Page 100 of Power Play
“Did you come out here to ask me about my future as a mother?”
“No.” Liam snorts. “It was to form an escape plan for tonight so we can sneak out without staying at a club until four in the morning. I might die if I’m still awake when the sun comes up.”
“No one’s going to notice if we leave. We’ll just say I’m hungry and disappear.”
“I like how your brain works, Piper Mitchell.”
“Thanks.” I grin. “Lexi and I are going to get ready together, so we’ll probably meet you all at the club. Istillneed to track Emmy down and give her an earful. I’ll see you later tonight?”
“Sounds good.”
“Save me a dance, Sullivan,” I say, brushing past him and heading for the team bus. “I’m going to be very disappointed if I don’t get a few minutes alone with you in a dark corner somewhere.”
“You want another lesson, Sunshine? In exhibitionism this time?”
“Maybe.” I tap his chest and saunter away. “You’ll have to find out.”
TWENTY-SEVEN
LIAM
I can’t stop staringat Piper from across the club.
Haven’t been able to take my eyes off her since she walked in here with her short skirt and high boots. I swear the music stopped when she came through that door with her hair down her back and glitter on her chest and cheeks. The makeup catches in the strobe lights every few minutes and pulls my attention away from the conversations I’m trying to have.
“You good?” Hudson snaps his fingers in my face and I blink. I cut my gaze away from watching her on the dance floor, her arms above her head and her hips swaying to the music next to Lexi. “You’re staring off into space.”
“Sorry. Thought I recognized someone.” I sip my beer and wipe my mouth. “You’re not drinking?”
“Someone needs to get us to the wedding chapel and back to the hotel safely later,” he says over the thumping music, and I nod in agreement. “Sure as shit not going to rely on Everett or Richardson to find the way.”
“Would be a fun game, though. How’s it going with that girl from the gala? Alisha? Eliza?”
“Alyssa, but close. We broke up. She said I was being too clingy. When I backed off and gave her some space, she stoppedreturning my calls. Stopped wanting to hang out.” He shrugs, but I can tell he’s bummed and trying not to show it. “Wasn’t meant to be, I guess.”
I lean in close so he can hear me when I say, “You’ll find her.”
“Thanks, man. I’m going to grab a water. You need anything?”
“Nah. I’m going to finish this then make a round.”
Hudson nods and turns for the bar, stopping briefly to apologize to a woman with long brown hair for running into her before disappearing in the throng of bodies. I don’t even get a second of reprieve, because Grant replaces him at my side.
“GK,” he slurs, way drunker than anyone else here. “Take a shot with meeee.”
“Can you even stand on two feet?”
“Pshhhhh. Who needs to stand when someone can carry me?” Grant holds up the handle of vodka he’s carrying and taps my chin. “Open up, big guy.”
I know the only way to get rid of him is to appease him, so I squat down. I pop open my mouth and swallow the absurdly generous pour Grant tips in my mouth. “This isn’t even the good stuff.”
“Maverick bought all the good stuff,” he yells before moving away to annoy another teammate. “Find him.”
I roll my eyes and scan the crowd, trying to locate my captain. I spot him at a table in the VIP section, Emmy and Piper flanking him on either side. She must be worn out from dancing. Finishing off my beer, I leave it on the end of the bar with a stack of other empties and head for them.
“There he is.” Maverick crawls over Emmy so he can hug me. “Get your ass over here. We’re doing a shot flight.”
“The fuck is a shot flight?”
