Page 177 of Like a Power Play
Darcy’s smile grows. “And this way.”
She juts her chin in the opposite direction, and I follow her line of sight. We’re front-and-center of the city, and there are numerous skyscrapers reaching above us, but still, in here, with her, it all seems quiet. Windows upon windows decorate the view. I look at the buildings and think how wild it is that someone, right now, could be looking out at us the way we’re looking out at them.
“It’s so pretty,” I say, almost sounding surprised. I think I knew Seattle was pretty, but I guess I’ve never taken the time to really see it beyond the apartment. Beyond whatever views I’ve happened to catch while focusing on everything else. I never stopped to admire details.
Not until her.
“Yeah,” Darcy agrees, shifting closer. Right as I turn to look at her, the wheel jerks to life again. My body tenses as our gondola moves, and Darcy’s nose brushes against mine as our bodies sway with the movement.
“You okay?” she asks, her breath brushing against my lips.
I nod, swallowing. “Yeah,” I manage.
Darcy’s eyes flick between mine, then, without warning, drop to my mouth. She just stares, breath hitching, like she’s about to say something. But she doesn’t.
She leans in and kisses me.
It’s quick and soft. Just a simple, regular kiss, but then, nothing about Darcy is simple or regular. And nothing about her makes me feel simple or regular either.
When she pulls back, she looks bewildered. “Sorry, I—”
I cut her off. My hand finds the side of her face, and I kiss her like I mean it. Like I’ve wanted to for a while. Like I’ve never kissed another person.
With love.
Darcy tenses, just for a beat, then melts into it.
We don’t say anything else. We just kiss, all the way back down to the ground.
Thirty Seven
Peyton
My stomach is eerily still.
I can’t remember the last time it wasn’t doing somersaults before a game, let alone thefinals. Something’s got to be wrong.
I stretch my arms out like a starfish basking in the sun, then bounce through a few jumping jacks, trying to rouse my body. When I stop, my arms flop back to my sides, and I press a hand over my stomach.
Still nothing. No tremors. No water.Zilch.
I’m supposed to be panicked right now. I’m supposed to be spiraling about the Sabertooths, and the media, and my dad, who is currently posted alongside the rest of my family in the stands. But I’m not. In fact, I don’t think I have ever been more relaxed in my entire life.
“I swear I smell funnel cake,” Harlowe says, sticking her nose up in the air and inhaling deeply. “Why doesn’t our tunnel smell like funnel cake?”
“I think your sniffer’s broken,” Lena replies, pulling her twists into a low bun before tugging her helmet back on.
“That tracks,” Bailey chimes in, redoing her own straight ponytail. “She has long COVID.”
Beside me, Indie picks at a frayed strip of tape springing off the handle of her twig. She’s not looking at anything specific, just staring straight out ahead, blank-faced. I give the top of her helmet a light pat.
“How you feeling, Rose?”
Startled, she snaps out of it, looking up at me and offering a soft smile. “Good.”
“Yeah?”
She nods. “Still nervous, but—” She shrugs. “I’m excited.”
