Hard to Take by Piper Lawson

Author:Piper Lawson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Piper Lawson Books

Brooke: Sorry about the L. At least it was close. And Waffles still loves you.

Miles: Thanks. He’s legally obliged to.

Brooke: Pity cuddle? I have some new lingerie I’d love your opinion on.

Miles: Home in 30.

14

MILES

“Enough with the pity party,” Coach calls at the start of practice. “Semi-finals is respectable work considering we’re shorthanded and the West got stronger during the off-season.

“However, this was a rehearsal for the post season, not the post season itself. Which means you’ve got three more months to get it together.”

Sometimes, you’re in a groove that takes you out of the effort.

Today is not that day.

I’m playing off-ball, which used to be my comfort zone, but when Jay tries to find me with a pass, I catch it but I’m in the wrong place. My shot is weak, bouncing off the rim with a dull twang.

The next time, Damon stretches out an arm and deflects it before it reaches me.

The third attempt, I miss it altogether. The ball goes sailing into the stands.

Fucking hell.

Jay’s gaze finds mine and holds it. There’s no mistaking the worry there, and the frustration.

Clay comes up to me on a break. “You play better than you ever have for a few games, and you think you’ve gotten to a new level. Hell, maybe you have. But there’s always a come down.”

“Meaning?”

“Last few games, you were so busy scoring it didn’t matter that you and Ellis weren’t connecting.”

Or the fact that Brooke and I are hooking up behind my friend’s back is starting to mess with my head.

The first few days didn’t bother me because I was too amped to think about anything but memorizing the feel of Brooke’s curves under my greedy hands. The taste of her everywhere. The way she hisses my name when she comes.

But it’s getting harder to hide from Jay that his little sister is living rent free in my head.

And in my bed.

“You heading out?”

I look up from grabbing my bag on the sidelines of the court to see Jay next to me. “I need to stop at the store, then going to Grams’s. You?”

“Going to hit the gym. As my agent reminded me, I have a contract year coming up.”

It’s a reminder for me, too. There’s a ton of pressure in this business, always guys wanting your spot, plus suits making plans and moving pieces around like a chess match. While it would be crazy of the Kodiaks not to try and retain Jay, it’s impossible to know what’s going on behind the scenes and what other teams have in store.

I haven’t spent much time off the court lately with Jay, not only because of Brooke. Life has been busy with Grams and extra training. I miss the downtime, the jokes and the camaraderie that seem to be the first thing to evaporate when you’re hunting wins.

“Wait for me.”

The Kodiak fitness facility is tricked out with everything you could dream of. When we get there, a handful of guys are working out. Clay’s in one corner, headphones on.

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