Mile High (Windy City, #1)

Stevie feels nervous before going to Zanders’s place. She knocks on his door, but he doesn’t answer. When she calls him, he doesn’t pick up, but she can hear his phone inside. Frustrated, she tries the knob and lets herself into the unlocked penthouse. Zanders emerges from the bathroom in a towel, and she immediately notices that he’s upset. He apologizes for not answering her, explaining that he didn’t hear her over the noise of the shower. He tells her to help herself to beer in the fridge while he changes. Meanwhile, Stevie studies his framed photos.

Zanders emerges, and he and Stevie chat. He tells her that his mom called, but he doesn’t want to talk about it. Instead, they discuss the dog. Then Stevie asks Zanders he won’t let people see his true self. He explains the public persona that Rich gave him and reveals his fear of losing his contract if he doesn’t keep playing along. He also describes how close he is with the Maddisons and explains his investment in Active Minds. He states his belief that no one likes his authentic self, admitting that even his mother never loved him for who he is. Stevie understands his sentiments because of her relationships with Brett and her mom. She tells Zanders how much she likes him, and they kiss.

Stevie and Zanders have sex. For the first time in his life, he feels chosen and seen by someone he likes.

Stevie and Zanders have sex several times throughout the night. In the morning, they lie together and talk. Then Stevie gets up for a FaceTime call with Ryan and her parents for her dad’s birthday. Stevie finds an array of clothes that Zanders has stocked in his dresser for her. She dons an outfit and talks to her family in the kitchen while Zanders makes her breakfast. When her family asks where she is, Ryan immediately realizes that she is at Zanders’s place. When Ryan hangs up and Stevie’s dad leaves the frame, Stevie’s mom starts criticizing her. Stevie tells her mom how she really feels and insists that she is tired of being put down. Zanders closes the laptop, ending the call. Afterwards, Stevie and Zanders talk more about their familial relationships.

After an away game, Zanders drives Stevie back to his place. They have sex in his car and tell each other that they are obsessed with one another.

The next morning, Ryan asks Stevie what really happened with Brett, and she tells him the full story. She explains that she didn’t tell him before because she didn’t want to mess up his friendship with Ryan or complicate his career. Ryan is furious with Brett and promises to cut him out of his life altogether. Then Stevie opens up about her frustrations with their mom and explains that she isn’t going to talk to her for a while. Ryan agrees to distance himself as well in order to support Stevie. Stevie realizes how much Ryan loves her and wishes that she had told him about these issues sooner. Indy arrives unexpectedly and announces that she found her boyfriend cheating on her. Stevie invites her to spend time with her and Ryan.

Stevie and Zanders go shopping. Stevie takes Zanders to a thrift store where she normally shops, and he takes her to a designer store. Then they go to an expensive jeweler, where Zanders replaces all of Stevie’s cheap rings with real gold rings. She says he’ll have to take off the ring she gave him, which he’s been wearing on his pinky, but he insists on keeping it.

Later, at Zanders’s place, Stevie discovers Zanders’s list of various women in his Notes app. He explains that he used to write descriptions of the women he slept with in various cities, and he invites her to read them. Stevie discovers that all of the notes from the season are about her. They lie together and talk intimately. When Zanders admits to missing his dad, Stevie encourages him to text his father. He messages his dad and tears up when his dad says he loves him. Zanders and Stevie tell each other how happy they are together.

Stevie sits with Logan at the next Raptors home game. She is excited to see Zanders play and is thankful for her new friendship with Logan.

Zanders is thrilled to have Stevie at his game. Afterwards, he and Stevie meet up at the Maddisons’ penthouse. Stevie has been spending time with Ella and the family recently. Later, Lindsey comes into town and joins the group. She and Stevie immediately get along. After dinner, Zanders, Stevie, and Lindsey talk about dogs. Zanders has officially adopted Rosie, whom Lindsey loves. She also exclaims about Zanders having a girlfriend and encourages him to show his true self to more people.

Back on the plane, Stevie agrees to go out with Indy once they get to Miami. Later, Zanders suggests that they all go out together. Stevie is worried about the possibility that her coworker, Tara, will catch them together, but Zanders promises that he can convince the team to keep their secret.

That night, Stevie and Indy go out with the team. Ryan and his teammates are there too. When Zanders’s teammates urge him to pick up women with them, he declines. They pressure him, and he bursts out with the announcement that he and Stevie are seeing each other. Then a jealous Brett appears. Stevie wants to keep Zanders away from him, but Ryan punches Brett first.

Stevie and Zanders meet up on the beach and talk about what happened. Zanders promises to cover up the incident so that Stevie doesn’t get in trouble. Then they go for a swim. Afterwards, they tell each other how much they care about each other and laugh at how their relationship started. Stevie again urges Zanders to show people who he really is, but Zanders is afraid that he will lose his Chicago fans, have to switch teams, and end up alone. Stevie knows that she would follow him anywhere, but he doesn’t ask.

Rich calls Zanders, demanding to know if Zanders has a girlfriend and insisting that he’s ruining his career. He says that Chicago still hasn’t offered Zanders a new contract. Upset after the call, Zanders abruptly ends the night with Stevie. Back at the hotel, Stevie runs into Tara ,who seems suspicious of her recent activities.

Zanders mentally replays his conversation with Rich throughout his next few games. He is worried about losing his contract and fears leaving Chicago. One day, he returns to his penthouse, expecting to find Stevie there with Rosie, but she doesn’t come to the door. Instead, he finds her crying in the bathroom. She explains that a shirt her friend made for her no longer fits, and she’s feeling bad about her body. He makes her undress and look at herself in the mirror. She points out all the things she dislikes about herself, and he counters her negative remarks with what he loves about her body.

The Raptors win their next game. They’re happy and rowdy on the flight home. Zanders finds Stevie in the galley, and they kiss. Indy covers for them to prevent Tara from finding out.

Back home, Zanders and Stevie’s building is surrounded by paparazzi. Zanders tries to block their view of Stevie, but she gets caught in a photograph. Online, stories spread about Zanders’s new mystery woman.

Zanders can’t sleep. He spends hours on the phone with his PR team, trying to resolve the paparazzi incident. However, countless negative comments about Stevie appear online. In the morning, he begs her not to look at the posts and comforts her when she gets upset. Afterwards, he and Rich talk on the phone. Rich again accuses Zanders of threatening his career and ruining his team’s chance of winning the championship. After the call, Zanders doesn’t know what to do. The internet trolls’ words replay in his mind. He also remembers Ryan’s warnings and blames himself for hurting Stevie.