Jenny glanced around the arena, her heart sinking as she noticed all the empty seats. She tried telling herself it was still early, that there was plenty of time for fans to drift in. Maybe they were stuck in traffic out on 30. Or maybe 83 was backed up again with the Friday evening rush hour.

Or maybe the crowd was still milling around the concourse, shopping for souvenirs or beer and hot dogs.

Or maybe there wouldn't be a crowd, maybe everyone who was coming was already here.

She sighed and sat back in the seat, her gaze sweeping the empty expanse of ice. Yes, it was still early—the teams hadn't even come out to warm up yet. But she doubted the early hour had much to do with the empty seats. The Bombers had been struggling, losing their last seven games. And with each loss, fewer and fewer people showed up. Tyler tried to pretend it didn't bother him but she knew better, could see it in the set of his shoulders and in the tightness around his eyes. Each loss got into his head, taking a stronger foothold, wearing him down, eating at his confidence. She tried to tell him the losses weren't on him alone, that the team's defense had broken down on more than one occasion. That the offense hadn't been able to capitalize on scoring chances. And that sometimes, a team lost for no apparent reason.

He didn't believe her.

Jason was almost as bad. Surly, short, snapping at her for no apparent reason. The only time he acted like his normal self was when Megan was around—and Jenny made herself scarce whenever that happened. She and Megan hadn't yet connected, on any level—not since Jenny had talked to Zach about the bruises on Haley's arm. Not since she'd made that comment to Jason a few weeks ago that he needed to ask his girlfriend what she was hiding. Maybe she hadn't said those exact words, but it didn't matter. She wasn't comfortable when Megan was around, wasn't sure she'd ever be. So she avoided her as best she could, by either staying late at work or going over to Tyler's.

Tensions were stretched almost to the breaking point—with everyone. Jenny knew it was only a matter of time before tempers exploded and something happened.

Which was just one more reason why tonight was a bad idea. Not the game—whatever happened on the ice tonight was going to happen, no matter what. It was what was supposed to happen after the game that worried her. Tyler told her that everyone was heading to Mystic's later, that Aaron had insisted on this night out, telling everyone they needed to just go out and relax and forget about the game.

And she would be there as well. As Tyler's date. He was tired of hiding their relationship, tired of pretending. And so was she. But something—some inner sense of warning or premonition or whatever—was telling her that it was a bad idea. That tonight wasn't the night to expose their secret.

Now all she had to do was come up with a reason to give Tyler. To find some way to convince him.

The arena's loudspeaker system came to life, pouring out music—a lively rock song designed to pump up the crowd and build excitement. Jenny glanced around once more, still disheartened at the shortage of people.

At least she'd have plenty of room to spread out on the glass.

No sooner had the thought come to mind then she saw someone moving into the row—her row. Jenny turned to greet the newcomer, a half-hearted welcoming smile on her face. The smile quickly died and she turned away, sliding down in her seat and hoping she wouldn't be noticed. It didn't work, of course. It would be hard not to notice her, not when she was the only one sitting here.

Megan dropped into the seat next to her with a soft sigh and stretched her legs out as far as they would go. Jenny glanced at the other woman's shoes, had to stop herself from rolling her eyes when she noticed the brightly colored plaid Chucks.

Why the hell was she finding fault with everything about Megan? If it had been anyone else, she'd compliment them on the shoes. Say they were cute and ask where they bought them. Not that she'd buy a pair herself, they weren't her style. But she'd still be nice and ask, still strike up a casual conversation around clothes. She couldn't do that with Megan, couldn't even compliment her on her unique style because the woman simply didn't have any. Loose bootcut jeans, baggy sweaters or flannel work shirts worn open over tank tops, and colorful Chucks. That was Megan's style. She wondered, not for the first time, how the young woman had ever managed to catch her brother's eye.

And why did she have such a problem with Megan? It was more than the tiny protective streak she harbored over her brother. She'd met one or two of his girlfriends before and never had a problem with any of them. So why now?

