Page 111 of Home of the Brave

He'll be fine eventually.

But watching Victoria laugh made my chest tighten. Would I be fine after this?

25

VICTORIA

“You really like him.” Cambrie rested her chin on my shoulder as the last of the players left the room.

“Yeah, I do.” There was no use denying it. I doubt anyone who watched us would miss the something between me and Josh.

“So, what are you going to do about it?” She stepped back and finished packing up her cameras and microphones.

I glanced down at my phone, rereading the text he sent as soon as he’d left, asking to see me tonight.

The smart thing to do would be to decline and give us space.

I didn’t want to be smart.

I wanted to throw all caution to the wind, be reckless, and see what could happen. Maybe I’d regret it later.

But maybe not.

“I don’t know,” I finally answered. “I’m going out with him again tonight.”

I should probably let him know that too, but I liked the idea of making him sweat a little.

She was sorting through battery packs, so I quickly typed out a response asking him what time.

He’d waited about twenty minutes. That was long enough.

I was such a sucker.

Not cool or smooth at all. I didn’t know how to play the games, let alone what the rules for dating were.

All I knew was that I wanted to spend as much time with him as I could.

“Long distance doesn't have to last forever.” She zipped up her case and straightened. “You never know when things will change.”

“True, he could get traded next season.” He still had one year under his current contract in Utah—I’d checked—so he could move. I doubted his team would give him up, but stranger things had happened.

“He could get injured and be done in the first week.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Don’t say that.”

“I’m not wishing for it. I’m just saying it could happen.”

“Well, a meteor could strike and kill us all.”

She pointed at me. “Exactly.”

I rolled my eyes and pulled my bag’s strap over my shoulders, and followed her down the hall. “I’m going to take things one day at a time.”

“Good choice.” She pushed the exit door open, and we stepped out into the humidity, and I wished I could peel off my long sleeve blouse.

“How would right now work?” a deep voice asked, and I nearly jumped until I realized it was Josh. “I don’t want to wait if that’s okay.”

I grinned as I took in his shorts and white shirt. “You changed.”