I’m intrigued enough to close my sketchbook and set it on the next seat over.
Brooke’s eyes are still on the court.“You can love these guys, Nova, but they’ll always love basketball more.”
The decisiveness of her words takes me aback, but she continues.
“I think you’re good for Clay.He’s probably even good for you.But I want to be your friend, and friends tell each other what’s up, and what’s up is that you won’t be the love of his life.He already has one.”
I turn that over.“I don’t want to come between him and basketball.I want to love something like they love basketball.”
I expect Brooke to call me naïve or silly, but she only laughs.
“Have a good time.Bang him until you can’t walk.Hell, until neither of you can.”She shoots me an arch look.“And if it ends badly, I’m here.”
The team takes a break, and Clay goes for his phone.
Mine’s buzzing a moment later.
Grumpy Baller: Got you tickets for our next preseason game.
He sends through an image of a VIP pass.
Nova: That’s in LA.
Grumpy Baller: You deserve better than watching on TV.
Grumpy Baller: I promise I’ll be better behaved after.As long as you wear my jersey.
I want to go.So badly.But it means a flight, which I hate.
Plus, it’s a week until the wedding, and even though everything is on track, there’s no reason I can think of to justify this getaway to my sister.
“You going to the LA game?”I ask Brooke.
“Wasn’t planning on it.”
Brooke looks over my shoulder, then clears her throat.
“There’s a brand I’ve been meaning to meet in LA.I could see them while I’m there.We could catch a ride together.”
My breath catches.“Really?”
“Sure.”Brooke taps a polished nail against her lips.“Maybe I need help on this trip.”
I throw my arms around her neck, and she hugs me back.
“It’ll be a train wreck,” she mumbles into my neck.
I pull back and frown.“Why?”
“LA is the best.They’ve won the last two years.If you think the first two games were intense, you have no idea what you’re in for.”
22
CLAY
Exhibition games don’t count for anything on paper.They’re about pride.Momentum.Your first chance to check how your off-season work is coming together.Playing against the best team in the league is like reading the tea leaves on your chances to win this year.
There’s also the fact that the guys on the other side of the court could be my teammates.But today, that doesn’t matter.I’m in a Denver uniform, and that’s where my allegiance lies for the full forty-eight minutes of game clock.
