Page 23 of Game Changer

“Yeah, Waffles, stop sniffing around Nova.” Miles winks before returning to the espresso machine to make another concoction.

I want to hit him.

Jay’s right. I don’t date. I’m basketball first, second, always.

The occasional hookup to blow off steam is one thing, but love fucks with your head. I couldn’t afford it when I was healthy, not to mention now that I’m staging a comeback.

But I can’t stop looking at her like she’s a rainbow in the middle of a storm.

Chloe leans into the kitchen.

“Sorry, Nova. Let’s go.”

“Nice to meet you, Nova,” Miles calls. “You need a tour guide, you know where to find me.”

“Thanks.” Nova looks back at me for a moment. “Nice to meet you, Clay.”

“Wait.” I grab Nova’s hand and a marker off the counter and open her palm.

“What are you doing?” she murmurs.

Her skin is soft, and I try not to think too hard about the way her fingers curl around mine.

“I promised you a tattoo,” I mutter under my breath, reminding her of my vow on the plane.

Her mouth falls open as I write across her hand. “That’s my tattoo?”

“No. It’s how you redeem it.”

She bites her lip and closes her hand.

I don’t have to watch her hips sway, her pink hair bobbing as she leaves.

I do it anyway.

“My number looks good on her,” Miles says, slinging an arm around my neck.

The women head down the hall together, Nova squeezing her fist.

Mine looks better.

6

NOVA

“It’s too sweet.” Mari makes a face.

“It’s cake. Is there such a thing?” My fork glides through the smooth cake, and I pop a bite into my mouth. The soft lemon flavor makes me moan.

“I want to try the lavender buttercream again.”

It’s my third day in Denver and officially the weekend. We’re testing wedding cakes at a fancy bakery in town.

All three we’ve tried, including a chocolate hazelnut with vanilla frosting, have been delicious. But Mari can’t seem to find one she likes.

“It’s better than sex, right?” A woman around my age blows in, her golden skin flawless and her dark hair twisted back in dozens of tiny braids. “Chloe sends her half-assed apologies. She got sucked into a meeting, so I get to play taste-tester with you. Which is lucky for you because I have better taste.” Her dancing eyes land on me. “I’m Brooke. You must be Nova.”

She folds me in a hug that’s warm.

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