Our first game was vs. Sweden. I was so nervous that Mom couldn't feel her hand anymore.
"Dana, how come daddy won't let you sit on the bench?" Kelley asked, her big blue eyes staring innocently up at me.
"I don't know I guess- Come on! Hit the one-timer boys let's go!" I had four pieces of gum in my mouth to help me with my little fidgeting problem, and the fact that Robbie had gotten hurt and wasn't back on the ice didn't make things any better.
Then buzzer went off and so did I. Mom barely got out a weak 'Dana!' before I was out of earshot. I stormed into the locker room with guns blazing.
"Hey Dana." Pav said quietly.
Bad move.
"Don't you 'Hey Dana' me! Do you guys not realize that this is the Olympics? You're playing like you don't care. Like you're just giving up!"
"We're not giving up." Said Rizzo firmly.
"Yeah, well, it sure doesn't seem like it."
With that, I stomped out like a sulky child.
By the end of the third period, Sweden was still winning, 2-1, and Adam had tiny braids in his hair. Robbie was back one the ice and pissed as hell. Whenever he got checked hard I'd yell and scream for him so hard people six rows in every direction would turn and stare.
With a minute twenty left, the coneheads were up. "C'mon Buzzy, let's go Pav, you can do it Bah, let's go boys!" I knew that if we didn't tie up the game we'd never play the Soviets and Dad would do this every four years until we did. "Get a shot, get a shot!"
"Who's that over there?" Mom asked, pointing out on the ice.
My eyes got big "Baker's open, he's open!" Pav passed the puck to Baker who made the shot and-
"SCORE!"
I screamed and gave Adam and Kelley huge hugs. "We did it! We did it! Yes!"
After the game, the team all came into my double bed room to party. Not really party, no beers or anything, but we watched the game on T.V. and emptied the snack machine down the hall. Phil and Mark even got in a belching contest.
"This is why I'm friends with guys." I laughed.
"This is how you know chivalry ain't dead." Said Buzz.
"Yeah, we just keep it quiet with football and beer nuts!" Rizzo added.
Everyone laughed, but Jack's seemed somewhat forced. When I thought about it, he hadn't been himself all night. I sat next to him on the pullout couch and slid my hand over his chest.
"Penny for your thoughts." I murmured
Jack sighed. "I guess I never realized how much playing meant to me. Sort of humbling I guess."
I pushed a stray hair out of his face. "It's not like you're never gonna play again. Doc said a week. With any luck, you'll come back in time to kick Soviet butt!"
He shook his head, "How do you do that?"
"Do what?"
"Say we're going to win, no problem?"
"Because I believe in you."
Bah cleared his throat. "As much as I hate to break up this precious moment, I'm gonna head to my room; anyone coming?" Most of the guys muttered their assent and left without a fuss.
Others I had to kick out. " go on, get out, I'm not telling you again Baker let's go!" I whacked him it the ass with Jack's crutch on his way out the door.
"ooo, kinky, I like it." Jack had moved to my bed and smirking at me in his oh-so-sexy way. It didn't really help matters that he had spread out so enticingly that it was hard to focus on the fact he was injured.
I rolled my eyes. "dream on Boston boy,"
"how'd ya know?"
"Rizzo told me. I replied sarcastically, joining him on the bed. "but seriously, you should rest."
Jack draped his arm around me and held me close. "You know I'd sleep better with a beautiful woman beside me." He said, giving me a dizzying kiss.
I blushed. "Alright, but no funny business. Agreed?"
He nibbled the nape of my neck, making me gasp. "Agreed."
