Moi- I am sorry, I didn't quite understand your review! But I appreciate that you read last chapter!
Lia06- Jimmy and Georgia are in love and………expressing it! I could just see the teams' faces if Mac said "I saw Jim and Georgia fooling around on the exam table!"
Strangexbutxtrue- Warning: this story contains a hott goalie getting in the pants of his girlfriend. Turn back now if this offends you.
Miraclegirl- Mac is great to write. Sounds like you really liked last chapter.
Killerkeanegirl- Glad you enjoyed the jokes on anatomy! Enjoy your shower.
Meadow567- You thinking of an Aerosmith song? LOL
Nascarchick- Well Jimmy is so hott!
Darkdestiney2000- I think Harrison Ford when young was very sexy! I love Chewie too. I wish I could have him as my sidekick! LOL
Klinoa- Yeah, I laughed too at the Mac walking in on them scene.
BellaLou- Casey still reading the story? I can imagine his reaction to last chapter, LOL. Hey when you got a great guy, you spoil him, (hehe). So kiss him again and tell him I said hi! LOL Harrison Ford is hott as Han Solo, but as Indiana Jones………wow, I need a cold shower! If Jimmy really asked Craig that, how would Craig respond? ("Sure, just have him home by noon the next day!" LOL)
Nikkd03- LoL, my Jimmy muse is quite sated………for now!
Emador- I enjoy a play on words! Not a Jimmy fan? Have you seen him? LOL
TheBlackSoul- Well could you blame Georgia? Look at what she is dating! LOL
February 8, 1980 Minneapolis
My dad and I were taking care of some minor injuries after practice. The team was showering getting dressed and chatting about a place to get dinner. I had planned on spending the evening packing for Lake Placid. I had started packing, a few days earlier.
Coach Craig walked into the locker room. He walked over to Cox. "Coxie, Herb wants to see you." Craig said.
Suddenly the locker room got quiet as we all looked at each other. It was the moment we had all dreaded. The final player was being cut, Coxie was going home. None of us could look at each other. None of us wanted to lose a family member. The air was so thick, I couldn't breathe. I looked up at my dad, sadness in his eyes. I looked at Coxie, who looked like the world just crashed around him.
I couldn't take it anymore. As tears welled up in my eyes, I turned and rushed out the back door of the locker room. I wasn't sure where to go but I wanted to be alone. I ran down the tunnel and to the ice. I let myself into the bench area and sat down. I couldn't stop crying. I pulled my knees up into my chest.
I felt a hand on my shoulder; I looked up to see Jim standing there. He sat down and pulled me against him.
"Are you okay?" Jim asked.
"No, I wasn't ready for this." I cried. Jim rocked me back and forth.
"But we knew that someone would have to be cut." Jim said.
"I know. But I expected it to be Rizzo. I had made my peace with sending Rizzo home and was ready to say goodbye to him. I even had thought about what I wanted to say to Rizzo. I was going to tell him how much I enjoyed him being with us and that I would miss his meatballs." I said. "I never thought it would be Coxie."
"I know. And to tell the truth, I feel guilty for being happy for Rizzo." Jim said. "But we have to move on; we leave for Lake Placid in two days."
"Yeah, I know. Dad is mostly packed; I still have to finish packing." I said. I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand.
"Are you going to be okay?" Jim asked and I nodded. "Good, because I hate to see you cry."
"I love you so much." I told him.
Jim leaned in and kissed me gently. I had just wrapped my arms around his shoulders when we heard a throat clear.
"Mac, will you quit interrupting…." I started looking up to see Craig Patrick. "Oh Coach Craig!"
Craig smiled at us. "Sorry to interrupt but you guys need to go pack. We need to be at the airport to leave for New York City in two hours."
"But I thought the Soviets were boycotting the Lake Placid games?" Jim asked.
"Herb just got a call. Brezhnev is pissed at President Carter and is sending his teams to embarrass the Americans in their own country. We got to get to New York right away for the exhibition game." Craig said.
Craig walked away and I looked over at Jimmy. His face was unreadable. I squeezed his hand and he smiled at me.
"We better go. We got a lot to do in a short amount of time." I said.
We sat on the plane. Most of the team asleep, trying to rest up for the game. I was reading another Alfred Hitchcock book. Jim was sitting next to the window. Most of the flight he had been staring out the window. I reached over and took his hand. He smiled over at me.
"Jim are you okay?" I asked. "You've been awfully quiet."
"I'm fine." He said.
"Did you call your dad and let him know we were going to New York and that the Soviets were going to play in the Olympics?" I asked him.
"Yeah, he is leaving for Lake Placid in a few days. One of my aunts is going to stay with the boys." Jim said.
"I am so proud of you for making the team. You have worked so hard and now we're on our way to play the Soviets." I said.
Jim tried to smile but I saw the tears in his eyes.
"Jimmy, something is bothering you. What is it?" I asked. "We're a team, remember? What's bothering you?"
"It's just, mom wanted me on this team more than anything. Now here I am, a member of the USA Olympic Ice Hockey team, on my way to the Olympic Games, and she's not here to see it. She's not here to enjoy it." Jim said.
I squeezed his hand. "Jim, when we get to New York City, I want you to look up into the sky. I want you to look at the stars." I told him.
"Why?" Jim asked.
"Because, there is more than just stars up there. One of those shining objects isn't a star at all. It's your mother, beaming with pride at you. Beaming so bright that she lights up the night sky." I said. Jim looked over at me and I wiped a tear from his cheek. "Jim, there is no doubt in my mind, that your mother is watching you and that she knows you've made this team."
"How do you always make me feel better?" Jim said and kissed my cheek.
"Because I love you so much." I said.
"Mom would love you so much. If I took you home to her, I could see her dragging you shopping, introducing you to all her church lady friends and bragging about you till you're embarrassed." Jim said.
"Thank you, it means a lot to me that she would've liked me." I said.
"Well Pops loves you. My two little brothers ask about you all the time. The youngest one asks lots of personal questions about you." Jim said with a laugh.
"Oh really? Like what?" I asked.
"Guy stuff. He is curious." Jim said.
"What does he ask?" I asked again.
Jim looked around to see if anyone was listening. "He asks stuff like what's your bra size, what kind of panties do you wear, how far up your shirt or down your pants do you let me go. Stuff like that."
I started laughing. Junior High curiosity from his youngest brother, it was hilarious.
"And what do you tell him?" I asked.
"To act like every other 14 year old and stuff a Playboy between his mattresses." Jim said and I laughed harder.
"You did not?" I said.
"Sure I did. Couldn't tell him the truth. So telling him to get a Playboy and mind his own business works just as well." Jim said.
