“If you say so,” I murmur, tearing my gaze from hers as I grab my clothes from the bench. “Are you going to stay and watch me change or …”
She feigns disgust and turns on her heel, striding toward the door. “Don’t forget your appointment tomorrow.”
“With you? I’d never.”
CHAPTER 11
LAINEY
“Good morning, babe.”I speak into my phone, leaving Cole a cute message that he can wake up to. “I’m on my way to the arena. I hope you have a great day. Text or call later. I love you.”
I send the message and drop my phone into my purse as the taxi turns onto the arena’s street and again into the parking garage for employees, finally escaping the rain. He stops just in front of the gate, and I hop out after paying and tipping him.
A couple of players are walking toward the entrance as I make my way toward the skywalk. Thankfully, none of the players are Jensen, which I know is asinine to be thankful for since I’m about to see him at his check-in in less than twenty minutes. But every second I can manage to stay away from him is a blessing.
That boy is trying to ruin me and my relationship with his little flirts and longing looks.
Ugh, he drives me crazy, and I hate him for it.
I’m already fuming by the time I enter the building, and I force myself to take a few deep breaths to calm down before I come face-to-face with Jensen.
“Laineyyy.” Someone sings my name behind me as I step into the skywalk to the arena.
Turning around, I find Cam and the one person I was hoping not to see walking toward me. Jensen’s hair is wet and messy, like he just got out of the shower, and his head is tilted down as if he’s the one avoidingme. The audacity.
As if he can hear my thoughts, his chin lifts, and his brown eyes peer up beneath his brows, latching on to mine. “Good morning.”
Cam gestures between us, a shit-eating grin on his face. “How do you guys know each other again? Aside from that beautiful slap you gave him the other day.”
Dammit. I suddenly realize that the lie of not knowing him that I’ve been telling my bosses and the other staff isn’t going to work because the guys know that we know each other. Eventually, that is going to get back to them; it’s inevitable. Yet another annoying thing Jensen is adding to my life.
Jensen and I hold each other’s stare, and I’m at a loss for words. I don’t know what to say, and Jensen’s not saying anything at all, letting me decide the story.
“Or don’t tell me. I like a mystery to figure out.” Cam rubs his hands together manically.
“Cam,” Jensen mutters, dragging his hand down his face and groaning.
Oh, I’m not playing this game longer than I need to. Let’s just get this over with. “Jensen and I knew each other as kids. He and my brother were best friends and teammates for a long time.”
Jensen squints at me. “We wereallbest friends.”
“Until we weren’t,” I snap, still walking backward across the empty skywalk.
Cam snickers, enjoying this far more than he should. “Ooh, what happened?”
“He decided to be a dick and choose some dumb rivalry over our friendship,” I say with sass.
My back hits the door, but I don’t push it open. Instead, I stop so that we can finish this conversation here and now and not involve anyone else.
Jensen scoffs. “Bullshit. You’re the one who went off and started dating Cole fucking Wilder.”
Cam’s face falls, and a flash of concern glistens in his eyes. “You’re datingWilder?”
I cross my arms defensively. “Yeah. And?”
“And you’d be better off dating a telephone pole.” He laughs.
Frustration bubbles up inside of me. “Why does everyone seem to have a problem with him?”
