Page 72 of Your Secret to Keep

“Amazing. We’ll figure out how to compensate you for games where you’re doing work like this, but for now, these are for you.” Trent reaches back and hands me a massive bouquet of purple and white flowers. There’s a thank you note attached, and it’s signed by all the coaches and leadership.

“Thank you. I appreciate it,” I repeat, tipping my nose to the flowers and smelling the sweetness.

“I’ll be in touch,” Trent assures me while waving to the both of us.

Megan and I stare at each other for long seconds until we’re sure Trent is gone.

“Holy shit,” I mutter.

Megan takes a long breath, blowing it out and replying, “Holy shit is right.”

“I can’t believe Trent just showed up in Megan’s office. You’ve had a day,” Brooks exclaims while pouring me a glass of white wine.

I put the glass to my lips and take a tiny slip. I’m careful when I put the wine glass back on the island, as it feels delicate and expensive. It’d be true Lia fashion if I man-handled the beautiful stem wear and smashed it, like I’m some sort of cave man, unable to manage nice things.

“What do you need?”

This is one of Brooks’ questions he’s asked more than once. Most of the time, I don’t have the guts to ask for anything.

This time, I grab my Kindle from my bag and answer, “I want to get cozy and read a book.”

He smiles and starts towards the stairs. “I have the perfect spot for you.”

We walk in silence; the only sound is the jingling of Rocky’s collar as he follows. He typically wants to be where one of us is. Brooks stands in front of a door I’ve not opened. Yes, I’ve been staying here, but I definitely didn’t want to snoop. Well, I wanted to, but I held back. Brooks opens the door and steps inside, leaving space for me to follow.

It’s a library. A full ass library. Floor to ceiling bookshelves cover an entire wall, and anything that isn’t filled with books is filled with puzzles.There’s an oversized chair and a couch in the corner, a mini sitting area, and a table where a partially done puzzle sits.

“Brooks Pittman, you’ve been holding out on me. Tell me everything,” I squeal as I immediately move the shelves, looking at what kind of books he has.

He scoffs, running a hand through his dark strands. “After my surgery, I sort of got obsessed with reading and puzzles. Like, it was the only thing I wanted to do when I wasn’t at rehab. When I moved in, these bookshelves were already here, and I decided to keep them.”

I know my mouth is hanging open, but I can’t believe it. The books are all sorts of genres, like he reads mostly anything. When my eyes hit a box set of a popular fantasy series, the very same one I’m reading on my Kindle, I shriek. “Wait, tell me you read this? I just started the second book!”

He nods, his cheeks a little flushed. “Yes. I read all five of those books in six days. I could barely stop to eat or shower. It was a dark time.”

I gasp in excitement. “Stop it right now. You mean I can gush to you about these and you’re going to know what I’m talking about?” Am I dreaming? This is way too close to a man written by a woman to be real. An NBA player who loves to read?

Brooks’ hands are in his pocket as he steps forward. “Yes. I’d love it if you did. Mostly, I need to know your Tamlin feelings as you get through that next one.” He taps on the book spine.

I throw him a side-eye because he clearly knows something I don’t. Wow. This is a dream I didn’t know I had.

“Brooks! You read romantasy!”

“Want to trade secrets?” he asks and I’m nodding my head yes before he even finishes his sentence.

Brooks steps closer to me until our noses are almost touching. I breathe him in, and he smells like pine and citrus on top of the book smell. It’s heavenly.

“I also have a Kindle. That’s where my”—he fakes looking around for anyone else, even though it’s just the two of us—“romance books are.”

I cover a squeal with my hand and remind my knees to hold me up.

“This isn’t a joke. You’re for real?” I’m scanning his face and body language for the hint I’m being pranked.

He grins. “For real. It was so easy to binge; I could not get enough of it.”

My head shakes in surprise. “Do you still read romance?”

“Sometimes, especially when I travel for away games.” He smiles wider as he lets me in on this secret. “I’ve learned a lot from these books.”

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