Page 45 of Home of the Brave

“Not all of us are married,” Hartman cut a look at Josh. “Some of us are exceptionally single.”

He glared at his captain. “Unnecessarily rude.”

“How is someone exceptionally single?” I asked Hartman, hurrying to fall into step with him. “Off the record, of course.”

He grinned, and we ignored the groan behind us.

“Well, first you have to not have had a relationship, let alone go on a date, for over a year.”

I nodded. “Okay.”

“But he’s going on three years.”

I grimaced. “Oh no. That’s a long time.”

Another groan we pretended not to hear.

“Indeed,” he agreed. “Now, there are a few theories as to why. First, he’s doing what I always told myself I’d do, and that’s wait to date until retirement.” He shot me a smile. “But we all know that didn’t last. Second, he’s afraid of women.”

“That’s my guess!” Erik called.

Hartman chuckled and continued. “But my favorite is that he’s simply waiting for Mrs. Right and won’t settle for anything less.”

“Interesting.” I had to fight so hard not to turn around and see Josh’s reaction. “Now back to the exceptionally single thing.”

“Right, I got distracted. First, single forever. Second, when there are team events, they don’t bother telling him he can bring a plus one. They don’t save a seat, nothing. They know he’s going to be attending alone.”

“That is pretty rough,” Amelia chuckled. “The Pride are uber romantics and decent matchmakers. If they’ve given up, you might as well too, Josh.”

“Why is this the conversation?” he grumbled.

“But that can all be regular single stuff.” Hartman looked at me, “The thing that really makes him exceptional is that I’ve never once heard him even mention a woman. Never commented on someone he thought was attractive. Never wished he could go out with someone. Nothing.”

I nodded slowly as we turned a corner, and Derek pointed out the restaurant ahead. He held open the door as Amelia, Erik, and Josh entered. Hartman paused next to me and whispered.

“Until this week.” He walked on like he hadn’t said anything, and Derek waved me to hurry.

It took me until we were seated to understand what he was saying. This was the first time he’d ever mentioned a woman to them? Who was she?

I’d never admit it aloud, but I sort of hoped it was me. Not that it could be. I was enemy number one until yesterday. There had to be someone else he had a crush on. Someone he liked enough to mention it to his teammates. The first time in three years? She must be someone special.

I picked up my menu and started reading it over when I felt eyes on me. I looked up to find Josh watching me, but the second our gazes met, he lifted his menu to block his face.

Lucky girl.

12

JOSH

This was the absolute last thing I imagined when I agreed to go to dinner. Sitting across from Victoria, watching her laugh and interact with my teammates, had me feeling like my entire world was slightly off-kilter.

She was so at ease. Teasing Derek and Erik, while asking Amelia questions about herself. It was impossible to wrap my head around this reality. I’d had an idea of who she was, the kind of person who cut others down and only cared about herself, for years. Suddenly accepting that I was wrong was a mental hurdle I was struggling to get over, but the longer I sat observing, the easier it became.

“That’s not even the most embarrassing part,” she pointed at Erik. “I had to sit there and pretend I understood without speaking a single word of Japanese.”

She finished a story about accidentally interviewing the wrong player at a baseball game.

“Did you pull it off?” Hartman asked.