Right. I’ve been ignoring her for a week, and now I’m calling at eleven p.m. Hey! It’s me. Smooth, Kane.
“I just—” I stop. Conrad said to be real. I drag in a breath. “I wanted to hear your voice.”
There’s silence on the other end. I can hear something in the background. Music, maybe. Or a TV.
Then, “Are you okay?”
Be real. Be honest.
“Yeah. Fine.” He shoots. He misses.
“Brody.” She says my name like she can see right through me. “I watched your games. You got into two fights in three games. That’s not fine.”
I close my eyes. Of course she watched.
“It’s been a rough week.”
Her voice softens slightly. “Are you hurt? That hit tonight looked bad.”
I look at my wrapped hand. The bruised knuckles. Touch my left eye gently—still tender, still swelling. “Nothing serious. Just bumps and bruises.”
“You don’t have to pretend it’s all okay, you know.” She pauses. “I’m still bound by our contract. Your secrets are safe with me.”
I can’t tell if she’s kidding. It doesn’t feel funny. But then she laughs. Soft. Warm. “Loosen up, Brody. I’m not going to leak your medical records to TMZ.”
And just like that, the tension breaks.
I lean back against the headboard, the cheap hotel pillow bunching behind me. My shoulders relax for the first time in days. Admit you’re wrong. “I’m sorry, Chloe. I?—”
“My brother used to get in a little funk after losing a game. I get it.”
That’s not what I was apologizing for, but she continues, and I let her. “How’s Vancouver looking?”
“Cold. Wet. Canadian.”
She laughs again. “Wow. You really know how to sell a city.”
“I’m a man of many talents.”
“Clearly.”
We fall into sudden, weird silence. Like maybe she’s thinking about the kiss—I know I am. I clear my throat. “How’s the wedding prep going?”
“Good. Chaotic. You wouldn’t believe it. I went with Maya to pick up her dress from the bridal shop, and they didn’t have it. Apparently, their seamstress had it sent to a facility to be pressed, and it somehow didn’t end up on the truck to be sent back. Took five hours for them to track it down, during which Maya just about imploded. I think fifteen minutes and we’d have needed to sedate her.” She’s smiling, I can hear it in her voice. “It’s terrible. I shouldn’t laugh. It wasn’t funny at the time…but now that we’ve got the dress back, I can’t help it. Other than that, it’s pretty much your standard prewedding chaos.” She pauses. “Oh, and I got a call from the Blue Ox publicist. She asked if I’d be interested in doing an interview with someone about the wedding and the company.”
Felicity. The conversation in the car park. She must have followed it up.
“That’s great,” I say, trying to sound casual.
Chloe stops. “Did you have something to do with that?”
“She asked me about your business a few weeks ago. Offered to get in touch with some people who could boost your visibility. That’s all.”
“Oh.” She sounds surprised. Pleased. “Well, thank you. Both of you.”
I shrug, still trying to play it cool, even if she can’t see me. “You’re talented. You deserve the exposure.”
She’s quiet for a moment. “Thank you.”
