Page 16 of Hard to Break

“Mhmm.”

“At what?”

I toss her over my shoulder and start for the hall.

“Miles!” Brooke screeches, though it’s closer to a bellow—probably thanks to the angle and where my shoulder’s pressing into her stomach. “We’re going to be late!”

“Too bad. Going to show you exactly what I’m good at before we leave.”

We makeit to the car twenty minutes behind.

But my girl is three orgasms ahead, so that’s good math.

The entire drive over, I’m buzzing, and it’s not from the coffee. I crank the music, whistling along the entire time.

I’m excited for the day, grateful to have her at my side. Nothing could ruin this moment.

“I need you to do something for me,” Brooke says as we pull into the parking lot at the stadium.

“Anything, Princess.” I shift out of the car and open the back to grab my gear bag.

She appears next to me. “Apologize for the fight with Kevin.”

Slamming the hatchback isn’t an option, so I stab the power close button. “Anything except that.”

I’d started to think the disagreement had passed, that she was going to accept my decision and move on.

I shoulder my bag and start for the door, frustration edging into my anticipation. Security holds the door, nodding to me. I nod back.

Brooke catches up partway down the hall. We pass a camera crew that’s got a sports network’s name on it.

“I talked to Chloe,” Brooke says at my side. “It’s important.”

Her heels click along, taking two strides for every one of mine.

“And what will they do?” I shove a hand through my hair and slow down a bit. “We stalled—thanks to you—and it’ll blow over.”

“It’s not over,” she says with certainty. “They could fine you, trade you—fire you.”

Her words make me pull up.

She’s standing in the middle of the hall, breathing heavily. I drop the bag at my side and close the distance between us. I take her arms in my hands.

“You’re the one who stands up for what’s right,” I remind her, my gut knotting tightly. “Who tells the bad guys to fuck off, usually in public.”

She looks past me, brows drawn. “This affects other people. Your team needs you. Your grandmother needs you.”

My throat tightens. Brooke’s not wrong, and the reminder makes it all hurt more.

I have pride, but more than that, I’m not about to lie down in front of a piece of shit who treated her like she was worse than replaceable—who used her and lied to her, then dared to act like she was his property when she never was.

Not when they were dating, and sure as hell not now.

“You want me to do it for them?”

A nod.

“And if I don’t?”

---