I set the bottle on the ladder and hook both thumbs in my pockets.
“I don’t want to hide anymore. Not because it’s anyone’s business, but because it feels so good knowing you’re mine, and I hate the thought of pretending that’s not true.”
Her lips part in surprise.
It’s been a long time since I was with someone I felt serious about, and the last time, I got burned.
She’s the best part of my day. I want everyone to know it.
I’ve been thinking about it every day I’ve been on planes and in other teams’ stadiums.
As for Harlan, I’m going to tell him the truth.
He has to understand my relationship with Nova has nothing to do with basketball.
I want the career of my dreams and this woman in my bed and at my side.
Nova’s phone buzzes before she can respond.
“It’s Brooke. She’s been stressed lately about these sorority girls. I better get it in case she needs something.” She reaches for it and clicks Accept while I resist the urge to hurl the thing down the hall so she’s forced to react to me first. “Hey, what’s up?”
Brooke’s garbled voice comes through the phone. Nova’s eyes widen.
She lowers the phone and hits the speaker button. “My wall is on social media.”
I look over her shoulder and watch the video of her work. Judging from how close it is to how the wall looks now, it was taken recently. “When’d you post that?”
“I didn’t.”
“Well, it has a hundred thousand views already.” Brooke’s voice comes through the speaker.
“Why would someone do that?” Nova asks.
“Free publicity,” I supply.
“But this is the only post on their account. It’s not following any others.” Nova clicks a spot on the screen. “I’ve got DMs from all kinds of places.”
“New fans. You don’t have to read ‘em all,” I tell her. “I used to try to, but I wouldn’t have time to practice, and then I’d have a hell of a lot less fans.”
“Not just fans,” Brooke counters. “You should read them, Nova.”
Nova holds up the phone so I can read it as she says, “It’s a gallery in New York inquiring about exhibiting some of my work. This is probably fake, right?” She lifts her face to mine, seeming genuinely perplexed.
I pull out my phone and do a quick search. “Name matches. Their account has a big following.”
“They want to know if I can meet them. In person.”
“Tell them yes,” Brooke instructs. “If they’ll cover your expenses, they’re probably legit.”
Nova types in the message window. Seconds later, someone is typing a response.
“They can send me a ticket to go this weekend,” she says excitedly.
“If you need a travel buddy, I’m there,” Brooke says before clicking off.
Nova looks up at me. “I’ve always wanted to see New York. Should I go?”
I’ve been looking forward to this weekend with her for the last two weeks.
But I’m not gonna crush this for her.
“Yeah,” I say. “Of course you should. You’d love Central Park. No flowers this time of year, but it’s still cool. And there’s skating at Rockefeller Center.”
She frowns, reading my hesitation. “Wait. When do you guys leave for your next road game?”
“Tuesday.”
Her face falls. “Oh.”
I tug her closer. “Go to New York with Brooke. Blow their minds.”
17
NOVA
“How did it go?” Brooke demands as I answer my cell on my way out of the gallery.
“Good and bad.” I exhale hard as I start along West 24th. “He asked about taking my pieces this summer, possibly for an entire exhibition.”
“That’s fantastic.”
I’ve never had someone sit me down and talk seriously about my career and future before. The gallery was small but beautiful, and the pieces on display blew my mind.
“But he only deals in sports art. I think I’d like to branch out.” I tug my collar closer to brace against the brisk wind.
“Brand is everything. You can attach yourself to this niche, Nova, then do whatever you want.”
The possibility is thrilling.
Growing up, I thought I saw the world by moving from place to place in a trailer. Now, I realize I only saw part of it: the landscapes and small towns, not the style and the wealth I’ve seen since I first came to Denver for my sister’s wedding.
It’s not better, only different.
I check the map to see how I get to our meeting point.
“Are you heading to Neiman Marcus?” she asks.
“Yeah. I’ll be there in five minutes.”
When I get to Brooke, she embraces me.
“One of the girls from my sorority works here.”
She introduces me, and the other woman reaches for my hand, displaying a huge diamond.
“Wow, you’re engaged?” Brooke asks.
“Mhmm. You seeing anyone special?”
Brooke tosses her hair. “I have a bunch of guys I’m testing.” She eyes up a few racks and mannequins and gestures to a bunch of items. “We want to try those.”
“I’m afraid we only have one VIP dressing room.”
“We’ll share.”
We’re shown to a private dressing room as big as a bedroom.
“Think she’d wear that ring on her forehead if she could?” Brooke asks under her breath.
My lips curve. “She did seem proud of it. You could buy yourself one if you wanted.”
“I don’t want to settle down. Being tethered to a guy forever is my nightmare. But it drives me crazy how some of the girls from school lord it over other people.” She shudders. “What about you? You and Clay seem to be getting cozy. As much as I’m not the biggest cheerleader for relationships, I’ve never seen him make so much effort.”
My heart skips, and I glance back at my friend. “Really?”
“Oh yeah. It’s the way he looks at you. The way he looks for you when you’re not next to him.”
I shimmy into a dress and check out my reflection. “He wants to tell the world about us.”
“And you don’t want to?”
I turn the idea over. “I thought I did. But maybe I’ve gotten used to the privacy? I like that our relationship is ours and no one else’s business. The other day, I finished painting early and stopped by to see him after the game. There was a line of people wanting selfies and autographs, wanting to just be around him. If we come out to the world, it’s a big deal. Not only for friends and family, but it’s an actual story just because it’s Clay.”
“When you’re in public, people are in your business, but that doesn’t mean they know your business. They don’t know what goes on between you, and they don’t have to.”
I think about making him laugh and smile.
I love how hard he works, how kind he is to those who need help, especially when no one’s looking.
I’ve started imagining a future with him, not just nights and days but birthdays and anniversaries.