Page 83 of Hard to Take

“How worried are you?” I ask Chloe.

“The loss tonight means they slip another spot down the standings. The worst case scenario is they miss the playoffs.”

Shit.

I’m still turning that over when my phone vibrates with a video call. Miles. The game must be long over. I hit Accept.

“Hi!” I holler over the club noise.

“Been looking at your pic from the spa.”

“You have a foot fetish?”

“Didn’t know that about myself, but I might now. Where are you?” His image is blurry.

I tell him I went out with Brooke and Chloe, or try to.

“So, I can’t tuck you in.”

I shift out of the booth and bite my lip, pushing through the club to get to a dark hallway where it’s quieter. “Want to see what I got?” I put the phone down my pants.

“Damn. I saw… nothing.” He grins sheepishly and my heart threatens to beat out of my chest. “How’s your visit with Ruby?”

His thoughtfulness catches me by surprise.

“Epic. Especially thanks to you.”

Kevin was always snobby and self-centred. Miles is kind and caring. He had a rough game, but he looks as if there’s nowhere he’d rather be than talking to me.

“Oh. Chloe said they’re going to campaign me for the all-star game.”

I screech. “That’s incredible! You deserve it.”

“I keep looking around to see if someone’s pulling a prank. You know, after all the years I pulled them on other people.” He grins.

Pride and warmth wash over me. “You’re incredible.”

His brow furrows, like he can’t see or hear me or both. “What?”

“Nothing! I’ll see you in a couple days.”

“Night, Princess.”

I clutch my phone to my chest like a teenager with a crush.

Only my crush happens to be a pro basketball player who’s sexy as hell with a heart of gold who’d move mountains for me.

If this is what it feels like to fall hard? Maybe it’s worth the risk.

24

BROOKE

“I need advice and I wasn’t sure where else to go.”

My mom stares back at me from the other side of her office door. She dismisses her aide, and the woman slips out with a nod to me.

“About dating the basketball player?” Mom continues when the woman is out of earshot.

---