Part 37 (2/2)

Fortunately her dad seemed eager to get behind the bar and help serve drinks, something she was glad to have him do. She needed as many extra hands as she could get. Her mom disappeared into the kitchen and helped out with the food orders, much to Malcolm's relief, so they had a smooth operation going. Dad served the bar patrons while Jenna filled the waitress's orders. They were going to do a h.e.l.l of a lot of business tonight judging from the number of times her waitresses came running back to her with requests for more drinks. And if the Ice won, she might be calling quite a few taxis for some of her patrons.

The good thing about being busy was she barely had time to glance up at the television screens to watch the game. Even though she wanted to watch, her stomach was a knotted ma.s.s of nerves. She knew how much each of these last few games meant to the team-to Ty. Winning the division and making the playoffs was critical. She had to rely on either the cheers or the groans of her customers to let her know what was going on with the game, because it was too loud in the bar to hear the announcers.

When she heard a cheer, she'd stop and look up, knowing something good had happened for the team. The Ice had scored twice in the first period, once on a pa.s.s from Ty to Eddie, and once on a sneak shot from behind the goal by Meyers. Nashville scored on a power play, so the Ice were up two to one going into the second period.

Her stomach knotted up even tighter. It was still too close and way too much game left to play. She busied herself with her customers, not even looking up when she heard a chorus of groans and curses.

Nashville had tied it in the second period.

Dammit.

It stayed that way all through the second period. The tension in the bar was so thick she could barely wade through it, and the noise level was deafening, because the shots on goal by both teams had been insane, yet no further goals had been scored by the time they headed into the third period.

The play had been rough, with two more power plays by both teams.

”Your boy looks good tonight, honey,” her dad said as he shouldered up to her to wash some gla.s.ses.

”Does he? I've barely had time to watch.”

”Take a few minutes to watch. I've got this.”

She laid her hand on her dad's shoulder. ”I don't know if I can. I'm about ready to crawl out of my skin.”

Her dad laughed. ”Yeah, it's pretty tense and these are critical games. But Ty will want to know you saw him play.”

He was right. And she did want to watch. She took a break and stepped out from behind the bar to walk around and visit with her customers, but no one wanted to chat. Their faces were glued to the screens, so she leaned against a wood beam and watched as Victor got hold of a puck and skated like lightning, pa.s.sing it to Eddie, who got slammed against the gla.s.s as he fought the defender. Eddie dug in and pa.s.sed the puck across the ice to Ty, who took it and skated toward the net, then took a shot, missed.

She let out the breath she'd been holding, realizing her heart was pounding and her palms were sweaty. She swiped them down her jeans.

Come on, guys. Time to score.

The defender slammed the puck to his wing, who pa.s.sed it to the Nashville center, who took a shot but the Ice's goalie caught it in his glove.

Jenna was going to pa.s.s out if she kept holding her breath. She let it out, and decided she might be better off not watching the game. But then Ty and Eddie got a breakaway and pa.s.sed the puck back and forth. Eddie defended, Tyler took the shot and it slid into the net on the left corner. The lamp lit up and the entire bar erupted, everyone coming to their feet, pounding the tables with their hands and clapping.

Jenna screamed and shot her fist in the air. She ran back behind the bar and hugged her dad, who beamed a grin.

”He did good.”

She realized she had tears in her eyes. ”He did, didn't he?”

”Now they have to hold them, and maybe score another.”

”Oh, I hope so, Dad.”

Her mom came out and watched the last six minutes of the game with them. It was more terrifying now that they were ahead, hoping Nashville wouldn't score and tie it up again. Nashville had several more shots on goal, but the defense held. And when Meyers put another one in the goal and put them two up with a minute and a half left to play, the pounding feet and cheers in the bar sounded like an earthquake. Her dad picked her mom up and kissed her, and Jenna squealed with joy as the last seconds ticked down to zero.

She'd never been happier for Ty. What a great birthday this was going to be for him. And maybe now the knot in the pit of her stomach would go away.

Two hours later she'd cleared out the bar, though most people had left after the game was over anyway, and she'd told the stragglers they were closing early because of a private party. She and her dad had handled the few grumblers and drunks easily enough. You didn't want to p.i.s.s off a Riley, because if you became belligerent, you weren't invited back.

Some of the players started arriving, and she led them to the party room, where drinks and food were set up. Eddie had texted her that he and Victor would be arriving with Ty in about forty-five minutes. Media interviews were about over, and Victor was going to dawdle with protracted primping.

Jenna laughed at that because it was so believable.

She munched on a carrot stick and some dip and surveyed the set up. It was too bad Ty's parents couldn't be here, but there wasn't anything she could do about that. At least her family was here, and Ty's friends and teammates.

Eddie finally texted they were five minutes away.

”He's almost here, everyone,” she said, so she went to the front door to unlock it and waited there.

When they walked in, Eddie and Victor headed into the room while she swooped Tyler up in a big, warm kiss.

”Congratulations on the game,” she said.

”Thanks.” He looked around. ”Where is everyone?”

She shrugged. ”It's a work night. We were full earlier, but I guess everybody had to get home. It was kind of dead after the game. I've got some food in the pool room, though.”

”Oh. Okay.”

She took his hand and led him into the room, then stepped back.

His eyes widened when he walked in and everyone yelled surprise and happy birthday.

He turned to her and she grinned.

”You knew it was my birthday.”

”Of course.”

Then he was swallowed up by well wishes, hugs, and pats on the back, and she didn't see him again for a while. But it was his celebration, so she let him enjoy it. She took care of his friends and her family, making sure everyone was well fed and had drinks while Tyler was surrounded the entire night by people who cared about him.

She had the sports entertainment station on so the team members could see replays of the game, and of course everyone rehashed the night's events. Her dad, Gavin, and Mick sat with the team and talked hockey, while Jenna, Liz, Tara, and Jenna's mom hung out with the wives and girlfriends of the players.

Ty finally broke away and put his arm around her.

”I didn't even know you realized it was my birthday.”

”Did you even know it was your birthday?” she asked.

He laughed. ”It wasn't high on my list of things to deal with today, but yeah, I knew. I just wasn't going to make a big deal about it.”

”Well, I was.”

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