Page 40 of Hard to Break

And it is—right up until some suit decides you’re a chess piece worth swapping on a wild hunch.

“You ever get traded at deadline?” Rookie asks me.

I shake my head. It never bothered me before, so I never thought about it much.

Except that if it happened today, I have no idea what I’d do.

I mean, I’d pack a bag and get on a plane because that’s what you have to do.

But what about Brooke? Would she go with me? Could I even ask her?

It feels like our weekend in New York brought us closer together, but I don’t think we’re at “please move across the country with me” status yet.

There’ve been a couple of big moves across the league so far but nothing involving the Kodiaks.

Could be indicative of the final shakedown, or it could be the calm before the storm.

James warning echoes in my head.

Half an hour.

The minutes slip away as we get ready for shootaround.

Out on the court, fans trickle in as Dallas warms up at the other end.

Assistant trainers feed us balls, and we take turns shooting layups and threes. Each time one swishes through the hoop, it eases the tension in my gut a little, but when I glance up toward the spot where Harlan and James sit, neither is there. Probably in their offices on the phone, deciding all our fates.

There’s no time to dwell on it. Not when we have a game to focus on that’s going to shape what kind of team anyone who’s staying will come home to.

“All-star break is over,” Coach says when we’re all back in the locker room doing final prep. “Back to work, only double the intensity. This is what you train your entire lives for. Make it happen.”

Dallas is above us in the standings, and we’re on the hunt for a playoff spot. We need to claw our way back into a strong position.

The top six teams are guaranteed a spot in playoffs. Seven and eight have to play their way in against stronger opponents. While on paper we’d have a shot at seven or eight, we need to be six or better.

“We’ve got this,” Jay says, leveling his gaze at me. “Kodiaks on three.”

The team puts in their hands. After our cheer, we file out of the locker room.

I call for Jay on the way out to the court, and he hangs back.

“How’re you feeling?”

“Good. Normal,” I say and almost mean it.

“I’d understand if you weren’t. Ketamine can fuck you up.”

I nod. “I don’t want to go there again.”

He eyes me a long time before clapping a hand on my shoulder. “No shit.”

Maybe Clay has it right avoiding alcohol during the season. From here on out, things are going to be better. I’ll be a model athlete.

We head out side by side for the player announcements.

When the crowd goes crazy for us, adrenaline surges through me and blanks out everything else. I look up to the box to see Brooke and Nova, plus Sierra. Chloe’s absent—probably with Harlan and James.

Brooke’s laughing with her friends, and when her gaze finds mine, she tilts her chin at me.

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