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“I get that these are your guys. This time, I’m coming back to help. Not to take over.”
He exhales hard. “Then you gotta play with everyone. Kyle included.”
“Kyles a prick.”
“You’re a prick.”
“So, you don’t want me to do your laundry all year?” I grunt.
A grinding sound comes from the washing machine, and Jay jumps.
“Don’t ever touch my clothes again.”
17
NOVA
“Dammit! I asked them to get the twelve-color palettes.” Chloe waves toward the row of chairs at the table, a makeup kit set at each.
“These are great.” I glance at Brooke.
“Kids should pay more for you than for me. I can barely draw a stick person,” she says.
“You don’t need to. You just need a basketball, a star, and a K,” I remind her.
We’re getting ready for Fall Fest, the team’s pep-rally-style event before the Sunday home game. More importantly, it’s Clay’s first game back. The media lost their shit when he signed again with Denver.
Chloe was trying to come up with ideas for a kid-friendly events other than the mini-dunk contest set up at one end of the pavilion outside the stadium. I suggested face painting, and together, Brooke and I came up with a list of designs. Mari has even agreed to pass out balloons by the front gates with Emily napping in a stroller beside her.
Do I secretly want to see Clay? Sure. That could be part of it.
The Fall Festival is opening, and fans flood through the gates wearing #BEARFORCE shirts, plus a range of jerseys. I see Miles, Jay, Rookie, and of course Clay represented.
“We need to paint each other’s faces first,” Brooke insists as she drops onto the stool next to me. “It’s advertising the product.”
“What do you want?”
“A K for Kodiaks.”
I start to paint a K on her smooth skin. “Be sure to tag me if you post this to social.”
Brooke snorts, shaking her head until I grab her chin to make her still while I finish filling in the color.
“I’m taking the weekend off,” she says.
“Everything good?” I ask, frowning.
“Just haters. When you put your life online, people feel like they get to have an opinion on every aspect of it.”
“I bet it’s weird having strangers expect you to behave a certain way.”
“Honestly, I can ignore the random trolls who like to shout from behind a keyboard. It’s the actual friends who make things hard.”
I tip her face the other way and start on the opposite side. “Any friends in particular?”
She sighs. “The sorority has a big reunion event coming up that I offered to help plan. But one of the other girls swooped in and grabbed it. Apparently, she said I would make it about me.”
“Not happening. You’re one of the most thoughtful, inclusive people I know.” When I first came to town, Brooke was the first person to make sure I felt like part of the crew.
