And I can always flip off Wall Clay if I need to vent.
There’s no reason to spend more time with the real thing.
On my way, I stop at a bakery to grab some donuts for my friend.
Reemerging with a half dozen treats tucked under my arm, I check the address Brooke gave me. It feels familiar, but I can’t put my finger on why.
When I pull up at the doors, my stomach sinks.
I look up at the condo building looming overhead.
The condo building I’ve definitely been to once before.
Clay’s building.
“Hi, friend!” Brooke squeals as the door swings open. “I’m so glad you could stay with me. Between us, I’ve been needing some girl time. Oh my God, are those donuts?!”
Her enthusiasm deflates my idea to text Mari and see if she’s still open to a houseguest until I have enough for rent on my own.
Brooke takes me on a tour. The kitchen is beautiful. The apartment is like Clay’s, but it has different finishes. More feminine furniture and paint colors.
“Do a lot of team people live in this building?”
“A few.” Realization settles on her face. “Oh, you mean because Clay does.”
“You could’ve told me.” But the moment it’s out, I feel like a jerk. She’s doing me a huge favor.
“He’s on a different floor.”
Maybe she’s right. The man caught me when I fell off a ladder and couldn’t wait to get away from me. At this point, he’d probably wait for another elevator just to avoid me.
Brooke sinks onto the couch in an elegant move, depositing the box of treats on the coffee table and motioning me to join her. “You never told me what happened the night of the wedding. Not the details, anyway.”
“He left me a letter saying we were nothing. Basically, the same as my ex when he disappeared. At least Clay had it hand-delivered.”
Her expression darkens. “That’s really shitty. I’m sorry.”
“He never promised anything. And I should have known better than to think he cared about me.” After what Brad did, I should have seen it coming.
She makes a sound of understanding. “Guys aren’t worth the hassle. I’m going to make this better for you. You’ll forget all about him.”
Brooke rises and holds out a hand. I take it and follow her to the bedrooms.
“This is you.”
I gasp as I look around the huge room, my suitcase already laid on a luggage rack. “It’s beautiful. This bed…”
“I figured you’d like pink.” She grins. “This is your closet.” She throws open the doors and steps inside.
“You could have a party in there.”
“You will. But while we’re on the topic, you don’t have enough clothes to fill this. We need to go shopping tomorrow.”
I open my mouth to protest but stop. “I have a stipend for my job, but I want to cover my half of rent.”
She waves. “The place is paid up for the year. And you brought donuts.”
I blink at her. The donuts weren’t cheap, but they were significantly less than housing.
“You can pay for internet if you’re desperate to feel like you’re contributing,” she goes on at my look.
“Brooke, you’re unreal.” I’m embarrassed to feel tears sting the backs of my eyes.
“We’re going to have the best time. Two single girls conquering the city. They’ll make an adaptation of our exploits.”
I laugh, getting swept up in her enthusiasm. “Like Girls or Sex and the City?”
“More like Troy.”
4
CLAY
“I said no gifts,” Chloe chides as the presents pile up on the table at Mile High.
“Yeah, but you didn’t mean it,” Jay says.
Chloe swats at him, and he grins.
Birthdays aren’t worth celebrating, at least when they’re mine. Another year around the sun with my body reminding me I’m not what I used to be.
But today isn’t my birthday, so the celebration is easier.
This week, I could use the distraction from the messy feelings that have been following me everywhere since I learned Nova was back.
The distance from here to Boston wasn’t enough to keep me from thinking of her.
Having her occupy the same city is fucking with my head.
Chloe said she was going out with friends tonight, but Miles and I are friendly, and Jay’s in that friend/ex-boyfriend zone, so by that point, the entire team was coming. So, we ambushed her at the pub.
“What the hell? I thought we were early!” Brooke walks in.
“You are early. I was abducted by a bunch of players,” Chloe says.
“Don’t pretend this isn’t your fantasy every night,” Miles says.
She tosses him a look. “If I’m going to be at the center of a harem, I’d prefer hockey players.”
Jay shudders. “They smell, Chlo.”
“Weird superstitions,” Miles adds.
“No teeth,” I volunteer.
She laughs, but my chest tightens when I see Mari and Nova come in the door behind Brooke.
Nova’s wearing leggings, black boots, and a sweater under her jacket. She’s laughing until she sees me and her smile fades.
It’s hard enough pretending to the world that I don’t care about her.
Making her believe it is another level of torture.
The booth seats eight comfortably, and there are six of us—but five are massive.
On my side, Atlas is on the inside, Miles in the middle, and me outside.
Opposite us, Mari shifts in next to Rookie, squeezing Chloe tighter between him and Jay.
“Nova, sit here. I’ll get a chair.” Miles climbs over me, leaving an empty spot in the middle of the bench.
“What am I?” Brooke demands as Miles grabs one chair, then a second.
“My lady.” He holds one out while Brooke sinks into the seat.
Nova’s eyes lock with mine.
I’m used to keeping my feelings inside, but now I have to look her in the eye and act like she’s not the one I think about every night.
She doesn’t want to sit next to me, but avoiding it is more awkward.
I move over without a word and Nova drops onto the booth next to me, leaving as much space between us as possible without her falling out of the booth.
So, basically an inch.
Her light floral scent invades my nostrils, like it did the other day when she slipped right off that ladder and scared the shit out of me.
Catching her in my arms might have saved her pink head, but it fucked with mine.
I’ll get through the next hour without breathing. No problem.
“Can I get you a drink?” Miles asks Nova.
“Sure, thanks.”
Miles takes off to the bar faster than I’ve ever seen him get back on defense on the court.
“I’ll have a Coke,” Brooke calls after him.
Jay produces a small box and holds it out. “Happy birthday, Chloe.”
She looks at him in surprise. “You shouldn’t have.”
She unwraps it, and it’s an expensive watch.
“It’s beautiful, Jay.”