Page 115 of Home of the Brave

“Yeah,” he actually blushed, and I decided to let him off the hook and not point it out. I remembered nearly every word he’d said too.

“He did. That’s why I started. My parents figured as long as they were at the arena for him, I might as well take lessons too.”

“How long did he play?”

“Through most of high school. My parents wanted him to continue, at least to try to get a scholarship for school, but he was over it.”

“What’s he doing now?”

I grinned. “Accounting.” He cringed, and I laughed. “Terrible, right?”

“I guess there have to be people out there to do the jobs I can’t.” He shook his head. “But I’m grateful I don’t have to work with numbers and percentages and laws all day.”

“Same. I’d much rather chat with you and your teammates.” I remembered the comments on the last prank video. “Actually, I have an idea I wanted to run by you.”

“Oh, yeah?” We moved into the moon exhibit, and I gaped at the spacesuit. “That is so cool.”

He turned and saw what I was looking at. “Yeah, that really is.”

We moved closer and read the sign, then he turned to me again. “What’s your idea?”

Right, I’d already forgotten. This place was overwhelming and easily distracting.

“So, people are leaving comments asking me to ask questions. I was wondering if you think I should.”

“Isn’t that kind of what you do?”

“Well, yeah, but not fan questions and not directly for my social media accounts.” It sounded funny now that I was saying it out loud, but it felt like I needed the buy-in of the players, approval to use our professional connection for my personal use. Personal professional use since my accounts were technically work-related.

“I think they’ll be fine with it. You have to know by now that all the players, from both teams, like you.”

I couldn’t hide my smile from that. “They don’t roll their eyes or groan around me nearly as much as some of the others.”

“Exactly,” he winked. “Plus, you can just tell them beforehand if they mind if you post to your own accounts. If they do have any issues, they’ll tell you, and you skip them.”

“Simple as that?”

He nodded. “Simple as that.”

Huh, maybe it was a good thing I spoke to him about it before I let it simmer and fester in my head. I was clearly overthinking.

Chris didn’t want this content, but the fans did.

“Thanks.” I slipped my hand into his and let myself enjoy the afternoon without another thought about work.

26

JOSH

The plan came to me in the middle of the night. I sent a text as soon as my thoughts came together, and we were already in the midst of executing the first step.

“Single file.” Hartman walked along the tunnel, waving guys to stand against the wall like elementary school students.

“There’re two questions, rapid fire. That’s all we need,” Madi explained for the third time as she walked from the front of the line to the back. “If you have anything else to add, tell her at the end.”

“Next,” Amelia waved the next player to move forward.

Jake crossed his arms over his chest, “East is going to win the women’s. West is going to win the men’s. I know Coach Badaszek is in on it, but I don’t know who he’s working with.”