30. Brooke
30
brOOKE
“L ast week was fun.” Chloe’s voice has me looking up from the empty conference room I ducked into to check my email.
“The part where a fight broke out on court over me and two starting players got suspended?”
The Kodiaks have a game in a few hours, but I came early to try and catch my brother. When Jay’s stressed, he always likes to hit the gym before a game to stretch.
“No, the part where you, me and Ruby went out.” She laughs. “I heard Miles and Jay struck an agreement.”
“Supposedly. Miles said it was top secret guy stuff. I guess we’ll see what happens on the court.”
“Well, it seems like everything you’re around turns to gold. Nova’s thrilled with her new opportunities. And a few of the connections you helped to make at the New Year’s party have already led to new partnership conversations for the team.”
“That’s fantastic,” I say, genuinely pleased.
She tilts her head. “You know, I’m trying to hire someone in PR to help me. It’s been hard finding the right person, but since New Year’s, I can’t help thinking maybe the perfect person has been under my nose the whole time.”
“Me.” I say it out loud because I’m honestly not sure.
Chloe laughs. “Yes, you.”
“You want me around here more often ? Did you see the drama over the past month?”
“I did. And as much as they don’t always act it, they’re professionals. They’ll figure out their business.”
My heart beats harder. This could be a stellar opportunity. I respect Chloe, and I could learn a lot from her. Plus, I know basketball, and the Kodiaks’ budget blows Elise’s company or Vivaro out of the water.
“I need to think about it.”
Chloe’s face splits into a smile. “Of course. If it helps, I’ll email over an offer to let you know what I was thinking. But don’t take too long.”
I go back out into the hall and run straight into my brother. “Hi.”
“Hey.”
“Your suspension over?”
“First game back is tonight. But you knew that.” He lifts a brow.
I fold my arms, the offer still under one. If this is going to work, I need to make this right. “Listen, about what went down?—”
“I know you’re going to give me shit for stepping in where I don’t belong.”
“I was going to say that if Miles and me together seemed like sneaking around or changed the team dynamic, I’m sorry. You’ve built up a lot of trust together, and you need that for things to work on the court.”
“Yeah, well.” Jay’s eyes widen a little as he adjusts his bag on his shoulder. “Guess he always had a thing for you.”
“Can you blame him? I’m amazing.”
Jay snorts, but I get the half smile I’m after.
I bite my lip as I recall what Kevin said to me. His barely veiled threat over dinner.
“The suspension you both got… how much trouble is that really?”
Jay frowns. “Neither of us are going anywhere, if that’s what you’re worried about. I’ve got some goodwill saved up here, and so does he. We pay our fines and eat whatever shit Coach doles out, and we’ll be back in business.”
“So you’re not losing your job, but it was strike one,” I read.
“Sure. But this isn’t baseball. We don’t get three.”
We need to be on our best behavior. Jay doesn’t need to spell it out for me.
If the Kodiaks as defending champs don’t even make the playoffs, it would be dire for the entire organization. It would affect not only Miles but my brother, Clay by extension Nova, Chloe.
I think back to Clay’s comments that there’s a narrow window for Jay and Miles to this right. I want the team to prove themselves this year, to have a chance to go back for the championship, not least because Miles’s role is that much bigger this year. He’s not only part of the story, he’s writing it.
“Least it was on the court,” my brother goes on. “It looks bad, but you can blame it on adrenaline. Off the court is something else.”
I turn that over. “Have you seen him today?”
“He should be here soon. We’re getting ready for shoot around.” My brother sends off a text.
“He’s not answering. At least he’s not answering me.” I hold up my phone with the message I sent Miles a couple hours ago.
Jay blocks the screen with a hand. “I don’t want to see it.”
“Relax. This is a dick-pic-free zone.”
He makes a pained sound.
“You guys text each other back right away, huh?” he grumbles.
“Yeah.”
“Cute.” But he shakes his head.
“Hey.” I kick a toe against his shoe. “Are we good?”
“Are you happy?”
“Mhmm.”
He cocks his head. “I just don’t want this to go bad. For you, for the team, for anyone.”
“You worry too much.”
Chloe comes barreling down the hall, iPad clutched in one hand and phone in the other. “Get outside. Now.”
Jay and I exchange a startled look.
“What’s happening?” I demand.
She doesn’t answer and is halfway to the end of the hall. We follow, our footsteps echoing.
“Chlo,” Jay calls.
He catches up to her first, me a moment later. I’ve never seen her move this fast. Never seen anyone move this fast outside a race or a basketball game, if I’m honest.
We burst out the front doors, Chloe leading the way. She pulls up fast enough I run into her back.
The pavilion in front of the stadium holds a scene that takes me a full minute to process.
First I see Miles.
My heart lifts, as it always does when I see him. He’s got his bag over one shoulder, a puffer coat unzipped and his hair wavy around his face.
But something’s wrong.
His hands are balled into fists and he’s talking with someone. Shouting at someone .
The other man is in a wool coat, his cheeks pink and pale hair wispy. His face is pulled into an aristocratic sneer.
Not just anyone.
Kevin.
“What is he doing here?” Jay says what we’re all thinking.
Nothing good.
The way they’re arguing is dangerous.
I can’t overhear the words, but a crowd is gathering.
“Miles!” I call.
He turns toward me, his expression torn. Then whatever Kevin says has him turning back.
Phones are lifted, taking photos and video, as if they know they’re going to see what they came for.
Or rather what they didn’t.
Miles throws the first punch.
Everything slows down.
Not enough time for me to run to them and tell people to put down their phones, to stop filming.
Kevin responds with an upper cut.
Miles hits back.
I’m frozen. I can’t believe what I’m seeing.
My brother hollers something I can’t hear.
Clay is there too.
Sirens wail in the distance, coming closer.
It’s over.
It’s over for Miles, and it’s all my fault.
* * *
Thank you for reading Hard to Take .