Page 82 of Hard to Take

I click on her profile and realize it’s another creator in a similar space.

Hi Brooke! I hope it’s okay that I reached out. I saw that you were promoting Vivaro too, and I wondered if you’ve had any issues with them?

I frown as I type back.

Hey Alicia! They’ve been great so far, but it’s still new. What kind of problems have you encountered?

The sound of the condo front desk calling on my phone interrupts my thoughts.

“You expecting company?” Ruby asks.

“Not that I know of.”

I hit accept and listen to the concierge. “Of course! Send her up.”

I bounce across the condo to the front door.

When I open it, Chloe’s standing on the other side with a bottle of wine. “Thank you for your help at New Year’s. This is for you, but it looks like you started already.”

Ruby laughs from behind me. I introduce them.

“We’re going out tonight,” I inform Chloe.

“You should come!” Ruby insists.

Chloe laughs. “I can’t.”

“Ruby is a doctor. She’ll make sure we don’t die,” I say.

“Oh, no. I assume zero responsibility for either of you.”

“That’s not why. The team has a game.”

Ruby turns on the TV. “Hate to tell you, but it looks like it might be a blowout.”

An hour later, we’re off to a club.

I text Miles to say sorry about the game but that he played amazing.

“You used to date Brooke’s brother, right?” Ruby calls over the music.

“A long time ago,” Chloe says.

“How do we get him to chill the fuck out?”

Chloe laughs. “He’s chill about a lot of things, but loyalty is a big deal to him. It’s why he’s such a good team player. He takes the time to understand each guy and has a particular relationship with each of them. But when someone disappoints him, he lets them know it.”

“He wants his people to be his people,” I cut in. “He was like this growing up. He was the oldest and he wanted to make every decision.”

“So maybe Miles lets Jay get a free shot in, then everyone’s good?” Ruby flips her palms.

“First, I thought you were a doctor?” Chloe says.

“Doctor, yes. Problem solver…also yes.”

“Fair enough. But no violence.” Chloe winces. “The league does not look kindly on that sort of thing.”

I reach for my drink and take a long sip.

---