Page 222 of Power Play

“I want to hear you say them.”

Warmth spread beneath my skin. “When?”

“First one tonight.”

“That’s soon.”

“You’ve got hours.”

“What about the others?”

Ryan slid his hand behind my neck. “You’ll know when you need them.”

“That is obnoxiously vague.”

“It’s good teaching.”

“You’re not a teacher.”

“Tell that to the woman stealing my books.”

I smiled as his phone began vibrating repeatedly. Ryan pulled it out and found three missed calls from Mateo. A message appeared immediately afterward.

Mateo: BUS LEAVES IN TEN. I AM NOT LYING FOR YOUR FAIRY ASS AGAIN.

I burst out laughing while Ryan stared at the screen.

“Your teammate seems upset.”

“He’s dramatic.”

“He called you three times.”

“He likes attention.”

Another message appeared.

Mateo: DECKER, I SWEAR TO FUCK.

“Very dramatic.”

Ryan shoved the phone into his pocket. “Walk me down.”

I grabbed my purse while he slung the duffel over one shoulder and hooked the suit bag over the other. We made it downstairs to find the Frost bus idling along the curb and Mateo standing beside it with the expression of a man reconsidering every choice that had led him here.

His gaze moved from me to Ryan and then up toward the apartment building. “So that’s why.”

Ryan handed him the duffel. “Good morning to you too.”

Mateo took it. “Some of us respect departure times.”

“You’re a defenseman. Nobody expects anything from you.”

“I hope your fairy ruins your life.”

“She’s working on it.”

I laughed, and Mateo pointed at me. “You see what we deal with?”