Page 85 of Hard to Break

It’s unseasonably warm for mid-May, and I send up a prayer of thanks. His Kodiaks T-shirt clings to the hard muscles of his shoulders and chest, and I let myself enjoy the view.

“There's my MVP,” I call as he approaches.

“MVP of organization maybe.” Miles grins, planting a quick kiss on my cheek.

My heart does a little flip. He still has that effect on me. “What are you talking about?! The Kodiaks crushed the first two rounds of the playoffs. You’re into the conference finals.”

Saying out loud only reinforces how proud I am of him. Of all the guys, really, including my brother. The team rallied and put together some stellar and gritty performances, and now they’re playing like defending champions.

“We are pretty great,” he concedes, a cocky expression taking over his face. He glances over my shoulder without releasing mefrom his strong arms. “This place looks amazing. You've outdone yourself.”

I feel a flush of pride. “Well, since I passed on working for Chloe, I offered to help out today. Speaking of which, where's our furry mascot?”

Right on cue, a whirlwind of fawn-colored fur comes barreling toward us, tongue lolling and stub of a tail wagging furiously. Waffles skids to a halt at our feet.

Miles laughs, scooping him up. “Ready to charm some donors?”

I check my watch. “And just in time. We're due to kick things off in five.”

We make our way to the makeshift stage, Waffles trotting happily beside us. As we climb the steps, I feel a familiar twinge of nerves.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” the announcer's voice booms, “please welcome Miles Garrett and Brooke Ellis!”

The crowd erupts in cheers and applause. I take a deep breath, squeezing Miles's hand before stepping up to the microphone.

“Welcome, everyone, to the Hoops for Hope charity event!” My voice carries across the crowd. “We're thrilled to see so many familiar faces and new friends here today. Your support means the world to us.”

Miles steps forward, his presence reassuring. “Every dollar, every shot, every cheer today goes toward building a brighter future for kids in need. So, let's make some noise and have some fun!”

The crowd roars its approval.

As we make our way down from the stage, we're swept up in a whirlwind of activity. Fans clamor for autographs, reporters shout questions, and somewhere in the chaos, Waffles decides it's the perfect time for an impromptu game of chase.

“Waffles, no!” I laugh, watching the little bulldozer weave through a forest of legs.

Miles is hot on Waffles’s tail, calling out apologies as he goes.

I turn to find a microphone in my face, attached to an eager-looking reporter. “Ms. Ellis, how does it feel to be here today given the recent turbulence in your personal and professional life?”

For a moment, I'm taken aback. I shouldn’t be surprised they’re bringing up what happened with Kevin, but I've learned from it, grown from it. I meet the reporter's gaze steadily.

“It feels incredible,” I say, my voice strong and clear. “Life throws curveballs, but it's how we handle them that defines us. Today is about moving forward, about using our experiences to make a positive impact.”

I catch sight of Miles returning, Waffles tucked securely under one arm. He gives me a wink, and I can't help but smile.

The fallout from Kevin's exposure has been nothing short of seismic. What started as Miles and me taking a stand against injustice quickly snowballed into a scandal that's shaken the legal community to its core.

Kevin's family firm, once a beacon of legal prestige, has been forced to dissolve. The ethics violations were too egregious to ignore, and the bar association's swift action was both necessary and unprecedented.

But the revelations didn't stop there. A full investigation uncovered a pattern of academic fraud stretching back to Kevin's college days. Adding Miles’s photos of Kevin’s dorm room drug stash felt like overkill. He’s facing a raft of legal charges that will take time to work through the system, but in the meantime, the disbarment as well as revocation of his law degree feel like fitting blows.

The consequences have struck close to home, too. My mom's campaign took a significant hit thanks to the loss of Kevin'sfamily as major donors. But her team is nothing if not resilient. They're trying to reframe the narrative around integrity and standing up against corruption.

Lately, they seem to think she might actually come out ahead for taking a stand against unethical behavior, even at great personal and professional cost.

I hope she does.

The reporter moves on, and Miles sidles up beside me. “Ready to show them some real teamwork?”

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