Page 56 of Home of the Brave

Encourage the others to do the same, but they already were.

A puck soared between my legs.

“Come on, Henson!” one of the guys, I didn’t bother looking, yelled at me.

Practice wasn’t going well.

I was distracted, but only because I was bored. I was ready for the games to start. I didn't need a full week to learn to play with a new line or build chemistry. The ten skaters on the ice didn’t matter to me. I blocked pucks; that was it.

Well, except for when I didn’t.

I typically split practice with Dexter and Kitcher after the first hour, but I was ready to sub out now.

If Victoria’s boss wasn’t interested in any in-depth interviews, maybe something exclusive? A story the other reporters didn’t even know about? But what? My life wasn’t interesting enough. Hartman and Kendall were always doing charity work, but that wasn’t exactly new either. Erik and Madeline left their headline-making days behind once they had kids. Derek thought he was interesting, but he was retired and working for the team; everyone already knew that.

What even made headlines these days?

A massive injury, but no thanks to that option.

Scandal.

That got clicks, but what could I do that would be newsworthy?

Date a reporter?

No.

Bad thought.

Two pucks flew at me, one over my shoulder and one past my left leg.

Oops.

What could I do to cause drama without getting fined, suspended, or banned from the tournament?

Erik would be a good resource for this sort of planning.

I could do a pop-up signing somewhere unexpected. The Lincoln Memorial? Swim in the Reflecting Pool?

Do a massive giveaway for fans this weekend?

Sing at the parade? A Ferris Bueller reenactment?

Sure, that would probably go viral and get clicks, but it wouldn’t be an exclusive.

Unless I told her about it beforehand. Made sure she and Cambrie were in the right spot at the right time?

But that wouldn’t prevent anyone else from filming and posting.

Okay, so nothing too public.

“Henson! Lock in!” Coach Abrams' voice brought me back to the present, and I focused on the play in front of me.

I nodded toward the bench, but hoped he would get too frustrated soon and pull me.

Private, under the radar, quiet.

But exciting.