Part 40 (2/2)
She was right. She turned to face the players, and when Ty came out, he spotted her right off.
And frowned, then turned away and walked up the stairs toward the bench.
What had she expected, a dazzling smile and two thumbs-up? She was here to support him, not the other way around, so she clapped and yelled for the team when they took the ice for warm-ups.
At the face-off, Jenna tensed and didn't let go the entire time. The game was intense, a knuckle biter as the Ice and Denver went at it as if this was the last game either team was going to play. There were plenty of penalties, only this time Ty wasn't involved. He stayed clean, though he did plenty of b.u.mping. When he crashed up against the gla.s.s right in front of her, she wanted to leap up and smack the guy who'd thrown him there. But Ty concentrated on advancing the puck, and when he scored, she screamed until she was hoa.r.s.e.
The Ice were up two goals by the end of the second period, and Jenna's jaw hurt from clenching it. Defense had kicked a.s.s so far, keeping Denver scoreless and their shots on goal unremarkable.
Ty had paid her no attention, hadn't once glanced her way through the entire game. Not that she expected him to. She wanted him concentrating on the game and not thinking about her. She wanted the Ice to win.
And when they did, shutting out Denver, she and Liz hugged and cheered along with everyone else in the packed arena. They waited until the crowds thinned, then went to wait on Ty outside the locker room.
”He's so mad at me,” Jenna said, chewing on a fingernail. ”I don't know if he'll even talk to me.”
”You have to open the dialogue door somewhere. This is where you start.”
The media kept them awhile, so Jenna paced back and forth, distracting herself by talking to a few of the wives and girlfriends of the players. Renee had texted her and asked her to give Eddie a big congratulatory hug for her since she was working at the bar tonight and couldn't be at the game. The two of them had recently become exclusive, and Jenna was happy for both of them. They made a cute couple. So when Eddie came out of the locker room, she congratulated him and gave him Renee's hug.
”I'm headed over to the bar now,” Eddie said with a wide grin. ”Hope Malcolm's got those steaks fired up.”
She laughed. ”You know he will. And the first round for you guys is on me. I've already let my a.s.sistant manager know.”
Eddie kissed her cheek. ”You're awesome, Jenna.”
Eddie took off once Victor came out, and the trail of players coming through the door only made her more nervous, especially when she didn't see Ty.
”He snuck out another way. He's avoiding me.”
Liz rolled her eyes. ”There is no other way. He didn't sneak out. See? Here he is now.”
Oh, s.h.i.+t. He walked out the door and suddenly she had no idea what she was going to say. Fortunately, Liz got to him first, throwing her arms around him and hugging him.
”It's a d.a.m.n good thing you won tonight,” Liz told him. ”I've got potential product endors.e.m.e.nt deals on the line, so the further you go in the playoffs, the more deals and more money I can get for you.”
”Yeah, it's the only thing on my mind when I take the ice,” he said.
”I'm sure it is.” She winked, then said, ”Well, I've got to talk to the big boss for a few minutes, so if you two will excuse me.”
Liz made a discreet exit, leaving her alone with Ty, who leveled an expressionless stare her way.
It was her play.
”Great game tonight.”
”Thanks. Surprised to see you here.”
”Really? I don't know why. I wanted to support you and the team.”
”Uh-huh.”
”And...I wanted a few minutes alone with you so we could talk.”
”I think we said it all the other night, Jenna. Not much to talk about. I'm tired after the game tonight.”
”I understand. We both said a lot of things the other night, but we need to talk. I need to tell you a few things.”
He laughed, the sarcasm clear. ”There's more than what you already said?”
”I deserved that. But it's not what you think.”
”Okay. Spill it.”
”Not here. Come with me.”
”I don't think that's a good idea.”
She laid a hand on his arm. ”Ty, please. I know you don't owe me anything. Not after the way I acted the other night. But if you'll just give me an hour...”
She hoped and prayed he wouldn't judge her on the last words she'd said to him the other night, that he'd give her a chance.
”Fine. You've got an hour. I've got to grab my gear in the locker room and meet with my coach for a few minutes. I'll meet you at your place when I'm done.”
”Okay. Thanks.”
She left and found Liz, who was chatting with the Ice owner, so she stayed in the background until she finished up.
”How did it go?” Liz asked as they made their way to the parking lot.
”He's still angry with me. I can tell. But he did agree to give me an hour.”
”That's because he loves you.”
Her heart squeezed. ”Does he? His voice was so flat. No emotion in it at all.”
They got into the car and buckled their seatbelts and Liz drove off in her usual crazy manner, but gave Jenna a quick glance. ”Honey, you hurt him and men don't take that well. They shove their emotions deep inside where you can't hurt them again. In many ways they're a lot like women, though they'd deny that.”
Jenna's lips curved. ”Maybe you're right.”
”I am right. They like to pretend they're tough and impervious to pain. Physically that might be true, but emotionally they can be hurt just like we can. Especially by someone they care about.”
”I hurt him. I know that. I have to fix it.”
Liz squeezed her hand. ”Then go do that and win back your man. I need him in top shape for the playoffs.”
Liz dropped her off and she hurried to get ready, nervous as h.e.l.l about what was going to happen.
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