Page 21 of Power Play

I had nothing to offer. I was boring, I worked too much, I was a complete hockey nerd, and I just…sucked. I didn’t like myself. How could someone like Zach actually like me?

“God, I want to be inside that head right now,” he whispered.

“No, you don’t.Idon’t want to be in there right now.”

“Why are you freaking out?”

“I’m not freaking out.”

“Youare,” he chuckled. “Completely freaking out when all I want is to get to know you, Jessa. You’ve been on my mind ever since I saw you in my kitchen.”

“Mykitchen,” I corrected.

Zach laughed. “Fine,yourkitchen. What can I do to make you more comfortable right now? I feel like I’ve put you on the spot and you’re not enjoying it.”

“Stop looking at me like that,” I mumbled.

“Done,” Zach replied and stared with stiff posture straight past my left ear. “Is this better? Are you more comfortable?”

I sighed. “This is serious.”

Zach turned his gaze back to me slowly and his lips pulled down into a frown. “I didn’t realize this was a serious date. I’m not wearing my serious date clothes.”

He motioned to his tee, drawing my attention to how the smooth fabric clung to his frame in a way that outlined every curve of muscle.

“That’s not the serious part,” I began, then pressed my lips together.

I wasn’t going to drag him down with the terrible news that the program he adored so much was floundering.

No, Power Play wasn’t floundering. It wasdrowning.

“Then what’s the serious part? You can tell me, Jessa.”

“It’s just going to upset you.”

“What?” He chuckled and leaned back. “Not much upsets me. Unless you tell me that Power Play is about to crash and burn…” He trailed off and peered up at me. At my frown.

“Power Play is about to crash and burn,” I admitted slowly, bracing myself for his reaction.

I expected an outburst, a million questions likehowandwhyPower Play was in this situation right now. But Zach just stared straight ahead, like he was deep in thought.

“I upset you.”

“No,” he blurted and shook his head. “No, you haven’t. I…”

He paused and stood, dragging the chair back to its original position across the table from mine.

“I had a lovely first date with you, Jessa, but I’ve got to go now.”

I frowned. I didn’t want to admit that I wanted him to stay. “Oh…okay.”

Zach drank the rest of his coffee and grabbed a lemon scone. He took a bite, nodded, and with a wink, he left.

I ruined his day. Worse, I think I ruined his entire life.

CHAPTER10

ZACH