Page 14 of Power Play

“Eat something.”

“I had dinner.”

“What did you eat?”

“A salad.”

Bliss’s expression sharpens. “That’s a side dish wearing confidence.”

“It had chicken.”

“How much chicken?”

“Enough chicken.”

She pushes the fries closer. “Have one before I involve Aura.”

“You weaponize her too easily.”

“It works.”

I choose a fry because they’re my weakness and Bliss knows it. My stomach twists before I take the first bite, but I smile while chewing and reach for my wine. I know how to eat when someone is watching because I’ve spent the last eight years mastering the difference between taking a bite and eating enough for anyone to stop worrying.

Across the room, the Fury table occupies its usual place near the back wall. Briggs sits with his chair tipped onto two legs, one massive arm hooked over the back while Rider says something that makes Cade shake his head. Easton is leaning into the corner of the booth with a blonde pressed against one side and a brunette hanging over his shoulder.

A third woman stands behind him with her hand resting on his chest.

Easton doesn’t look particularly interested in any of them. His attention keeps drifting toward Aura as she crosses the room.

Aura notices, then notices me noticing.

“Don’t say the obvious,” she warns when she reaches the service station.

“I didn’t say anything.”

“You were thinking loudly.”

“That’s Ryan’s line.”

The name leaves my mouth too naturally, and Bliss’s eyes brighten with immediate, unwanted interest.

“Speaking of Ryan.”

“We weren’t.”

“You just did.”

“He says I think loudly.”

Aura begins loading drinks onto her tray. “That’s because you stare at him like you’re trying to solve a difficult equation with your vagina.”

I nearly choke on my wine.

Bliss grabs a napkin and pats my back with unnecessary enthusiasm. “Breathe, Cee. We can’t explain that death to your mother.”

“I don’t stare at Ryan.”

“You’ve stared at Ryan since freshman year,” Bliss says.