Free Fighting to Win (The Elite Book 1) by Nicole Flockton Page A

question.”
    Even though he didn’t need reminding of exactly what that question was, Mitch feigned ignorance. “I’m sorry, I don’t remember.”
    The reporter smirked, knowing exactly what Mitch was doing. “My question was, have you and Julia Ashland reconciled?”
    In truth, it was a good question. He couldn’t say for sure. Did sleeping with her before anything had been resolved or discussed constitute as a reconciliation?
    But as much as he wanted to avoid answering the douche, he couldn’t get by with dodging the question again.
    “I’ve always strived to keep my personal life personal. That didn’t happen last year, and I’m hoping that it’s not going to happen again with this question. So in that vain, my answer is ‘no comment.’”
    Of course, sleazy reporters like this douche never gave up when they scented a juicy story. The reporter directed his next question to Brett. “Do you have anything you’d like to say Brett? After all, Julia and you were reportedly a hot item last year.”
    Mitch clenched his fists in his lap to stop from pounding them on the table and telling the reporter to take a long walk off a very short plank. If his teammate knew what was good for him, Brett wouldn’t give the reporter any further gossip.
    “Well, now, that’s for me to know and you all to find out.”
    If Mitch thought his anger had reached boiling point, Brett’s response sent it to volcano erupting proportions. The desire to flatten his fist into Brett’s face was almost too much to control.
    “Is that all the questions?” Mitch ground out.
    “Just one more. Any response to Brett’s response?”
    God, couldn’t someone do something about this fucking reporter? Was he trying to get them to exchange punches in the middle of the press conference? Was the whole thing a setup to give Brett the headlines instead of him? He would like to think Brett wouldn’t do something like that, but he couldn’t be sure. Over the last twelve months, Brett had pushed the limits with his public persona. Did he really enjoy the bad boy image he was creating, or was there another reason for him to be an asshole right now?
    Everyone in the room was looking at him. He needed to answer.
    “No. Thank you, everyone.”
    He pushed back his chair and stalked out of the room, not caring what anyone thought. He needed to find Julia and get the answers to the questions he didn’t want to ask.
    Or maybe it would be better for everyone if they avoided each other. Even if that was the last thing he wanted to do. Maybe Anabel was right—perhaps Julia wasn’t good for him.

11
    C onfronting Mitch before her practice session probably wasn’t conducive to her training, but Julia knew what needed to be done.
    She’d decided last night that she was going to let him know everything that had happened between her and Brett. She was determined to set the record straight so they could go into their events without the specter of the past hanging over them—until she’d watched the press conference after Mitch’s medal win.
    After the way the reporter attempted to goad a response out of Mitch and Brett about her relationship with the both of them, she knew that she had to keep her distance.
    So here she was, standing in front of Mitch’s room. She couldn’t put it off any longer. She raised her fist and knocked on the door. It opened before she’d finished her second knock, almost like Mitch knew she had been standing there.
    “Oh hey, Julia, I was about to go looking for you.”
    His greeting was less than enthusiastic, considering how he’d kissed her on the pool deck the previous evening.
    “Can I come in?”
    He took a step back and held the door open wider for her. She kept her gaze from Mitch’s bed. If she didn’t, she’d remember how good it had felt to be in his arms again. To feel his body moving over hers in a smooth motion.
    “Is Drake around?”
    “Nah. He’s with the physio again.”
    “Is he okay?” She knew