Page 129 of Home of the Brave

“Wow,” Hartman shook his head. “You figured all of this out in one day?”

“All the individual pieces were there,” Madi explained. “Scattered around, just waiting to be picked up and organized to build this new life.”

Victoria reached for my hand. “This is a lot to throw at you, especially considering we were expecting not to see each other much after this weekend, but how would you feel about me moving closer?”

I blinked, not quite believing where this conversation had gone. "Victoria, I’m...stunned. I’ve wanted you to be happy, so I was supporting you going for the all-women’s assignment, but I’d love nothing more than for you to move to Salt Lake.”

“You’re sure it’s not too much too soon?”

“You’re not moving in with him,” Madi pointed out. “You’ll each have space and privacy to adjust.”

“Date without a timer hanging over your head,” Kendall agreed.

Victoria was watching me, and I leaned in and kissed her briefly. “I can’t believe it. I didn’t want to even think about it because I could never ask you to give up your life.”

“You didn’t ask. This is what I want. Getting fired was the permission I needed to make it happen.”

“This is amazing.”

“Better than winning the Cup?”

“A thousand times,” I promised.

EPILOGUE - VICTORIA

I took a deep breath, smoothed my gray t-shirt, and opened the door. “Welcome.”

“Thank you,” Josh grinned down at me, and I waved him into my apartment. He kissed me quickly after I shut the door, then moved into the living room and greeted Cambrie. “Wow, this looks great.”

“You like?” Cambrie lounged on the pastel pink couch we picked out earlier this week from a thrift store.

I wasn’t great at decorating, but my new roommate was a genius. Plus, we had the Pride keeping their eyes out and had accumulated frames, pillows, mini plants, and the more necessary household items within just a few days.

They opened their arms to their village and accepted us without a second thought. We had more lunch and dinner invitations than there were days in the week, and it had taken a bit of adjusting for me and Cambrie.

We were used to being loners, on the road and on our own. Now we were a part of huge family, and neither of us would complain.

“It’s somehow simultaneously what I’d never picture for you guys, but exactly captures both of you.”

She beamed. “I know. It’s eccentric, yet minimalist. Bright, but understated.”

I still wasn’t sure how those visual contradictions could coexist, but they did. For every colorful item, there was a neutral one to balance it out. A blend of me and Cambrie.

“Are you ready?” I asked her, and she jumped up and led the way down the hall to the third bedroom we’d converted into the recording room.

This was another big reveal. She swung the door open and turned to Josh. “What do you think?”

“Wow,” he nodded as he took in the two navy armchairs that faced each other in front of a bookcase that spanned the wall, filled with sports mementos, photographs, and romance books. “This looks so good.”

“Well, thank you, sir,” Cambrie pointed to one chair and began adjusting the microphones.

I sat across from him and settled back, crisscrossing my legs and pulling my mic in. “I don’t think there’s a challenge the Pride couldn’t handle. Getting this all together in under a week is ridiculously impressive.”

“I’ll never understand it.”

“Witchcraft,” Cambrie smiled and stepped away from Josh. “I think we should be good to go.”

I shook out my shoulders, relaxing, and looked at the center camera. “Let me know when you’re ready.”