, and Aiden grins.