Going For The Win (A Boston Bruins Story)

Chapter 24 - It's Christmas time

*** Jen's P.O.V ***

I knocked on the white door and waited for the door come swinging open. Once it came swinging opened I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Jen," Torey said looking down at me with a straight face.

"H-Hi Torey," mumbled looking up at him.

"Come in Jen," He insisted backing away from the door so I could come in.

"Th-Thank you for having me over," I thanked sitting on the couch.

"No problem, Merry Christmas," He told me with a half-smile as he sat down across from me.

"T I'm sorry. I was acting like such an ass. A-And I even went to the doctor, it turns out that it's only stress. He told me that I need to take a few day off work, b-but I just can't," I informed looking down at my lap.

"No, Jen I'm sorry. This whole fight was my fault a-and I just need my little spur of sanity from the Midwest. I-I just miss you; a lot," He claimed standing up and approaching me to sit down on the couch next to me and wrap his arms around me securely. "A-And I miss being w-with the sister I never had! I was an ass, I shouldn't have forced you into anything. I'm so sorry Jen."

I picked my arms up and wrapped them around his waist while putting my head on his shoulder. I started crying and digging my head into his shoulder. Damn, why am I so emotional?

"S-So what's for dinner," I asked with a smile as I pulled out of his hug.

He chuckled looking down at me before saying, "Lasagna."

"Ohh Yum, but I bet it's not as good as my Uncle Tom's," I stated smiling up at him while rubbing my eyes.

"Oh, trust me it's much much better than your uncles," Torey joked while standing up.

"How do you know it's better? You've never had my uncles," I stated looking into his deep brown eyes.

"Oh, I just know Jen, I know," Torey replied with a smile as he walked into the kitchen grabbing some oven mitts.

"Why didn't I realize how good it smelled when I walked in," I spoke up walking into the kitchen near Torey.

"I don't know. Why?"

"Haha that's a good question, T."

"Hey T, can I ask you a favor," I asked as we were eating dinner.

"You can ask that doesn't mean I'll do it," He replied taking a sip of his water.

"Well my cousin, Jamie, is coming to visit for new years and I kinda don't have an extra room in my apartment. I was kinda wondering if you'd be nice enough to let her stay with you for like three of four days," I said looking up at him with one eye closed, knowing it would be a tough call.

"I-I sure," He decided as he made eye contact.

"REALLY!?!?! THANK YOU TOREY!!! You are the best," I jumped up and hugged him from the side tightly.

"Oh I know," His voice boomed throughout his apartment, "What's she like?"

"Well she just graduated at UW Whitewater and she is very smart. She is going to be a teacher at the beginning of next school year, well she's going to apply at lease. Jamie decided to come out here because she hasn't see me in 2 and a half years. She'll be very happy she doesn't have to stay without aunt and uncle, they can be a little possessive and over protective. So thank you Torey! You basically saved her from throwing a fit and not coming," I informed sitting back down at the table.

"Ok, she sounds like an interesting girl, can't wait to meet her," He notified standing up while taking both of our cleared plates over to the dish washer.

After a few seconds of silent I asked, "So Torey are you and I... Ok?"

"Yes, of course we are Jen. Like I said you are my little spur of sanity from the Midwest, and I need that," He responded.

"Oh, and thanks for the Christmas present," He added.

"It's no problem T. You deserve it for being a good friend, especially with how short we knew each other before you started beating guys up for me," I replied sitting down on his couch.

"What can I say? You're practically the sister I've never had, I love you like a sister too," He told me as he sat down next to me.

"Love you too Torey, you are such a great friend," I said giving him a side hug.

"You are too. Hey Jen, I'm gonna go get your Christmas presents," He informed jumping up and running into his spare bedroom.

"Torey! You didn't have to," I objected as he came back with 2 boxes.

"Yes I did. How can I not get the person who's practically my sister anything for Christmas," He argued as he sat back down next to me.

"Fine... But nothing for Christmas next year," I replied defeated.

"Yeah, ok," He scoffed as he handed me the first gift.

I looked down and the flat square box and saw how neatly it was wrapped. The wrapping was blue, yellow, and silver. My fingers slowly moved to one of the areas where it was taped, I slowly ripped it opened. There sat on my lap was a white box. I carefully lifted the cover and started laughing.

"Really Torey? A Krug Tee Shirt," I asked laughing at him.

"Yeah! You like it? I knew you would! I'm your favorite player right Jen," He questioned looking at me with his white smile.

"Haha Of course T! You are my favorite player for sure," I replied recovering from a laugh attack.

"YESSS!!! See! What do I need real sisters for? I have a fake one right here who already loves me," He claimed.

"Haha yes you do," I told him giving him a side hug.

"Alright, Jen, here's your next gift," He spoke as he shoved it in my lap; It was actually quite heavy.

"Ohhh I wonder what it is," I wondered aloud.

"Open it and you'll find out," He informed me as he tapped the top.

"Alright," I said and ripped the red and green wrapping paper. There sitting in my lap was an Aqua- Jet foot spa.

"How'd you know I wanted one," I asked looking up at Torey amazed.

"Well you do know these doors are super thin right? I can hear you complaining that your feet are always swollen and hurting while walking down the hall to your apartment. Plus the other day I could hear you watching TV and there was a commercial for it and I could hear you groan, one of those would be nice," He replied looking down at me.

"Wow... Thanks for eavesdropping," I started, "But I'm ok with it this one time. I love you so much for this T! You are the best not-so-real brother EVER!!"

"Anything for my not-so-real-sister," He whispered in my ear as we hugged.

*** Did you enjoy?!?!?! Hope so. Thanks for reading - JJ :)