Page 68 of Home of the Brave

“Tickets?” I repeated. What tickets?

“There are tickets for the rides?” Victoria asked, looking around. “I didn’t see any signs.”

“It says it right here.” The teen pointed to a five-by-five-inch paper stuck to the banner that read Freedom Ferris wheel.

“I didn’t…” she looked up at me. “No one has asked me or Cambrie for tickets all day.”

The teen shrugged. “Ferris wheel is four tickets.”

“Is that Josh Henson?” a voice called from some distance away.

The teen perked up, just slightly, as he eyed me. “Are you?”

The last thing I wanted were a bunch of phones aimed at me as I floundered in front of Victoria.

“I’m sorry. They didn’t tell us the details about the festival.” I pulled out the lanyard that the coaches handed out earlier. “They said this was our pass.”

He nodded. “Athletes and sponsors get on free.” He motioned for me and Victoria to take the steps up to the platform.

“It is Henson!” another voice screamed.

The employee latched the bar across our seat. “Please keep all hands and feet inside. Do not rock. Do not throw anything.”

“Josh Henson!”

Once we started moving and we were safe from the crowd reaching us, I pulled off my hat and glasses and waved down.

“Sorry, the disguise was working so well,” I said once we were high enough to be out of danger of being overheard.

“Probably drew attention for thinking you got free rides.”

I rolled my eyes. “I didn’t think about tickets. I wasn’t planning to go on anything.”

She huffed. “Typical celebrity, expecting special treatment.”

“That’s not––”

Her laugh cut me off, and I relaxed back.

Our car swayed slightly as another group was loaded. We were only maybe ten feet off the ground, but the view was already amazing.

“This is stunning. It doesn’t look real,” Victoria took in the scene in front of us, the National Mall was lit up, showcasing the monuments.

“This is the first chance I’ve had to stop and take in the city.”

“Even when you play here?”

“Yeah, it’s always in and out. I don’t get to play tourist.”

“I get that for most locations, but you never snuck out to see places you’ve never been before?”

“No,” I admitted. “I stick to the schedule and rules.”

She turned to me with a lifted brow. “Really, Henson?”

I rolled my eyes at the nickname. “Please call me Josh.”

“I can’t use your nickname?” she teased.