Page 103 of Game Changer

“I don’t care if he has. I’m not giving him another chance to burn me like that.”

I understand a little more why he’s closed off the way he is, why trusting people in general and Harlan in particular feels dangerous.

I can’t help asking, “Was she the last woman you loved?”

Clay shifts on his feet. “Could be it wasn’t even love. I’m not sure I’m made for that.”

My heart aches for him, for the fact that he’s missing out on the beauty that can happen when you let another person in.

Not like I’m the poster child for choosing romantic partners, but I want to believe in that kind of love.

A sound outside reminds me where we are. That there are people who’ll notice soon that we’re gone, if they haven’t already.

“Harlan’s marrying my sister in two more days,” I say quietly. “I get that you have history, but they’re happy. I won’t let anything get in the way of that.”

“No inviting a herd of LA fans to crash the wedding. Got it.”

My lips twitch. “Now if only I could find this song of our mom’s. I thought I could fit it into the music during the ceremony to surprise her. It would be like Mom and Dad were there.”

His hand brushes mine, and he laces our fingers together. “You have a good heart, Pink. You’ll figure it out.”

We stand like that for a minute or five. I don’t want to move, just be here with him.

“So, someone bought you,” I comment. “I wonder how much they paid.”

He grins. “Not enough.”

27

CLAY

“That’s a foul,” I say evenly.

Nine other players on the court pull up and look toward me.

“What? No way.” Rookie’s standing a few strides away from where he ripped the ball from my hands a second ago.

“It’s a foul.” I take it back and demonstrate.

“You do that all the time,” he protests. “They don’t call you on it.”

“That’s because I’m me. For the next year or two, you’re you.”

He curses colorfully.

I grab his shoulder and pull him in.

“Hey. You survive that time, you get the benefit of the doubt. Until then, you go the fuck to work and show them why you deserve it. Now go again.”

Rookie sighs but sets up to guard me one more time.

I feel Jay’s eyes on me through the entire play, until the assistant overseeing our drill calls a break.

“What?” I ask my friend.

“You’re being nicer to Rookie since the charity auction. Since LA, in fact.”

I lift a shoulder. “He’s here if I like him or not. Maybe he’ll get my laundry done right.”

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