Because Megan had tried to help Haley hide the bruises. Because Megan didn't seem concerned about whatever was going on with her friend—her supposed best friend. And to Jenny, that was unforgivable.

Her gaze swept up the ice once more, resting on Tyler as he warmed up. He spread his legs out wide, bending over in a stretch that nearly brought his chest to the ice. Even from down here, she could see the grace in each move. Smooth, fluid. No, she never got the hang of his yoga moves, no matter how many times he tried to show her. That didn't mean she didn't enjoy watching—or reaping the benefits.

But watching him tonight didn't help ease the ball of tension knotting her shoulders. Because of what might happen later? Or because of the woman sitting next to her, openly watching her?

Jenny cleared her throat, trying not squirm under Megan's stare. "I didn't think you'd be sitting here."

Did Megan hear the words she didn't say? That if Jenny had known, she would have chosen somewhere else to sit? She still could, considering the emptiness of the arena.

"I'm not. My seat's actually over there, behind the players' bench." Megan shifted and pointed to the area several sections over to their left. "Courtney—that's Harland's wife—is over there with their son. You could come join us if you want."

"No thanks. I like sitting here." Alone, she thought. She didn't say it, probably didn't need to. Or maybe she did, because Megan didn't look like she planned on leaving.

"Why do you sit here? I thought you'd want to sit on the other end."

Why was Megan trying to strike up a conversation? It didn't matter that the question was innocent enough. Jenny thought about ignoring her, or telling her that she wanted to be left alone—but she couldn't. So she took a deep breath and searched for the right tone: polite, but discouraging.

"The Bombers shoot twice down here. I like watching them score." Not that they'd been doing a lot of that lately. If she had hoped to discourage Megan from any more conversation, she completely failed. The other woman shifted in the seat, her head tilted to the side as she watched her.

"You must know a lot about hockey."

"Enough."

Megan nodded then faced the ice, her eyes scanning the players at the other end. Looking for Jason? Probably.

"I'm still learning." She shifted again, her eyes catching Jenny's. A small smile teased one corner of her mouth, stunning Jenny with its simple beauty. "Don't tell Jason but at my first game, I cheered when the other team scored. I, uh, I didn't know who was who."

Jenny swallowed back her surprised laughter, nearly choking on it. "You'll pick it up. If you spend any time watching the games, that is."

"Oh, I definitely plan on it."

Well, Jenny certainly had that one coming. Part of her was surprised at Megan's quick comeback. And another part—one she wouldn't admit to out loud—was proud the woman had put her in her place. She deserved no less for the biting comment she had made.

That didn't mean she was going to get all warm and fuzzy, because she wouldn't.

Could Megan read her mind? Maybe, because she shifted again and looked out over the ice, her gaze resting on the players from the visiting team as they skated around, taking turns shooting at the net. She finally sighed then faced Jenny, watching her so intently that Jenny started to squirm. She was ready to shift in her own seat and come right out and ask the woman what she wanted when Megan finally spoke.

"I came down here to apologize."

Jenny's head spun so fast that her neck cracked, just a quick pop of vertebrae. She snapped her mouth closed, her eyes widening in surprise. "Apologize?"

"Yes. For that whole thing with Haley."

"Oh. Yeah, sure. Okay." Jenny turned and looked straight ahead, concentrating on the players passing by the glass, seeing them without seeing them. One player whizzed past, spun around and past by again. Jenny ignored him as Megan started talking again, her words halting and uncertain.

"Haley didn't want me to say anything, swore me to secrecy. I wasn't—"

"It shouldn't have mattered what she swore you to. She's your friend. You shouldn't help her hide it."

"I'm not. She's not. Not anymore. And the guy—"

"Is an asshole who needs to be arrested."

"Yeah. Probably." Megan paused. Waiting for Jenny to agree? It didn't matter. She didn't turn to look at her, kept her gaze straight ahead, seeing without seeing.

Another blur passed in front of her, slower this time, the orange and blue of the uniform bright against the glare of the ice. Jenny realized she was staring, that her eyes were watering from looking in one place for too long. She blinked and looked away, noticed that Megan was still watching her.

