Luckily, it all worked out for them in the end, and she’s absolutely smitten.
“Thank god for that,” Cindy says. “Ty is the kind of guy that would find a way, no matter what the contract said.”
“When are you guys gonna get hitched?” Beth asks, sipping on her drink as we listen to their banter. It really is quite entertaining.
Cindy’s cheeks blush over a light crimson, reminding me of how I felt the other night sitting across from Jay with some of the banter we had going. “It’s early days yet,” she says. “But we’re already talking about our future. Marriage, kids, the works.”
“That’s amazing,” I say with a smile. “You gals all seem like you’ve snagged three great guys.”
“I’ll say,” Beth chimes. “Where do I get one?”
We all laugh, then Beth proceeds to tell them about the night in the bar where she had a round of tonsil hockey with Jake Hudson. The girls stare wide-eyed and they spend the next half hour talking about what happened and the way they danced.
Thankfully, like a true friend, Beth leaves out the part about me and Jay getting hot and heavy and not recognizing each other, but manages to add how I prized her away from Jake to save her from herself.
“He’s a wildcard, that’s for sure,” Em says.
“They all are at some point,” Cindy agrees. “Look at Ty, he was pretty wild in his heyday, but he really toned things down, eventually.”
“Yeah, when he met you.” Em grins just as our server places our food down. “Deny it all you want.”
Cindy holds her palms up, all out of protest. “Meaning, there’s hope there for Jake if Beth is thinking of pursuing him.”
Beth laughs heartily and shakes her head. “Nope. I don’t think that would be a good idea. We were drunk and had a really good time on the dance floor, but like you gals said, he’s wild and could have anyone he wanted. I’m sure he’s not after a girl who works in a vintage store and stays in with her cat night after night.”
“Who knows what Jake Hudson is after,” Cindy says with a kind smile. “But I never thought Ty would become best friends with my little Frenchie, but they adore each other. So you just never know.”
“Wouldn’t it be cool if we all ended up with hockey guys?” Maddie ponders, smiling at me over the table. “I’m sure we don’t have to guess who Jade would choose.”
I pick up a French fry from my plate. I ordered the garden burger with loaded chilli fries. It looks and smells delicious.
“Mads!” Em elbows her and we all fall about laughing.
“Nope. Jay is just a friend,” I assure them. “I’ve known him since he was seventeen.”
“Even better.” Mads shrugs. “You knew him before he was famous, that’s a good thing. He speaks very highly of you.”
I blink in rapid succession as I stare at her across the table, her blue eyes twinkling in amusement. “He does?”
“Yup.” She pops the ‘p,’ and casts me a little wink. “We’ll make a hockey wife out of you yet, Jade. Beth is well on her way.”
We all laugh again, Beth can barely contain herself, and I do my best to wave that notion away about the Jay comment. I’m not even sure if I’m trying to convince them more than myself, it could go either way.
Jay has definitely made more than an impression in different ways than he did the last trip over here, and even though there’s been no groping on the dance floor, it’s been just as memorable. I can’t say I didn’t enjoy our closeness at our dance lesson, or his warm hands on me, and I’m looking forward to tomorrow night a little too much.
“I guess a girl should never say never.” I smile at the women around the table as we all tuck into our food, wondering if that might become one of my daily mantras.
Here’s hoping.
Eve
Tell me again all the reasons you want to leave Seattle?
I’m laying on my bed going over some of the dance steps in my head, the way I would do with one of my yoga routines. I need to be fresh for Friday. Jay and I are going to get together tomorrow and have a practice before we hit the studio again. Hopefully, we will remember at least some of what we learned a few days ago.
Me
Ummm. Because I want to see my 2 best friends
