McKenna could practically hear the smirk in Tank’s voice, and she loved it. “Make the fucker work for it,” she muttered.
“Do the Rays fans need to be concerned about your…er…extracurriculars keeping you off the ice again this season?”
McKenna held her breath, waiting for Tank’s response.
“No, they don’t. As I said in the press conference immediately following the release of that video, I regret my actions that night, because I not only let myself down but my team and the fans, as well.”
McKenna blew out a long, slow breath because his response had been good. Very good.
She sent up a silent prayer that the conversation ended there, but…it didn’t.
And this time, Chuck, the fucker, didn’t even bother couching his personal question in with game talk. “Could that be because there’s a new woman on the scene?”
Tank didn’t miss a beat this time. “Do you really think the listeners care about who I’m dating?”
It was a good answer, but McKenna could tell the interviewer took that response as confirmation there was someone new. “Sources report that your date for the Stingrays Foundation gala last week, McKenna Bailey, is the same woman you’ve been seen with on several occasions in the past few weeks.”
“McKenna works in the Stingrays organization. We’re friends.”
“Those who attended the Stingrays Foundation gala seemed to think the two of you looked like more than friends.”
McKenna made a mental note to blacklist Chuck’s podcast.
“Didn’t realize you were such a big fan of gossip, Chuck.” Tank’s tone was smooth as butter.
There was a pause for a moment, and McKenna expected Chuck to be the one to break it.
She groaned when Tank did.
“Listen, I’ve known McKenna for almost a year. She spends a lot of time with me and my teammates, even traveling with us when we’re on the road. We’ve become good friends. She’s bright and funny. When all the stuff with the video went down, McKenna was the one I turned to for advice because I trust her. I’m not going to lie, I was feeling pretty low during that two-week suspension. The only thing that made it tolerable was McKenna. She’s smart and compassionate and she helped me through a very rocky time.”
He trusted her?
Chuck accepted that response, mercifully changing the subject, he and Tank talking about the upcoming game. McKenna listened with half an ear, her mind whirling over all of Tank’s comments about her.
He trusted her?
The fact that she was starting to trust him, as well, sent her heart racing, her breath growing shallow, until she forced herself to do some deep breathing exercises to calm down.
Turning back to her computer, she stared at the screen, struggling to recall what she’d been doing.
Not that it mattered. Because twenty minutes after the podcast was over, Benny showed up in her office with Roger on his heels. They shut the door behind them—something they never did.
“Is everything okay?” she asked nervously. She was still new enough in her job that she couldn’t help but worry she’d be out on her ass after any misstep.
Benny raked a hand through his hair, a sure sign he was uncomfortable.
What the hell did she do?
She started frantically going through the past few days in her head, trying to figure out what she could have messed up.
“That podcast was great,” Benny exclaimed, walking in and sitting in a chair across from her desk. Roger followed suit, claiming the second seat.
She nodded. “Yeah. Tank did well. Though I’m not happy with Chuck. I made it very clear he wasn’t to mention the viral video, and he agreed.”
Benny shrugged, seemingly unconcerned about Chuck straying from the script. “Tank held the line, sounded contrite for his actions. It feels like Chuck helped further our cause, because it reinforced what was said in the initial press conference.”
McKenna could see that point, but she was still pissed, certain if it had been Benny who’d set up the parameters of the interview, rather than a wet-behind-the-ears newbie, Chuck wouldn’t have mentioned the video.
