Page 72 of Home of the Brave

“So, you’re just going to forget anything happened?”

I wanted to tell her to drop it, but didn’t want to be rude. She’d been an excellent wing woman and payment for that was a right to the details. Girl code and all that.

“I don’t want to, but I’m taking my cues from him.”

“Ah,” she stared across the ice as well. “Well, that’s the dumbest thing you could do.”

“Excuse me?” I turned to look at her, and she faced me.

“You’re going to wait around for a man to figure out what he wants? A man who couldn’t even send you an email telling you he was hurt about an ancient article? The same man that, when finally given the opportunity to tell you to your face, decided to run? Oh, honey. I like Josh, but from what little I know of him, I can already tell you that if anyone is going to have to take the lead, it’s you.”

I grimaced. “No thanks.”

“So you’re just going to let the tournament play out and watch him leave without saying or doing anything?”

That sounded truly terrible, but… “What am I supposed to do? Tell him I like him and ask him on a date?”

“Yes, that’s exactly what you should do.”

“To what end? He lives in Utah, and I live in New Jersey. What’s the point?”

“We both know we can live anywhere we want.” She leveled me with a look. “So don’t use that as an excuse. Not that I’m saying you should move across the country for a man, but he’s not in a position to relocate.”

“We spent one evening together; let’s not talk about anyone relocating.”

“But you like him.”

More than I’ve liked anyone in a very long time, but that was irrelevant. “I’ve got my contract renewal coming up, and we’re not too far off from preseason. None of the women's teams are in Utah, so if I get that assignment, it won’t make sense being based there.”

“So don’t limit yourself to the women’s teams.”

“That’s my dream,” I immediately reminded her.

“Your dream is to promote and support the growth of the sport, not be a reporter for them.”

“That is the best way for me to promote and support them.”

Her brows lifted. “Is it?”

“Yes.” What other avenues would there be?

“There’s no other way for you to be involved, directly or indirectly?”

What was she trying to tell me? “It’s the best way I could think of.”

“Because you love what you do? You’re passionate about journalism?”

Well, no. Not like some of my peers were. But I liked it, especially when I got to cover the sports I was interested in.

“Things are changing in our industry swiftly.” Her smile was gone now. “There are a lot of people moving on because it’s not what it used to be. It’s not what they signed up for.”

Like being forced to come up with silly video content rather than asking insightful questions during interviews.

“I know your contract renewal is coming up. Maybe think about whether this is what you want.”

I nodded, and she returned to watching the game, while her words ran on repeat in my mind. What else was there? This wasn’t exactly my dream, but it kept me connected to what I loved most.

Sure, there had once been a dream of calling the games and being on the broadcast side, but what I’d told Josh was the truth. There were less than ten positions available. I could work on the back end, but how would that be any different than what I was doing now? I’d be one step further away from the athletes, actually.