"She's not seeing him anymore."

"Who?"

"Jimmy. The guy who...Haley's boyfriend. She's not seeing him anymore."

"Good."

"He, uh, he still tries to call her though. Still shows up at the bar every once in a while."

"Tell her to get a restraining order."

Megan's eyes widened and for a second, Jenny was certain she was going to argue, or make an excuse, or something. But she just nodded then looked straight ahead, her gaze focusing on who knew what. Her head tilted to the side and she frowned, cast a quick glance at Jenny, then looked back at the ice. She shook her head, almost like she was arguing with herself, then looked at Jenny once more.

"Yeah, maybe. That's not the only reason I need to apologize."

"No?"

"No. I, uh—when Jason asked, I tried to downplay it. And I think, maybe, that made things worse for you. For the two of you, I mean. I think he thought you were meddling, or making more of it. I didn't mean for that to happen, and I'm sorry."

Jenny nodded, not sure what to say. Just accept it and move on? Accept it and then ignore her? Or accept it...and apologize herself?

She took a deep breath then turned away from the glass, ignoring the orange and blue blur that kept skating past them. If Megan could suck it up and apologize, so could she. But that wasn't the only reason. This was Jason's girlfriend. And while he hadn't said as much, she knew he was serious about her. Long-term serious. And she had a feeling that if Jason had his way, Megan would be a permanent part of his life.

And Jenny didn't want to come between that. She didn't want to be the cause of any tension between them. And maybe, just maybe, she and Megan could become friends.

"I owe you an apology, too. I, uh, I haven't been the nicest person around you. Or to you. I just—it doesn't matter why. I shouldn't have acted like that. I'm sorry."

Their gazes met and held for several heartbeats, each of them sizing the other up, gauging sincerity. Then another slow smile spread across Megan's face, transforming her. The knot of tension in Jenny's shoulders eased, fading away as her own smile took hold.

"I guess we got off on the wrong foot, huh?"

"Yeah, I guess we did."

Megan thrust her hand out. "New start?"

Jenny looked down at the slender hand stretched out in friendship. She hesitated for only second then reached out, accepting it. "New start."

"Good. I'm glad." Megan released her hand then sat back in the chair, her gaze focusing on the ice in front of them. "The offer still stands. If you want to come sit with us, I mean. You'd like Courtney. And Noah—that's their son—is adorable."

"Maybe I will." It would be nice, sitting with other people. With women who understood the game. She glanced at Megan and smiled again. Well, maybe they didn't exactly understand the game, but at least they understood the toll it took on the players and what the game meant to them.

No, no maybe about it. She wanted to sit with Megan. Wanted to meet Courtney and her son. Wanted to be part of something she hadn't been part of in...well, ever. She said as much to Megan but the other woman wasn't listening—she was staring at something in front of them, a frown on her face.

She finally looked over at Jenny and nudged her arm. "Do you know him?"

"Who?"

"That guy. He keeps looking over here, staring."

"What? Who does?" Jenny turned toward the glass, ready to tell Megan that she was probably seeing things. She caught a flash of orange and blue, jumped back as the player skated up to the glass and tapped it with his stick. The ends of dark blonde hair curled under the edge of his helmet, the hair a shade darker than the scruff covering his square, chiseled jaw. Full lips spread into a wide smile as he tapped the glass again, his thickly accented voice muffled as he said something in a mix of English and Russian.

Jenny froze, unable to stop the bile churning in her stomach, unable to stop the panic stealing the breath from her lungs. No, it couldn't be. Not here, not now.

She shook her head, telling herself she was imagining things, telling herself this was nothing more than a nightmare.

A nightmare come to life.

Her gaze flew from the smiling mouth, travelled up until they locked onto a pair of gray eyes, the deceptive sparkle masking the coldness behind them. She heard Megan talking, heard the concern and worry in her voice as her hand closed around Jenny's arm. But Jenny couldn't look away, couldn't break free of the horror that held her in its grip as firmly as the gaze of those flat gray eyes held hers.

Viktor.