While I met some of the family members at the Fan Day carnival, there are several here who Jett proceeds to introduce Jenna and I to. When that’s handled, we settle in at a standing table with Jett’s second line teammates who are all present, except for Riggs. He’s a prickly one, and we’ve been battling over his lack of interest in social media. I pester him relentlessly, and he probably hates me, but Jett has told me he’s been pretty antisocial since joining the team. Kane and his fiancée Mollie are here, Jim is solo since Ella and Lucy are watching my kid, and Bain, who is as single as Jett and currently eyeballing the selection of puck bunnies on the other side of the rope.
In addition to the second line guys, also standing in the vicinity are Bishop and his wife, Brooke. She happens to not only be Coach Perron’s daughter, but she got promoted to the Director of Team Services last year, so she and I see each other frequently during the workday. I get the chance to meet Wylde’s girlfriend, Clarke, and Tacker is there with his wife, Nora. Once all the introductions are made, the women congregate with each other, but Jenna and I don’t know them all that well. However, Jett doesn’t give us a chance to break off.
He’s the one who invited me—and I invited Jenna who he was more than happy I was bringing tonight—and he plasters himself to us, intermittently buying us drinks and making more introductions to other players’ wives and girlfriends.
Jenna and I took an Uber here and she’ll take one home. I’ll leave with Jett and he’ll bring me home in the morning. With our rides safely in hand, Jenna and I decide to let our hair down and not worry about our alcohol intake. By the time we’re ordering our third beers, we’re both laughing along with Jett and crew and having a good time. I’m sure it’s the alcohol but Jenna doesn’t seem as self-conscious and has stopped tugging her hair to hide her scars. Not one person has taken any overt notice of them, although they are readily apparent. Everyone here is polite and not making a big deal out of it, and she’s definitely not getting the looks of pity that she had dreaded. In fact, most everyone is outgoing and inclusive and I’m really starting to understand the family vibe that runs heavy within this team.
Jett stays by my side, but he makes no effort to slip in some PDA. While I appreciate this, I also have to admit I like him by my side, because his attention is mostly on me and mine is mostly on him.
As Jenna is talking to Nora who has sidled over our way, Jett leans down and whispers, “Any thoughts as to when we should leave?”
I don’t turn to look at him but manage to reply out of the side of my mouth. “I wouldn’t be averse to that being soon. Our time together is limited.”
Because I have to go home in the morning and we’re nearing midnight as it is.
“After this beer,” he says, the waitress having just handed out the last round. “We’ll make sure Jenna gets in her Uber and head out.”
I turn slightly to look at him, smiling my agreement but not putting anything extra into it lest someone be watching our interaction closely. Instead, I hold my pint glass out to his and we tap them together in silent agreement of this plan.
Jenna moves over to join us, and Jett asks her, “Having fun?”
“I am,” she answers easily, and the sparkle in her eye is from the beer, but that’s fine by me. Fun is fun. “Thanks for inviting us.”
“Open invitation to both of you,” he assures her. “And maybe the next weekend afternoon game we have, you can bring Felicity here too. It’s a lot more family-friendly during day games. A lot of kids here.”
Jenna’s eyes cut to me and I get a knowing smirk. It says, He’s interested in more. Why aren’t you?
I change the subject, and since Jenna and I are new to the area, we ask Jett for other restaurant recommendations. I know Jett to be a not-so-good cook from personal experience, so it’s no surprise when he launches into a long list of places to eat, from fast food to fancy.
“There’s a deli in Vengeance Town called Golby’s and they have the best sandwiches you can imagine. They even sell hiking baskets you can take on a hiking day trip complete with sandwiches, chips, and drinks in a cute little drawstring thermal pack.”
“That sounds like fun,” Jenna says, and then moves her eyes to me. “We should all do that sometime. Me, you, Jett, and Felicity go on a hike.”
“I’m in,” Jett replies with a good-natured smile, his tone friendly should anyone be paying too close attention. He has no clue that Jenna is trying her best to push us toward something more than meaningless sex.
I’m wise to her ways and I don’t jump on the idea.
Jenna apparently is not forgetting my promise to try to open up to him in exchange for her coming out with us tonight. She stares at me pointedly until I’m forced to say, “Yeah… that sounds like fun.”
We lapse into a discussion of some of the hiking Jett has done in the area, which is interesting because Jenna and I liked to hike when we lived in California. It’s something all of us have in common but we’ll have to choose some easy paths for Felicity.
Eventually, our beers dwindle, and Jett gives me a pointed look. He’s ready to go and start the evening between just the two of us.
I’m ready for that too.
Jenna and I make our farewells to the people we met and those we already knew. We give promises to come hang with the team again, and Clarke asks us to come see her at her bookstore, which I’m looking forward to.
Jett announces he’s going to walk us out and ensure we get an Uber safely. Of course, he has no intention of returning, and I know his linemates will figure out what’s going on. I doubt we’ll remain a secret for long, but I’m not rushing to out ourselves.
Jett motions for Jenna to go down the stairs first, then me, and he follows behind us. We weave our way through the crowd, which is still shoulder to shoulder despite the late hour.
We almost make it to the front door that leads to the parking lot when we maneuver past two women and a man standing there drinking beers. They’re young, early twenties, and dressed in Vengeance jerseys.
Jenna moves past them first and as I’m almost past, I hear one of the girls say, “Oh my God… did you see the scars on her face?”
It’s said with the pity that Jenna hates so much, and I feel my entire body lock tight.
The man with them responds, “So fucking gross. How does she even show her face in public?”
I have no clue if Jenna hears, as she has made it by them. She moves fluidly with no tension, so I’m thinking not.
I should keep going and let it go, but the fury that’s pulsing through me has me stopping in my tracks.
Slowly, I turn their way, intent on laying into the group. There’s a flash of movement and Jett’s not behind me anymore, but rather toe to toe with the guy.
And his big hand is around the guy’s throat, squeezing hard enough the guy’s face flushes red.
My head whips toward Jenna, but she’s gone… out the door. I look back to Jett, knowing I should pull him off because he could get in trouble, yet having no desire to save the guy.
With just the power of his grip, he pulls his captive in closer to him and snarls, “You fucking douche. Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t pound you into the floor.”