But that worry is for tomorrow. It’s not going anywhere.
Tonight is for Jenna.
Or rather me, who will be graced by Jenna and her family.
I’m swept up in this whirlwind of discovery with her, and it’s so crazy. I should be leery, but I’m not. I’m riding the wave and despite it being a bit scary, it’s fucking exhilarating.
I exit the team bus, along with the rest of the players, upon arriving at our hotel. The mood is dour because while we lost, we fought hard. That makes losses tougher as opposed to easier because we gave it our all and it still wasn’t enough. I doubt many will be going out tonight.
I head to the restaurant/bar where Jenna will be waiting. She took an Uber from the arena to meet Emory and Felicity as their time is limited.
The hostess podium is empty since the restaurant portion is closed, but the bar is still open. Glancing around, I spot Jenna in a booth near the back, cuddled next to a little girl with raven-black hair like Emory’s. No doubt that little cutie is her niece Felicity.
Emory sits across from them, a glass of wine before her, and the women talk animatedly. I wonder if I’m being intrusive and should let them have some alone time, but the selfish part of me doesn’t want to miss a single second with Jenna. I also don’t want to miss any opportunity to learn more about her.
Emory sees me first as I approach, and then Jenna’s head swivels my way. The smile she offers is brilliantly happy, and my bucket fills to the brim, all the drainage from the game loss recouped.
I return the smile, and so as not to disturb her space with Felicity, I slide into the booth next to her sister. “Hey, Emory,” I say, and she smiles back. I look at Felicity. “Hi.”
She smiles shyly, and Jenna squeezes her. “This is my friend, Gage. Can you say hi?”
Felicity doesn’t say hi, but to my surprise, she bursts into an extended monologue. “I’m going to be eight in a few weeks, and after the hockey season is over, I’m going to Pittsburgh to visit Aunt Jenna. And she also told me to be nice to you since your team lost to the Vengeance tonight, but Jett plays for the Vengeance, so I have to cheer for them. But tonight at the game, Aunt Jenna screamed really loud for you.”
Laughing, I cut a brief glance at Jenna before bringing my attention back to Felicity. “You know, I thought I heard her at one point.”
Felicity nods somberly. “She was really, really loud.”
“I see you’re wearing Jett’s jersey. I could send you one of mine to wear.”
She wrinkles her nose. “No thank you. Jett’s my favorite.”
Christ, she’s fucking adorable. I twist my neck mid-laugh to look at Emory. “I assume Jett is with the guys celebrating their extraordinary butt-kicking tonight?”
Normally, I would’ve termed it a “fucking ass-whooping,” but I’m supersensitive to kids’ delicate ears, given my passel of nieces and nephews. I’m forever switching to clean speech when around them, so I’m pretty good at it.
“Actually, he’s joining us,” Emory says, looking fondly across the table at Jenna. “He wouldn’t miss this for the world.”
Throughout the time Jenna and I have spent together, including late-night phone calls, I’ve learned that she and Jett became exceptionally close after he started dating Emory. I don’t know him that well, but I know I already like him just from Jenna’s platitudes. He made her feel comfortable around him. She thought it was sweet that he didn’t want her to move to Pittsburgh but to stay here with him, Emory, and Felicity. Not because he didn’t want her to stretch her wings or push herself outside her comfort zone, but because she’s part of his new family and they’d miss her too much.
“Well, thank you for including me in the family get-together,” I say. A waitress appears and I order a beer, note that both sisters’ wineglasses are half full, and order another round for them. I look across the table at Felicity. “What’s that you got there? Judging by the color and cherries floating in it, I’m guessing a Shirley Temple. Want another?”
“Yes, please,” she says sweetly, and I order her another one. She looks up at Jenna. “Can I play on your phone?”
“Sure,” Jenna says, pulling it out of her purse. She unlocks and hands it to Felicity, who is clearly a tech pro. She navigates to a game and is soon immersed.
“And now the adults can talk.” Emory laughs, then nudges me with her elbow. “Okay… you’re seeing my sister. We have limited time, and rest assured, Jenna has told me everything about you.”
“Not everything,” Jenna declares, looking at me guiltily.
“Most everything,” Emory corrects. “So now you tell me something that Jenna doesn’t know about you. Something that will help me get to know you on a deeper level.”