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Now look what you’ve done. Wincing, Georgie pulled her in for a side hug. “Kait, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be a cynical know-it-all. Blame the breakup. I’m trying to be better about this stuff, but obviously I need to try harder.” Her heart ached. God, I miss the old me.
“Baby steps, eh?” said Leesa, her tone soothing. “You’ve had a rough two years. Don’t be so tough on yourself.”
“But that’s no excuse for mocking something you or Kait find uplifting,” said Georgie.
Kaitlin gave her a squeeze. “Hey, I’ll live. I’m a Leafs fan—I’m used to being mocked.”
“Not by your friends, you’re not.” Georgie pressed her lips together. “I promise. I’ll do better.”
Easing out of their sideways clench, Kaitlin murmured, “Thanks.”
“Maybe I should rent some rom-coms,” said Georgie. “Ease back in. Slowly.”
“You can borrow some of mine. Or my Harlequins.” Kaitlin’s romance collection could rival any Blockbuster or library, and she organized a monthly book club.
“Okay, sure. Pick me a few favourites?”
“You got it.” Kaitlin’s muted smile vanished as she blinked tentatively. “I hope this doesn’t sound weird, but I envy you. I know things soured with Kyle, but at least someone proposed to you. I’m almost thirty-one and haven’t had a date in five years.”
“I’d be in the same boat if I wasn’t into women as well as men. Guys suck,” said Leesa. “Apart from my brother and Michael. Maybe Oliver.”
“That’s why I got excited when he showed up with your favourite muffins,” said Kaitlin. “I thought, he’s trying to impress you! It’s like that thing my grandma says, ‘Food is the best way to woo.’”
Georgie adored Kaitlin’s grandma and her quirky sayings, but—her breath bottled in her chest. Was that why he brought the muffins to the Gardens? To woo her?
She gulped. Well, she did go on and on about them during their museum meeting yesterday, but did he really think if he…that she…
Her gaze flicked upward. Stop it! Oliver’s not attracted to you, and muffins are for meetings, not wooing! She shook her head. “You’re way off base, Kait. He brought them for all of us. He’s a nice guy. Period.”
Leesa sighed. “He is, and you’re perfect for one another. You both love history, love trav—well, you do on paper. You never actually go anywhere, which is a slight problem.”
Kaitlin pushed out her lips. “Maybe she will if she hooks up with him.”
Like sharks attracted by the taste of blood, these two weren’t about to back off.
“Guys!” Georgie raised her voice. “I’m not hooking up with anyone.” Especially an ‘anyone’ who might be hooking up with his boss.
“You say that”—Leesa leaned in—“but wait till you pour some drinks in ya and get him on the dance floor.”
Scoffing, Georgie jutted out a hip. “Yeah, about that. Why’d you invite him tonight? It’s gonna complicate everything.”
Kaitlin narrowed her eyes. “How? Work colleagues hang out after hours all the time.”
“Yeah, at your work, ’cause going to concerts and clubs is practically part of your job description,” replied Georgie. “Your nighttime persona is practically the same as your daytime persona.”
“That’s true, Kait.” Leesa nodded. “You’re the only person I know who isn’t terrified of their boss or coworkers seeing them drunk or in a mosh pit.”
“But it’s not like that for the rest of us,” said Georgie. “In my case, there’s Teacher Georgina—responsible, patient, courteous—and then there’s Hockey Georgie, and she can be a lot.”
“Of fun!” said Leesa.
Georgie shook her head. “And never the twain shall meet.”
“But Oliver met Hockey Georgie this morning,” said Leesa.
Yup, and that’s on me. She glanced up at the television. The intermission programming was coming to a close. “He met Hockey Georgie-lite, the best-behaved version. Let’s face it, I’m hardly gonna shout or flip the bird when we’re sat outside the executive offices.” Georgie let out a slow, measured breath. “I’d rather Oliver be spared the full-on version. At least for now.”
Kaitlin widened her eyes. “Whoa. Since when are you embarrassed about being a fan, Gi?”
