He ran a hand over his face. “See you again.” That was the first card he’d revealed to her, and it stung like vinegar on a cut. Jenna hadn’t only been his lover. She’d become that because she’d first been his friend. He’d lost both when she’d made that call from Windsor, and seeing her again only deepened the bottom of that pit he’d wallowed in for months. Now here he was. Standing on the precipice. Hoping he could find answers before he barrelled in again head-first.
Jenna’s hands froze. She hesitated before straightening a Post-it note next to the keyboard and dropping a pen into a glass jar on the desk.
He tried again. "I just want to talk. I made an ass of myself tonight. I owe you. Plus, you texted me after we met in the hall, and we didn't ever get a chance to catch up."
"Probably because that's not really necessary."
"Who cares if it's necessary? We're just people Jenna. People go out for drinks. It doesn't have to be that deep." It was that deep, at least for him, and she had to feel this tension between them. She could ignore it and pretend it was just an awkward holdover from their breakup, but that wasn't it. There was still energy there. Unfinished business. He needed to clear it before it ate him alive.
"Since when is anything not that deep for you, Gentry?"
He folded his arms over his chest. "Just because you knew something about me once, Jenna . . ."
Her eyes flashed. "That's not—I'm talking about a fundamental part of your personality. You’re not exactly casual."
Country scoffed. "I think there are plenty of people who would disagree with that statement."
She raised an eyebrow, then teased her teeth over her bottom lip. "What will we talk about?"
"Anything you want."
"You're the one asking me to join you, so I think it's fair for you to decide."
His palms started to sweat. "Fine. I'll create an agenda with talking points. Would you like that submitted via email or text?"
Jenna pursed her lips. "Email."
"Less personal. Good choice. You already know I'm excellent at sticking to talking points."
She breathed a laugh and looked down at her shoes. The door swung open, and Liam and Tasha stopped short.
Jenna’s head shot up and the hint of a smile vanished. "I just sent over a new highlight. Run it during the next segment on Country's cue." Liam nodded, then stepped back as Jenna nearly bowled him over to rush out of the booth.
Chapter Eleven
Jenna wiped at the smudge of grey under her eyes as Glen said, “Hell of a game there,” and Country closed things out with, “We bid you a good hockey evening for now.” Throwback to Ron McLean. Classy move after all the ‘cowboy shit’ he pulled during the broadcast. The whole country was either going to be eating out of his hands or sending death threats to GCBN, she wasn’t quite sure which.
After saying goodbye to Liam and Tasha and participating in a bit of obligatory back and forth with Kessler, Owen, and John, she made her way back to her office. Jenna took a cursory glance at herself in the glass, which was a poor life choice. She never looked peppy after Saturday night broadcasts, but normally she didn't think twice about it.
She zipped out of the office before she had to talk to anyone beyond the dim lighting of the studio and was more than happy to do post-production at home on her couch in pajamas Sunday morning. John liked to take Sundays off, which was probably wise. After a long week, Jenna preferred to go home and veg.
She pulled on her coat, grabbed her purse, and walked down the hall toward the elevators. Country wasn't wrong about her being a night owl, but what he was wrong about was her ability to be functional around other humans at that late hour. He was a true extrovert, and since she enjoyed all the things he did, they’d both assumed she was the same.
Then after living with a mole of a roommate for three years, she was introduced to the idea of staying at home. While she wasn't even close to becoming as much of a homebody as Charlotte, she'd learned just how much peace she'd been missing by packing her college social calendar to the brim. She needed time to refresh. To be alone with her thoughts. To eat chips and salsa with Oreos for dessert.
Country was already waiting for her, scrolling on his phone next to the empty welcome desk. His tie was unknotted and hung like a scarf draped over his shoulders. The top button of his shirt was undone, and his hair was— He looked up, and Jenna dropped her head to search her coat pocket.
“I didn’t get an email.”
His eyes widened. “You were serious about that? I thought?—”
“I’m kidding.” Jenna pulled out her leather driving gloves.
"We can take my truck."
She froze. "We're driving somewhere?"
"Not far."
