“Silent auction?” Cam said. “We’ve got access to jerseys, experiences, and meet-and-greets. Keeps it inclusive.”
There were nods, pens tapping, ideas being scribbled down. The conversation flowed easily back and forth, pros and cons weighed without anyone talking over anyone else. I followed along as best I could, grateful for the structure of it, for something concrete to focus on instead of the way my pulse still hadn’t quite settled.
“… and we’ll need volunteers for the outreach with Cam,” Layton added.
“Jari can help,” Cap said easily, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
My head snapped up before I could stop it. “What?”
Cap smiled at me. “If you’re willing.”
Every eye turned. The room tilted. Just a little. Enough that my hands went cold. “Yeah,” I heard myself say. “Sure.”
Tennant’s gaze found me then. I held it for half a second too long before looking away, pulse spiking.
When Cam called for a coffee break, I stayed seated, barely registering the end of the discussion before I stood, muttered something about the restroom, and pushed out into the hallway, lungs already working too hard. The door clicked shut behind me, muffling the noise, but my chest stayed tight as I found the nearest corner, braced my hands on the cool wall, and stared at the floor.
Don’t spiral. Don’t make this a thing.
I pushed off the wall and dragged in a steadier breath. My hands were still trembling, but the worst of the spin had settled. I told myself that was enough to walk back in, but footsteps approached from the meeting room, and someone had found myhiding place. God, I hoped it was Cam. He’d know just what to say to me.
It wasn’t Cam.
“Took me a minute to catch up with you,” Tennant Rowe said.
I straightened instinctively. “Sorry. I… needed… space.”
“That’s fair,” he said easily. He stopped a few feet away, giving me space without making a show of it. “I wanted to say… It’s good to meet you, Jari. And I mean that.”
I blinked at him, caught off guard.
“I like your play,” he went on, calm and direct. “The way you read the penalty kill, how you don’t panic on a breakaway. Your January game against Toronto last season—you broke up that rush in the third and turned it the other way like it was nothing. I’ve been following your career for a while. You see lanes other guys miss.”
For a second, my brain stalled completely. I just stared at him, mouth open, words gone. Tennant Rowe was followingmycareer.
He watched me, then let out a quiet breath and rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. “Okay. I’m doing this wrong.” He tilted his head. “Jared said… Jared's my husband.”
“I know,” I said automatically, and then stopped talking, heat rushing up my face.
He smiled, softer now. “Yeah. He told me I should be straight with you.” Tennant’s gaze held mine, steady and unflinching. “Your dad—what he did, what he was—that doesn’t fall on you. Okay?” He paused. “This team doesn’t work that way. Jared and I have both learned that people deserve to be judged by who they are in the room, not by the worst thing someone else did.” I felt sick as he paused, but then he smiled at me. ”I was worried when I first heard they were interested in you.”
“I’m sorry,” I began, suddenly distraught, but he held up a hand to stop me.
“Not in the way you think, Jari. The fans here are good and loyal, but they don't forget easily, and I’m worried about the barriers you’ll have to push down to get them to see your talent. Y'know, they'll learn when you score your first goal for their team, yeah? So, I’m really pleased you’re one of the Railers now,” he added.
“How can you say that?”
Oh god! Did I say that out loud?
“Why would I blame you for what your father did? This team is all about looking after our own. And you’re one of us now, and Iknowin my heart that you're nothing like your dad.”
Something tight in my chest shifted. Not gone. But lighter. “Thanks,” I managed.
“So, if you need to talk, or you want to do a promo with me to show the fans how I feel, then let Layton know, and he'll fix it. Okay?”
“Yes.”
He nodded. “Okay then, I’ll see you back in there.”
