Page 13 of Hard to Break

The image of the Kodiaks’ owner appears in my head. “But it wasn’t Miles’s fault.”

“I know. We all eat shit for things that aren’t our fault every day,” Chloe reminds me. “If you want to help, you could try to keep him out of trouble for the rest of the season.”

“I was trying,” I mutter.

“You want to do something more active?” she asks dryly. “Like a guerilla campaign filming him playing with a bunch of kids at a city court?”

I inspect my nails innocently. “You saw that.”

“Me and a couple million others. James included. The video was smart but risky.”

The team’s been playing better this week. They’ve won two and dropped one, but every game matters more as we hit the trade deadline. Teams are down to the wire now. It’s organizations’ last chance to make major moves before committing for the rest of the year.

“James and Harlan running around with any last-minute trades?” I ask.

“That I couldn’t talk about.” She tilts her head. “Now if you were a member of the organization…” Her long fingers twist her badge in the air. “You’d get the inside track on everything. Plus, free lunch every day. I could score you an office.”

It does sound really appealing. With the Vivaro problems, my brand partnerships have dried up. Working for the Kodiaks would give me a security I haven’t had.

I scan the office, taking in the official brochures and photos and awards tacked up on the walls. “I don’t believe you.”

Chloe frowns. “About the perks?”

“No, the all-star announcement. You have to prepare to reveal it to the players, the family. As much as they want us to believe it’s all a surprise, it can’t be. Blink once for yes, twice for no.” I lean in.

She snorts, clearly impressed by my tenacity. “If he does get in, he had more help than yours and mine.” She folds her arms. “Jay had Miles’s back every bit as much.”

Surprise sets me on my heels. “Jay didn’t say anything to me.”

“He’s softening… or his disgust for your ex is worse than his feud with Miles.”

Her tone is matter of fact, but there’s kindness in it too. She loves this team.

This woman is only a few years older than me, but she’s the kind of person I always pictured being. Cool, fun, accomplished. Not the too perfect of the Kappas, never a toe out of line, but real.

I could do far worse than working for her.

“Why did you and my brother break up?” I hear myself ask. “I know you were serious once. He never talked about anyone else. He hasn’t been the same since.”

Something flickers through her dark eyes. It takes a lot to catch Chloe off-guard, and I’ve never seen a reporter do it. Now, though, she looks vulnerable.

“That’s another thing I can’t talk about,” she says at last.

“Unless I take the job?” I supply.

“Especiallyif you take the job,” she says wryly, recovering.

Her office phone rings. Whatever number is on the call display has her grabbing for it.

“Yes, I can speak to the commissioner’s office.” Her eyes flash a warning for me to be quiet.

Anticipation burns me from the inside out. It takes everything in me not to hit the speakerphone button. Still, I’m straining to hear what’s said over the phone.

I don’t catch a damn word.

“Understood. Thank you.” She clicks off.

“Well?!” I demand.

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