Page 59 of Power Play

“You reorganized Bliss’s pantry.”

“She had cereal mixed with canned food.”

“Because you were freaking out.”

I crossed my arms, then realized I was still sitting on his counter with my knees bracketing him and dropped them again.

Ryan’s mouth twitched.

“Don’t smile.”

“I’m trying not to.”

“This isn’t funny.”

“I know.”

“Then stop looking amused.”

“I’m not amused.” His expression softened. “You’re pissed because I’m right.”

“I’m pissed because you decided what I would do before I had the chance to do it.”

That wiped the last trace of humor from his face.

Ryan held my gaze. “You’re right.”

The immediate answer took some of the fight out of me.

He moved one step back, enough to give me space without leaving.

“I’m not deciding whether you can handle sex with me,” he said. “That choice is yours. I’m deciding whether I’m willing to do this tonight knowing neither one of us has said what the fuck this is.”

My chest tightened.

There was the question I had been carefully avoiding since the Book Nook.

Maybe longer.

“We’re friends.”

“Yeah.”

“And we kissed.”

“We definitely did that.”

“Ryan.”

“I’m listening.”

I looked down at my hands.

Friend sounded too small now. It had probably been too small for years.

Ryan Decker was the man every woman noticed. Semi-pro hockey player. Tattoos. Spanish came naturally from his mouth in a way that made me want to listen even when I couldn’t understand him. He could walk into the Sin Bin and have company before finishing one beer.

I had spent years convincing myself that wanting him was harmless because I was one of many. Friendship had been the safer thing because friendship meant I got to keep him.