25. Brooke
25
brOOKE
ONE MONTH LATER
T he sun beats down on the bustling charity sports event as I make my final checks. Clipboards, schedules, and a sea of volunteers in matching T-shirts surround me. I spot Miles weaving through the crowd, his tall frame and easy smile unmistakable even from a distance.
It’s unseasonably warm for mid-May, and I send up a prayer of thanks. His Kodiaks T-shirt clings to the hard muscles of his shoulders and chest, and I let myself enjoy the view.
“There's my MVP,” I call as he approaches.
“MVP of organization maybe.” Miles grins, planting a quick kiss on my cheek.
My heart does a little flip. He still has that effect on me. “What are you talking about?! The Kodiaks crushed the first two rounds of the playoffs. You’re into the conference finals.”
Saying out loud only reinforces how proud I am of him. Of all the guys, really, including my brother. The team rallied and put together some stellar and gritty performances, and now they’re playing like defending champions.
“We are pretty great,” he concedes, a cocky expression taking over his face. He glances over my shoulder without releasing me from his strong arms. “This place looks amazing. You've outdone yourself.”
I feel a flush of pride. “Well, since I passed on working for Chloe, I offered to help out today. Speaking of which, where's our furry mascot?”
Right on cue, a whirlwind of fawn-colored fur comes barreling toward us, tongue lolling and stub of a tail wagging furiously. Waffles skids to a halt at our feet.
Miles laughs, scooping him up. “Ready to charm some donors?”
I check my watch. “And just in time. We're due to kick things off in five.”
We make our way to the makeshift stage, Waffles trotting happily beside us. As we climb the steps, I feel a familiar twinge of nerves.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” the announcer's voice booms, “please welcome Miles Garrett and Brooke Ellis!”
The crowd erupts in cheers and applause. I take a deep breath, squeezing Miles's hand before stepping up to the microphone.
“Welcome, everyone, to the Hoops for Hope charity event!” My voice carries across the crowd. “We're thrilled to see so many familiar faces and new friends here today. Your support means the world to us.”
Miles steps forward, his presence reassuring. “Every dollar, every shot, every cheer today goes toward building a brighter future for kids in need. So, let's make some noise and have some fun!”
The crowd roars its approval.
As we make our way down from the stage, we're swept up in a whirlwind of activity. Fans clamor for autographs, reporters shout questions, and somewhere in the chaos, Waffles decides it's the perfect time for an impromptu game of chase.
“Waffles, no!” I laugh, watching the little bulldozer weave through a forest of legs.
Miles is hot on Waffles’s tail, calling out apologies as he goes.
I turn to find a microphone in my face, attached to an eager-looking reporter. “Ms. Ellis, how does it feel to be here today given the recent turbulence in your personal and professional life?”
For a moment, I'm taken aback. I shouldn’t be surprised they’re bringing up what happened with Kevin, but I've learned from it, grown from it. I meet the reporter's gaze steadily.
“It feels incredible,” I say, my voice strong and clear. “Life throws curveballs, but it's how we handle them that defines us. Today is about moving forward, about using our experiences to make a positive impact.”
I catch sight of Miles returning, Waffles tucked securely under one arm. He gives me a wink, and I can't help but smile.
The fallout from Kevin's exposure has been nothing short of seismic. What started as Miles and me taking a stand against injustice quickly snowballed into a scandal that's shaken the legal community to its core.
Kevin's family firm, once a beacon of legal prestige, has been forced to dissolve. The ethics violations were too egregious to ignore, and the bar association's swift action was both necessary and unprecedented.
But the revelations didn't stop there. A full investigation uncovered a pattern of academic fraud stretching back to Kevin's college days. Adding Miles’s photos of Kevin’s dorm room drug stash felt like overkill. He’s facing a raft of legal charges that will take time to work through the system, but in the meantime, the disbarment as well as revocation of his law degree feel like fitting blows.
The consequences have struck close to home, too. My mom's campaign took a significant hit thanks to the loss of Kevin's family as major donors. But her team is nothing if not resilient. They're trying to reframe the narrative around integrity and standing up against corruption.
Lately, they seem to think she might actually come out ahead for taking a stand against unethical behavior, even at great personal and professional cost.
I hope she does.
