Page 102 of Game Changer

I’ve never dared to put myself out there. Since art school, I haven’t had an exhibition. This was unplanned. The emotions rushing up, hope and gratitude and excitement, are overwhelming.

“You are sneaky, trying to get me and Coach on good terms again.”

The familiar voice and footsteps at my back make me turn.

Clay hovers in the doorway a dozen feet away.

The tips of his tattoos creep out of his collar. He’s like an animal playing at being tame.

“It’s a benefit for you and for the team. You mad?”

He takes leisurely steps across the pool area until he stops next to me, hands in the pockets of his tux.

“I’ll get over it.”

His smile feels like a secret between us. “And what about you? You’re the woman of the hour in there.”

I press my hands to my chest. “Those sketches were some of the first I’ve done in ages. Now they belong to people I’ve never met. Because of you.”

No one else knew about my drawings or would have had the motive.

“You’re pissed.” He doesn’t try to deny it.

“Yes. No.”

I love my art. I’d be flattered and excited if anyone showed an interest in my drawings.

“It’s incredible people would pay that much for signatures,” I say at last.

“They’d pay that much for your art,” he corrects. “You see people in a way that’s better than how they see themselves. I wish you could see yourself like I see you.”

“How is that?”

In the water, our silhouettes are reflected from the lights behind us, his dark eyes holding mine prisoner in our shared reflection.

“When I see your drawings, I see you. You’re brave and kind and so fucking beautiful it hurts to look at you.”

My heart beats in my ears. “No one’s ever done anything like this for me.”

“Stolen your possessions and auctioned them off?”

“Exactly. Thank you.” I stare out at the lights shining over the pool, feeling like I’m seen and like I belong. In the last place I expected, I feel like I belong. “Even Harlan looked happy,” I go on. “He’s good for Mari. I can’t imagine a better guy to have in the family, even if you and he don’t see eye to eye.”

His smile fades. “You remember the girl back in college that cheated on me and the entire team lied about it? Harlan was the one who told them to keep it quiet.”

My heart wrenches at the bitterness in his voice. “I don’t believe—”

“It’s true. I caught them two weeks before Finals. She admitted it had been going on and who had helped cover it up. It was Harlan’s idea not to tell me so it wouldn't mess with my game. He knew the entire semester but decided that winning mattered more than the truth.”

My chest tightens. “I’m sorry. That must have been hell.”

“For a while. Then it didn’t.” He doesn’t explain more. “I decided she was dead to me and so was management. I played out of my mind so that I never had to rely on suits or anyone else ever again.”

“And it worked,” I murmur.

He became an all-star. Revered. Untouchable.

“Maybe Harlan made a mistake. Maybe he’s changed.”

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