Page 95 of Hard to Take

“You want me around here more often? Did you see the drama over the past month?”

“I did. And as much as they don’t always act it, they’re professionals. They’ll figure out their business.”

My heart beats harder. This could be a stellar opportunity. I respect Chloe, and I could learn a lot from her. Plus, I know basketball, and the Kodiaks’ budget blows Elise’s company or Vivaro out of the water.

“I need to think about it.”

Chloe’s face splits into a smile. “Of course. If it helps, I’ll email over an offer to let you know what I was thinking. But don’t take too long.”

I go back out into the hall and run straight into my brother. “Hi.”

“Hey.”

“Your suspension over?”

“First game back is tonight. But you knew that.” He lifts a brow.

I fold my arms, the offer still under one. If this is going to work, I need to make this right. “Listen, about what went down?—”

“I know you’re going to give me shit for stepping in where I don’t belong.”

“I was going to say that if Miles and me together seemed like sneaking around or changed the team dynamic, I’m sorry. You’ve built up a lot of trust together, and you need that for things to work on the court.”

“Yeah, well.” Jay’s eyes widen a little as he adjusts his bag on his shoulder. “Guess he always had a thing for you.”

“Can you blame him? I’m amazing.”

Jay snorts, but I get the half smile I’m after.

I bite my lip as I recall what Kevin said to me. His barely veiled threat over dinner.

“The suspension you both got… how much trouble is that really?”

Jay frowns. “Neither of us are going anywhere, if that’s what you’re worried about. I’ve got some goodwill saved up here, and so does he. We pay our fines and eat whatever shit Coach doles out, and we’ll be back in business.”

“So you’re not losing your job, but it was strike one,” I read.

“Sure. But this isn’t baseball. We don’t get three.”

We need to be on our best behavior. Jay doesn’t need to spell it out for me.

If the Kodiaks as defending champs don’t even make the playoffs, it would be dire for the entire organization. It would affect not only Miles but my brother, Clay by extension Nova, Chloe.

I think back to Clay’s comments that there’s a narrow window for Jay and Miles to this right. I want the team to prove themselves this year, to have a chance to go back for the championship, not least because Miles’s role is that much bigger this year. He’s not only part of the story, he’s writing it.

“Least it was on the court,” my brother goes on. “It looks bad, but you can blame it on adrenaline. Off the court is something else.”

I turn that over. “Have you seen him today?”

“He should be here soon. We’re getting ready for shoot around.” My brother sends off a text.

“He’s not answering. At least he’s not answering me.” I hold up my phone with the message I sent Miles a couple hours ago.

Jay blocks the screen with a hand. “I don’t want to see it.”

“Relax. This is a dick-pic-free zone.”

He makes a pained sound.

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