The reporter moves on, and Miles sidles up beside me. “Ready to show them some real teamwork?”
I grin, competitive spirit flaring. “Bring it on, hotshot.”
We head to the first challenge—a shoot-out. The rules are simple: sink more baskets than your competition in one minute. Miles, naturally, will be in his element, but I've picked up a thing or two over the years.
“Ladies first,” Miles teases, handing me a ball.
I quirk an eyebrow. “Careful what you wish for.”
The whistle blows, and we're off. I sink my first shot, then my second. Miles matches me basket for basket, his form perfect, his concentration intense. But I'm no slouch either. As the seconds tick down, we're neck and neck.
“Ten seconds!” the announcer calls.
I grab my last ball, take a breath, and let it fly. It arcs through the air, then… swish! Nothing but net.
The buzzer sounds, and the crowd goes wild. Miles sweeps me into a bear hug, lifting me off my feet.
“Unbelievable!” He laughs. “You ever want to retire from PR, you have another career waiting, Princess.”
As we catch our breath, I spot a familiar face making its way through the crowd. My brother, decked out in event gear, grins as he approaches.
“Not bad,” he says, clapping Miles on the back.
“Jay!” I pull him into a hug. “I thought you weren't getting here until later.”
He shrugs. “Couldn't miss my little sister showing up the pros. Plus, I heard there's a relay race that needs a third wheel.”
Miles chuckles. “More like a secret weapon. You in?”
Before Jay can answer, there's a commotion from the autograph tent. I spot Waffles darting between tables, a string of fans in pursuit.
“Oh no,” I groan. “I thought we had him secured.”
“I got this,” Miles says, already moving. “You two head to the relay. I'll meet you there.”
As Miles disappears into the crowd, I can't help but marvel at how different things are now. A year ago, I wouldn't have trusted anyone else to handle a crisis, big or small, but Miles has shown me that I'm not alone anymore.
“Earth to Brooke.” Jay's voice cuts through my thoughts. “You good?”
I nod, smiling. “Yeah, just… reflecting.”
Jay's expression softens. “It's good to see you happy.”
“Even if I’m with Miles?”
He grins, rolling his eyes. “Yeah. I’m sorry I was a dick about it. I’ve never seen him care about anyone the way he cares about you, and once I realized that, I knew I’d square with it.” He folds his arms. “This way, I can keep an eye on both of you. And if someone’s dodging my texts, I’ll find out.”
I’m still laughing as Miles jogs up, slightly out of breath but grinning triumphantly. “Crisis averted. Waffles is now the proud owner of about fifty new toys from the merch tent.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “My hero.”
“Penny for your thoughts?” he asks when we’re both quiet a moment.
I take a deep breath. “I was just thinking about how far we've come, how much we've both changed.”
He nods, understanding in his eyes. “For the better, I hope?”
“Definitely,” I say softly. “I never thought I'd trust someone like this. But you've shown me what real partnership looks like.”
Miles takes my hand, his touch gentle. “I used to think being friends with everyone was safer, easier. I didn’t have to risk being really close to anyone. But what we have? It's worth every challenge, every risk.”
Tears prick the corners of my eyes. “Even when I'm being stubborn and independent?”
He chuckles. “Especially then. Your strength is one of the things I love most about you. I don't want to change you. I just want to be the person you can lean on when you need to.”
I lean in, resting my forehead against his. “I love you, Miles Garrett.”
“I love you too, Brooke Ellis,” he murmurs. “Now, what would you say to a hot air balloon ride?”
I spin around, searching the horizon. “You didn’t.”
“I know how you love adventure. And looking down at all the little people,” he teases, reminding me of the sorority retreat.
I slap his arm lightly and he pulls me against him into a hard kiss.
Yes . This is everything I want.
The jokes and the earnestness. The heat and the sweetness. The dreams and the reality.
Waffles is exhausted from his day of mischief making, so we leave him snoozing with my brother and make our way hand in hand to the setup for the hot air balloons.
“Ready for this, Princess?” Miles asks, eyes sparkling with excitement.
I grin. “Never.”
I lean against Miles, content in a way I never thought possible.
“So,” he says, his voice soft, “think we make a good team?”
I smile, thinking of all we've been through, all we've overcome. “The best.”