Page 17 of Home of the Brave

“Normal. It’s what we do all season,” I deadpanned.

“It’s always a bit weird to see players on the opposite side once you’ve worn the same jersey––” Hartman jumped in. “But it’s exciting to be reunited with some of them to play for the West.”

Schultz nodded. “It’s a fun new dynamic.”

Hartman took a step closer to Schultz, effectively blocking me from the interview, and I gladly took the out and walked away.

I was almost to the elevators, just a few steps from freedom, when I heard my name and they caught up to me.

“What was that?” Hartman demanded.

I shrugged.

“You’re not the best interviewee, but Henson, man, that was terrible.”

“You were fine until she showed up.” Hartman crossed his arms. “You two have history?”

Schultz smirked, “Did you guys have a fling?”

I closed my eyes and shook my head. “No.”

“Well, if it's not a lover scorned thing, then what?” he pressed.

I didn’t want to talk about it. It was clear she didn’t remember me, or she was pretending not to so I would do the same.

Or she wrote so many destructive pieces she forgot about the mangled remains she left in her path.

It was probably that option.

She was a journalist, but not one I respected. She was the kind to sink her talons and teeth into you just so she could tear you apart. Like a…a…vulture! Yeah.

Only, I was pretty sure those only ate already dead things.

Maybe a…lion? Yeah, they had claws, and those were just as deadly.

She was an infuriating lioness with no regard for the words she wrote and the real-life effects they had on others. She put whatever she wanted into her articles, as long as they’d get a click, journalistic integrity all forgotten.

She was a chaser. A ladder climber.

She did what was necessary for herself to get ahead, no matter how many people she had to step on to get just a bit higher.

You could say I hated her, but you’d be wrong.

I hated mosquitoes and food poisoning. What I felt for her was much deeper.

Before I ever met her, I would have thought I was easygoing. A forgive and forget person, who moved on no matter how hard someone hit me.

She changed that.

“Josh?” Schultz waved his hand in front of my face. “You good?”

I pushed his hand away. “Fine.”

“You’re lying and clearly worked up right now,” Hartman eyed me, slipping from friend into captain mode. “We’ll let it slide for now, but once you calm down, we’ll discuss this.”

Schultz’s attempt at looking serious almost made me smile, but I was too annoyed to give in. “Yeah, we’re going to talk about this later, young man.”

The elevator doors behind me opened, and an elderly couple stepped out.