Jenna hissed, "Were you serious or was that all for show, because?—"
"Dead serious."
"And you actually want to hire me. This isn't a pity hire because we're engaged?"
Country laughed out loud and hit the elevator call button. "That's a stupid question."
Jenna scoffed. "I thought there weren't any stupid questions."
"Someone on TikTok asked ‘if I could be any vegetable, which would I be and why.’ So. I assure you, there are." They stepped into the elevator.
"They were probably just pushing for you to use an eggplant emoji." Jenna smirked.
As the doors closed, Country pressed her back against the side wall and kissed her. "It isn't a pity hire." Jenna gripped the edges of his jacket. "I want you, Jens. I always have, and I always will."
The door to the elevator opened, and they walked hand-in-hand through the airlock into the parking garage.
"If I go live, I'm not going to agree with you just because it's your channel." Jenna's voice echoed against the concrete.
"I'm fine with you being wrong on a live stream."
Jenna rolled her eyes. "And I'm keeping my shirt on."
"Well, you just killed all our chances at monetization."
She laughed as Country opened the door of his truck and gave her a boost.
Epilogue
Three weeks later, Jenna's voice was hoarse as she jumped from her seat at the sound of the final buzzer. She held her phone up and took a panoramic shot of the ice centre, then zoomed in on the Snowball players celebrating in a pile of pads, sticks, and baby blue shirts at their bench. As the players lined up to tap gloves, Jenna turned off the recording and shook out her arms.
“Your boys did well tonight!” Rhonda cupped her hands around her mouth and whooped.
Melissa laughed. “I’m disappointed by your lack of effort tonight. No sign?”
Rhonda threw out her arms. “You told me I wasn’t allowed!”
Anne pulled on her coat while Tina fastened her waist bag. “Maybe because your idea of encouragement was, ‘Puck me #4, I’m open!’”
Jenna laughed out loud. “You wrote that on a sign?”
Rhonda looked scandalized. “It was a joke, and it was one time! I didn’t know anyone on the team and just picked the prettiest one!”
Jenna shook her head. “I just can’t believe you all came to a game without me.”
Anne rolled her eyes. “It was last year, and Rhonda hasn’t come since.”
“He didn’t put out,” Rhonda teased, then quickly snapped her mouth closed as number four’s girlfriend, Emma, approached with Penny.
She nudged Jenna’s shoulder. "Watched your commentary the other night and laughed so hard I almost peed my pants."
"Was that before or after Country compared Biggerstaff to a man walking an invisible dog?"
Emma’s face scrunched. "I just—I couldn't unsee it."
Jenna laughed, remembering how she and Polk had busted up during editing. It had been one week since she’d cleared out her office at GCBN amidst pleas from Kessler, John, and most surprisingly, Owen. Ironically, she’d never felt more appreciated.
Penny, Brett’s girlfriend, leaned in. "You all coming to One Place?"
