Page 68 of Hard to Take

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“What was that shit about houseplants?” Rookie calls over the music.

“Good to have a green thumb.” I nurse a beer at the bar next to him.

It’s hard to hold onto a bad mood in this place. There’s an epic DJ with Cuban music pumping through the floor. Bartenders are salsa dancing on the other side of the bar, cheered on by patrons.

Sure, I would rather be back in my hotel room, video-calling Brooke, but team bonding is important, especially after a loss. These are the moments that will build us up, get us back on track with three short months until the playoffs.

“We needed that win.” A blonde woman leans over, her smile inviting.

“Thanks. I’ll admit that doesn’t make me feel a lot better.” I lift both hands.

She bites her lip. “I could make you feel better.”

“As generous as that offer is, I’m going to pass.”

“You’re very hands-off,” Jay observes when the woman turns back to her friends. “That’s at least a dozen times you’ve gotten hit on tonight.”

“Trying to keep my focus where it needs to be.” I take a drink of my soda. “Surprised you came out. How’re you feeling?”

“No complaints.”

He says it so fast I’m frowning. “Yeah? Because earlier, you were…” I trail off as he orders a second drink.

Or his third.

“You seemed out of it,” I finish.

“Come on. You’re not taking any of the blame?”

I shake my head. “Sure, man. I know it’s been hard lately on the court. But we’re figuring it out. We’re friends, and I’ve got your back.”

“Do you? Feels like you don’t tell me shit anymore.” Jay reaches for his beer, tipping it back.

“When did it start?” he asks when he sets the bottle down, half empty.

The inflection is at odds with the tension in his voice.

“What?” I ask, even though I know.

“You hooking up with my sister. Before or after you moved her in with you?”

It never occurred to me Jay would find out. Maybe it should have, but the longer it went on, the more protected I felt.

If I’d imagined all the ways a confrontation could go down, at a bar on the road after a hard loss would have been my nightmare scenario.

“Before.” I pause. “How’d you find out?”

“That’s what you want to know?” He laughs, cursing. “No. You don’t get to ask me fucking questions right now.”

“It’s not what you think.” I go to reach for his shoulder but he shoves my hand away, knocking it into his beer.

The bottle spins, spilling across the surface. Rookie catches it, glancing over with surprise, but Jay isn’t paying any attention.

“No? You don’t remember me saying to look out for her? That I didn’t want anyone on the team moving in on her?”

Jay’s not a physical guy, but he takes things personally. The guy’s helped me when I’ve screwed up before. But the way he’s looking at me, the accusation on his face…

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