“That seems oddly specific.”
Jenna rolled her eyes. “It’s old news.”
“Old news.”
“Exactly,” she snapped.
“Maybe we’ve all heard that story because it’s a good one.”
“Maybe the story we need is that players in this country love hockey so damn much, they still play even when they have to pay a registration fee.” Jenna’s heart raced, her eyes locked on Country’s.
John cleared his throat next to her. “Well, that was . . . informative.”
Jenna blinked, her boss’s voice breaking whatever spell she’d been under and bringing the rest of the booth into focus. Country’s face was only a few inches in front of her. Had she lifted out of her seat?
She settled back onto the bench, hoping the dim lighting hid the blush on her cheeks.
Glen pointed between the two of them. “Do you two know each other?”
Jenna searched for her purse, ignoring the question. She pulled it out from under her coat and looked up to find all eyes on her. Country’s face was pulled into that maddeningly smug smile as he waited for her to answer. Glad to see you’re still too easy to mess with. Had he baited her? Was that comment he made about Alberta meant to?—
“Jenna?”
She whipped her head to the side and faced Glen who was still waiting for a response. She could say no. She could pretend they had no history, but then what would John and Archer think of her behaviour? The way she’d just talked to Country was completely unprofessional and borderline antagonistic.
“We knew each other a long time ago.” Jenna slid to the edge of the bench. “If you don’t mind, I need to go to the washroom.”
Jenna raced to the back corner where she prayed she’d find the lavatories and breathed a sigh of relief when she spotted the door. She pushed through and briefly noted the soft lighting reflecting off the cream-coloured marble countertops and a full-length mirror on the far wall, then locked herself in one of the floor-to-ceiling stalls.
She leaned against the door and pulled out her phone. All week she’d debated texting her girlfriends about Country’s appearance at the studio but hadn’t done it. Rhonda didn’t ever meet him, but Tina, Anne, and Melissa had known Gentry almost as long as she had. Anne had even run into him at the Stampede over the summer. Thankfully, Jenna had been sick that night.
If that very public argument two minutes ago was any indication, she was not going to be able to hack this on her own. She needed wine and a hot tub.
Ladies, SOS. Anne and Tina, is your hot tub available for a visitor?
Anne:
Always. Tomorrow night? We could get Thai food?
Yes please
Rhonda:
I have a meeting till 6 but then I’m there
Melissa:
I’m in. What’s the emergency?
Jenna blew out a breath and squeezed her eyes shut, then gave in.
I’m hiding in the bathroom because five seconds ago, I was sitting at a booth arguing with Gentry Maddox
_____
Country leaned against the wall watching for the washroom door to open. Jenna had been in there for a few minutes already, and if he stood here any longer, the server who’d given him a funny look when she passed the hall would be back from delivering drinks to her tables.
He was about to return to their booth when Jenna finally appeared, her head bowed as she slipped her phone back into her black leather waist pack. His pulse quickened as he waited for her to glance up and notice him.
