Page 89 of Hard to Take

Fuck.

It’s going to be a long night.

27

BROOKE

We always had ice packs in our house growing up. I got comfortable fetching them for my brother for a variety of aches and pains from basketball. Now, I grab one from the coaching staff and wrap it in a towel as I cross to the stadium seat where Miles is perched.

“That was exciting,” I say as I slide into the seat next to him.

He leans an elbow on the back of my chair, cocking his head so the stadium lights outline his face, his dimples. “Figured we’d put on a show for you.”

It’s an hour after the game, and the place has cleared out.

The Kodiaks took a loss. It was foreseeable after the first quarter. With two starters ejected, it was practically inevitable.

We’re all still reeling from it.

“You shouldn’t have been ejected from the game.” I lift the wrapped pack to the side of his face, and he covers my hand with his.

“They don’t like you fighting. Doesn’t matter which team it’s with.” His lips tilt up at one side.

No matter how good an act he’s putting on, there will be consequences.

Denver drops a spot in the standings. At this rate, they could miss the playoffs.

As importantly, the fight took place in front of Miles’s new sponsor.

Though the deal might be inked, it hasn’t been announced yet. Anything could happen.

None of this would have happened if it wasn’t for me.

I don’t say the words out loud, but it’s as if Miles hears them.

He takes my wrist and gently lowers my hand holding the ice pack. “You know this was bound to come to a head.”

Was it? I want to shake my brother. He could have fixed this sooner.

“I tried calling him again last night,” I admit. “He didn’t respond.”

Miles nods. “This isn’t up to you, Princess. I’m going to fix this thing for good. That’s a promise.”

Chloe appears on the court, holding her iPad. “Miles. Harlan wants to see you.”

GM. Perfect.

Guess he’s done with my brother, who he saw first.

“I can wait so we can go home together,” I say. “Text me when you’re done?”

He brushes his lips over mine before following Chloe toward the hallway.

My feet carry me through the back halls of the building. I bang out half a dozen angry texts to Jay, deleting each.

I hit his contact, bringing up the picture of him. In it, he’s wearing a shit-eating grin and a bright pink tie. It was draft night. I picked out his suit, and the moment he was announced during the first round, it was me he looked at. Me he hugged first.

When we were kids, he was always there when I needed him. He brought me into his team. Made me one of them, even when he didn’t have to.

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