Page 94 of Hard to Take

The hairs on my neck lift. “He’s twice the man you are,” I say before I can stop it. “He’s finally getting the recognition he deserves. Highlight reels. Endorsements. All-star game buzz.”

“He made mistakes back then too, Bee.” When Kevin’s eyes flash, they’re gray, like ice.

It occurs to me that Miles’s are bright blue, like fire.

“You and I are good at repressing our anger. It comes out in more subtle ways,” Kevin says.

My next bite tastes like chalk, but I force it down. “Like sleeping around and snorting piles of cocaine?”

He laughs. “Touché.”

He’s so goddamned smug. But as he cuts his steak, there’s a recklessness to him.

“Those things are easily buried. Miles, on the other hand, snapped in a way you can’t come back from.”

I realize I’m just pushing my rice pilaf into piles at this point. “It was a long time ago.”

“I agree. And I think we should bury the hatchet, as it were.”

“Or what?” I set down my fork.

“Or some of that long-buried history might come up.” He grins, all white teeth. Like a shark.

It’s a threat.

I might not know exactly what he’s threatening but I sense it.

My past has hung with me a long time. I never imagined Miles had anything to hide.

The image of Kevin with his face pummeled flashes across my mind—the work of Miles’s fists when he was a rookie and I was a college junior.

If Miles does have secrets, it’s because of me.

I wait until our waitress is out of earshot to rise. “This dinner is over. I’ll let you get the bill.”

30

BROOKE

“Last 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.”

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