Page 105 of Power Play

I wanted to take them back, but the anxiety still lingering beneath my skin had left me too tired to build another polished answer quickly enough.

He turned farther toward me. “No, it isn’t.”

I looked down at the notebook while Ryan’s knee pressed against mine beneath the table. He didn’t move it, and neither did I.

“I’ve gotten used to this,” I admitted.

“To Spanish?”

I looked at him, and the softening at the corner of his mouth told me he knew exactly what I meant.

“You’re enjoying making me say it.”

“A little.”

I rolled my eyes, but the nervous pressure in my chest stayed.

“I’ve gotten used to you being here.”

Ryan didn’t tease me, which made admitting it worse.

“I’ve gotten used to being here too.”

“You’re going to leave.”

“I’m going to Flint.”

“That is leaving.”

“It’s two hours away.”

“You know what I mean.”

His eyes stayed on mine. “Tell me.”

I hated when he used that word gently. It meant he wasn’t giving me anywhere to hide.

“You’ll have practice every day.”

“Yeah.”

“You’ll have games and travel.”

“Hopefully a lot of both.”

“New teammates too.”

“Some.”

I stared at the notebook. “You’ll have an entire life there.”

Ryan leaned back slightly. “I already have an entire life there.”

That hurt more than it should have, and he saw it before I could hide the reaction.

“Charm.”

“I know.”