Page 23 of Power Play

“I’m offering to teach you how to defend your own thoughts without needing permission to have them.”

Something about the way he says it makes the offer feel far more personal than help with an elective.

“You have hockey.”

“I have six weeks before I go back to Flint.”

“You have a life.”

“So do you, allegedly.”

Bliss leans across the bar. “She needs this.”

“I haven’t agreed.”

“You came for advice.”

“I didn’t come looking for a tutor.”

Ryan adjusts his backward hat with one finger. “Good thing I’m offering for free.”

“I can pay you.”

His expression loses its amusement. “Don’t.”

“I didn’t mean—”

“I know what you meant.” His voice remains quiet, though the command beneath it stills me. “No mames. I’m not taking your money, loca.”

Heat touches the back of my neck. “Then I can buy coffee.”

“You can buy your own coffee.”

“Ryan.”

“Tomorrow. Book Nook at noon.”

“That sounds less like an invitation and more like a summons.”

“You respond well to structure.”

“I respond poorly to bossy men.”

Aura coughs into her fist.

Ryan’s gaze lowers to my mouth before returning to my eyes. “That why you’re blushing, mami?”

“I’m warm.”

“The air-conditioning is set to arctic.”

Bliss pretends to wipe the same section of the bar while listening to every word. I look at her.

“Do you have customers?”

“Probably.”

“Shouldn’t you help them?”