Page 74 of Hard to Take

Miles shifts between my task and me, forcing me to stop. “If he was an asshole?—”

“He had a few thoughts.”

Miles’s jaw flexes.

I don’t need him to stand between me and my brother, but before I can say so, we’re interrupted.

“Guys!” Chloe calls from the doorway. “James is getting started.”

We follow her into the ballroom, where the team’s owner is calling everyone to attention. Dotted around the room are the Kodiaks, management and coaching staff, plus significant others.

“You better get back to your assigned seat or Chloe will have your ass,” I whisper to him.

For a moment, I think he’s going to say “Fuck it,” but he reluctantly heads toward his designated spot.

“Tonight is about the city and the team,” James reminds the room. “There are five hundred VIPs out there, so everyone needs to be on their best behavior. The stakes are getting higher at this point in the season. The all-star game is coming up soon, and after that, the playoffs. We need everyone to pull together on this.”

Appearances matter.

I focus on that.

I float around, being an extra Chloe and making sure the donors are having a great time. I head over to the auction room, adding color commentary to the items to help get the bids up.

“You need a drink,” a familiar female voice says at my back, making me turn.

“I need a few,” I respond under my breath.

Nova beams. My friend looks stunning, her blond-and-pink hair pinned up on her head.

I wave over a bartender dressed in a black tux who serves us champagne.

Once we’ve clinked glasses and taken a sip, Nova say, “Have you talked with Jay since last night?”

I shake my head. I filled her in on everything last night when I stayed at her place.

Her eyes cloud. “What did Miles say?”

“He was in team meetings all day today, so the first time I saw him was here. Maybe we should talk about something else.”

“Like my business? I already have more shows lined up for the new year than ever.”

Pride for my friend rises up. “You’re incredible.”

“We make a good team,” she corrects.

I excuse myself to go to the bathroom to freshen up, still thinking over her words about making a good team.

The Kodiaks make a good team. Good enough to win a championship.

Unless something does irreparable damage.

I haven’t seen Miles and my brother within twenty feet of each other all night. Not that I’ve been watching for that, exactly, but it’s on my radar.

When I re-enter the ballroom, the countdown to midnight is on. The team is together, hollering and raising their glasses. A couple of gazes fall on me, new guys on the team, curious rather than friendly.

Like I’m a story they’ve heard about rather than a real person.

Discomfort has me vacating the ballroom for the smaller auction room, which still has guests, but far fewer.

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