Power Play Read Free Page B

around his brother’s shoulder. “Would I shit you?”
    â€œYeah. Daily. But I can tell you’re not ringing my bell on this one. I haven’t seen you look this happy since eleventh grade, when Kylie Jacobs told you the rabbit didn’t die.” Jason punched his arm enviously. “You bastard . You’re probably going to meet Monica Geary, aren’t you?”
    â€œI have a scene with her,” said Eric, feeling quite pleased with this small coup. “I even get to play myself.”
    Everyone in the league watched The Wild and the Free . Soaps were a favorite way for them to pass the time in hotel rooms when they were on the road, and they all watched when they were home, too, since the teams’ workout and weight rooms had TVs. Eric couldn’t count the times he’d been sweating his ass off on a cross trainer with his eyes glued to Monica Geary.
    Jason had a faraway look in his eyes. “Remember that time Roxie’s fiancé plunged into a volcano, but it turned out he didn’t really die, and he secretly came back to Garrett City, gaslighting Roxie for a while?”
    â€œThat was great,” Eric agreed. Talking about the show was getting him pumped.
    â€œOr the time Roxie was reunited with the baby she’d given birth to in high school but didn’t know she had, because she’d been kicked in the head at the prom by a runaway horse and got amnesia?”
    â€œOh, man. The way Monica turned on the tears during that scene? You could hear guys sniffling all over the weight room that day. She’s a great actress.”
    â€œWhen will you be torturing the cast and crew with your presence?”
    â€œI shoot next Thursday afternoon, I think. I should be getting my script by FedEx today.” It sounded so cool saying that.
    â€œDo you know when it airs?”
    â€œNo. But I’m sure they’ll tell me.”
    â€œBastard.” Jason paused thoughtfully. “You know what you should do? Get an autographed pic of her for the locker room. Or have someone take a picture of the two of you together. That’ll help redeem your ass a little.”
    â€œI’m not doing that,” Eric scoffed. “It’s so fannish.”
    â€œYou are a fan.”
    â€œNot on Thursday I’m not. On Thursday I’m a guest star.”
    â€œOh, please.”
    â€œSeriously: I don’t want to come across as a geek.”
    â€œYou could never be a geek. But an asshole? That’s another story.”
    Eric yawned. “Yada yada yada.”
    â€œDelilah wants to know if you want to come for dinner tomorrow night.”
    â€œI’d love to,” said Eric, “but I can’t. I have to start studying my part.”
    â€œYour cameo is a week away, Eric, and you have less than five lines.”
    â€œNo,” Eric said emphatically. “I need to be make sure that when next Thursday rolls around, everything goes perfectly. I want to impress Monica.”
    Jason frowned. “Fine, but if you change your mind, just come over. We’re hanging out and watching some special on aardvarks on Animal Planet .”
    â€œNow that’s love.”
    â€œYou’re damn right. You might want to try it sometime.”

TWO
    ROXIE : Wait until you see the surprise I have for you, Grayson. (SHE WHEELS HIM, BLINDFOLDED, INTO A LOCKER ROOM. HOCKEY SKATES AND HELMETS HANG FROM SEVERAL OF THE LOCKERS. A FEW BATTERED HOCKEY STICKS ARE PROPPED UP IN THE CORNER. ERIC MITCHELL ENTERS. ROXIE UNTIES GRAYSON’S BLINDFOLD.) You can look now!
    GRAYSON : My God! It’s Eric Mitchell of the New York Blades, my favorite team!
    ERIC : It’s an honor to meet you, Rox—I mean Grayson.”
    Â 
    â€œCut!”
    Monica heaved a sigh of frustration as Jimmy the director flew out of the control booth for the third time, making a beeline for Eric Mitchell. The first time Eric screwed up his lines, Jimmy was patient. The guy