Page 106 of Home of the Brave

24

JOSH

“You swear you didn’t know about it?” I demanded from Hartman.

He put his hands up. “I swear. Kendall and I had dinner with her dad. I didn’t hear about anything.”

I shook my head. “It was one thing to spring a forced double date on us, but the way they were talking. . .” I huffed, “It wasn’t like them at all.”

“Because it was untrue?”

“I mean, factually, no. If Victoria wanted to have a relationship with me, she could move to Utah, quit her job, and give up her dream of covering women’s hockey.”

He cringed. “They said she should do that?”

“She could if she wanted to be with me badly enough.”

“That doesn’t sound like them at all.”

“I know,” I dropped onto my chair in front of my locker. “That’s what I don’t get.”

“But you left with her?”

“Yeah, after Madi ordered an obscene amount of food. I’d feel bad about that if I wasn’t so angry about the way they were acting.”

He shook his head. “It doesn’t make sense.”

“It’s completely opposite of everything the Pride is about. If Chloe or Kendall heard what Madi was saying, they’d think she’d been brain-swapped or was being held against her will.”

“Maybe they’re getting desperate about how single you are,” he teased, and I shot him a halfhearted glare. “What? You know how much they love love.”

“They can be sneaky and pull off extravagant plans to help couples along, but this was not that.”

“Well, now we can ask him.” Hartman crossed his arms. “Erik.”

A few of the guys glanced toward us at the use of Hartman’s captain voice but wisely decided to go back to their business.

“Hey, man,” Erik patted his shoulder, then shot me a grin. “What’s up?”

“What’s up?” I repeated. “What was last night?”

“What do you mean?” He cocked his head, and I really wanted to slap that stupid smile off his face.

“Besides ambushing both of us, you and Madi were way out of line. I couldn’t believe the things you were saying.”

“You!”

We stopped and turned toward the showers, where Bryce glared daggers at Tyson. “Did you do this?”

I had to bite my lip to stop from laughing at the shockingly green color of his normally brown hair.

Tyson surrendered. “It wasn’t me, man. I’m not behind the pranks,” he laughed. “Though I have to say this one might be my favorite yet.”

A few of the guys let a few chuckles slip, but the tension in the room shot up. Coach appeared, frozen in what I could only guess was shock. “Chambers, what happened to your head?”

Bryce’s jaw tensed. “Someone switched my shampoo with hair dye.”

“Well, wash it out. It’s almost game time.”