Page 337 of Power Play

My mouth twitched.

“He also asked whether throwing meant physically carrying her or whether he should use a sled.”

“That sounds more like him.”

“He’s leaning toward the sled.”

“Tell him no assaulting women on resort property.”

“Off-property enforcement remains under review.”

The laugh made it out this time. It was brief, scraped raw, and followed immediately by the ache Charm left beneath it.

Briggs didn’t look relieved or treat the sound like evidence I was recovering. He walked to the refrigerator and opened it, where empty shelves stared back at him.

“Where’s the food?”

“Cade’s picking up the online order.”

“You rented ten thousand dollars of lodge and didn’t buy breakfast?”

“I have coffee.”

“That isn’t nutrition.”

“It kept me alive through college.”

“Your body was fueled by spite through college.”

“It still is.”

“I support spite, but I also support eggs.”

He shut the refrigerator with profound disappointment.

The next hour passed with enough normal bullshit to keep my hands busy. Briggs opened every cabinet and announced the appliances like he was inspecting prizes on a game show. I checked the second cabin, turned up the heat, confirmed Vivi’s room was ready, and returned before the silence inside it had time to feel peaceful.

Peace was dangerous because it left too much room for memory.

At noon, I changed into black Frost sweats and a team shirt. Practice wasn’t until four, but my gear waited beside the front door. I retaped two sticks that didn’t need it, reorganized my bag, and checked every zipper twice while Briggs played air hockey against himself downstairs.

By the time tires crunched over the snow outside, I had dismantled and rebuilt the contents of my equipment bag three times.

Briggs appeared at the top of the stairs carrying both paddles.

“You know playing yourself is depressing, right?” I asked.

“I was winning.”

“Against who?”

“My previous score.”

Voices carried from outside, and my shoulders tightened automatically.

Briggs placed the paddles on the table and looked through the window. “Cade’s SUV.”

“Is she with them?”