“Waffles needed to use the little Frenchies' room.”I follow his line of sight to see the dog in question, wearing a bowtie and pawing the lawn with enthusiasm.
“You’re freezing your balls off out here,” Jay grunts as he comes out, Coach on his heels.
“It’s exposure therapy.Good for the muscles,” Miles tosses back.
I glance toward the window.Inside, Brooke’s dancing with Nova and Chloe.
Tonight has been something else.
Nova looks gorgeous in that dress.I wanted to drag her off with me.
To touch every inch of her.
But it’s more than that.
So much fucking more.
I meant it when I said I was falling for her.That part wasn’t a lie, even if it would be easier if it were.
She’s the person who holds me down when I’m drifting, who lifts me up when I’m heavy.
She’s the best thing in my life.
In a few hours, I’ll show her.
“Wade.”Harlan’s voice makes me turn.“A word.”
He cocks his head, and the other guys head inside with murmured words of support.
Coach is the last one in, patting Harlan on the shoulder.
“I suppose this is where I say congratulations,” I say.
A waiter drifts past, offering champagne, and I wave him off.
“You almost seem like a romantic.If I didn’t know better, I would’ve guessed you were too busy decorating this place and visiting with your family to take LA’s calls.”I glance at his breast pocket, the outline of the phone there.
His eyes crinkle.“I don’t want to trade you, Clay.I believe in you and what you can do, even if I’m the last person you’d want as a cheerleader.”
“I’d say less cheerleader, more puppet master.”
My eyes narrow as I think of his manipulations.
“I know you didn’t appreciate my efforts to intervene in college.But I did it to protect your future.You were having an MVP season.I didn’t want to see anyone get in the way of that.”
The music blurs together in the background.
I look back to the window again.This time Nova’s in there with her sister, and they’re hugging.
“I saw you and Nova dancing.”Harlan changes the subject, and my shoulders tighten under my jacket.“For weeks, I was impressed she'd taken an interest in the sport.Her drawings were remarkable.But it wasn’t basketball that caught her eye.”
I don’t answer.
“I’m sure you know that she got offered her job back in Boston.”My head snaps up, and he can see immediately this is news to me.“She’s had a hell of a time, and it’s the fresh start she wanted.I hope you’ll let her have it.”
I stop the waiter on his return trip to the house and snatch a glass of champagne.“I might have to listen to you when we’re in the stadium, but I don’t take life advice from you anymore.”
“It’s not advice—it’s the truth.She’s never had the chance to stand on her own feet.Her piece-of-shit ex is out of the picture, and she can figure out who she wants to be.She won’t do that next to you.”
