Page 11 of Hard to Break

I pull her against my side, wondering if she can feel my heart skip. “Never.” Guilt kicks in my gut at what I’m still keeping from her. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

We make it to the other sidewalk and pass a few groups of pedestrians before I speak again.

“Chloe wants me to apologize to Kevin.”

She blinks. “What?”

“In public,” I confirm.

Princess and I are a lot of things, but quiet isn’t one of them. Now, silence stretches between us.

“She’s right,” she says at last.

It’s my turn to be caught off guard. I pull up, unsure I’ve heard her right. “I’m not going through with it.”

She stops too, lifting her chin. “You should. There’s no getting out of it. He has nothing at stake here.”

I think of the photos I have saved. “Wouldn’t say that?—”

“I mean right now,” she presses. “Think about what’s on the line for you.”

“He’s here for you, not for me.” The words are out before I think about how they’d sound.

Her eyes widen. “You’re right. This is my fault.”

I pull her close to my side and curse myself for saying it. “That’s not what I meant, Princess.”

But the rest of the night, I’m thinking about it, and I know she is too.

4

BROOKE

The video goes viral.

Millions of views and a ton of shares mean it’s a slam dunk that the shoe sponsor has seen it.

It doesn’t hurt that Miles looks fantastic in the video.

Sure, a few hundred of the views might be mine, justifiably ogling my boyfriend.

My gaze drags to a comment near the bottom of the post.

No one’s that good.

Garrett sure as hell isn’t.

A dozen upvotes isn’t many given the hundred plus comments. Still, I click on the two replies.

After the fight with Kevin and the team’s press release, it felt as if the worst had blown over.

Miles needs this shoe deal for his grandmother. More than that, he deserves it. He’s worked so damn hard this season, and for years before that. He’s always shown up and been a team player.

My mom’s words come back about things only heating up from here. She’s suspicious by nature and necessity. It’s her job to scan the environment for any possible problem.

It’s not my nature anymore though.

“See something you like?” Chloe’s voice pulls me out of my daydream.

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