I came home with an hour to spare before the party. I was really excited to meet all of the Blackhawks. Even though they lost in the Stanley Cup Finals to the Boston Bruins they were still a young team that likes to have fun and improve on everything.

I ended up throwing on a cute spaghetti straps red top, a black miniskirt, and of course my necklace. I came downstairs in my flip-flops and went out back by the pool and helped set up. Donna was setting up all of the red, white, and black balloons, and red, white, and black table cloths.

“Is there anything I could help with Miss Donna?”

“Oh, Bridget, can you go get the snacks and everything on the kitchen table and bring them out here for me?”

“Of course,”

I grabbed everything so carefully but quickly so maybe they’d show up faster. I guess even Coach Quenville was coming! Man, he’s got a great mustache; I’d say a mustache from the gods! Sorry, I’m just so excited right now!

“Anything else that I can help with, I wasn’t even invited to this party until yesterday, so I’m really excited right now.” I said with a smile on my face.

“Nothing, and you were always invited Erica just never sent out the invitations fast enough. Now go and tell the girls to get ready, our guests will be arriving soon.”

I nodded my head and ran up into Erica’s room.

“Erica, your mom said you need to get ready!”

“Gosh Bridge, cool your jets, it’s only a hockey party, last year it was at Adam’s place and man there are some really hot guys in Wisconsin!”

I rolled my eyes, “So what are you going to wear?”

“Um, I was thinking of going semi casual, semi formal.”

“Don’t they mean the same thing?”

“Yeah, but it makes me sound like more of a fashionista.”

We both laughed and giggled like we used to when we got ready for the prom or homecoming in High School.

“So Miss Bridget, why don’t you go see how your boyfriend is doing. Maybe you should find him a matching tie to go with your outfit, which I have to say is pretty cute.”

“I will, in a little bit, but seriously Erica, you can’t tell anyone. I know you were the only one I was concerned with but still, I’m not sure if this is just a summer fling or something more than that yet.”

“Just saying, and this is from my perspective, Pat usually doesn’t look at the girls from games the same way he looks at you. But again that’s just my opinion. Now go, I have to get changed and you have to get him ready. He’s got his music blasting in his room so I bet hes in there.”

I gave her a hug and ran out of the room. I have to admit that this is the first time I have really smiled for this long. No problems, no concerns, except for if the guys with except me.

I stood in the doorway of Pat’s room with trophies, and medals hanging around the border. He was looking in his mirror fixing his dirty blonde curls with gel. “I see you Bridget,” he must have noticed me from the corner of the mirror. “I see you too Pat!” I ran in the room and sat on his bed and watched him finish.

His eyes; blue crystals bouncing back off the mirror concentrating on exactly what he wants, “Do you have a tie picked out yet?” I said going to his closet.

“Nope, I was just coming to get you to pick one out for me.”

“How about a red one,” I said browsing through the big collection he had.

“Yeah reds good, but it would be even better if I wore a red and black one.”

“Agreed”, then I saw the perfect one for the occasion, a red and black diagonal striped tied with a Blackhawks emblem on the very bottom. “This one, but you need to change into a black dress shirt.”

“Anything for you,” He unbuttoned the crisp white shirt and he traded me for the black one. He finished buttoning the black one and I personally tied his tie. Then my smile faded to a frown and I almost started to cry,” Bridge, what’s wrong?”

I looked up into those addicting eyes of his,” Oh, nothing, I’m fine, I just remember tying my dad’s ties before our parties and everything, but I’m okay.” Tears started running down my face, and I grabbed on to Patrick. He wrapped his arms around me,” Bridge, I’m here, I’ve got you, and I won’t let go.”

After I washed my face, and reapplied my makeup we made our way downstairs. The first thing his parents noticed was his tie. “Pat, I was gonna tell you to wear that tie tonight.” Donna said. “Hey isn’t that my tie?” We came down the stairs,” Oh, I’m sorry, it was in Pat’s closet and-,” Donna interrupted me,” Oh, so you picked out the tie. I knew for a fact that Patrick wouldn’t have picked that out by himself, and no dear that isn’t your tie, your tie is the Sabers one…remember?” “Ooooh, I knew that, it’s just because they’re the same style.”

Ding, Dong! The doorbell rang just as the girls came down the stairs. The first person to show up was Jonathan Toews, Captain Serious. Pat went over and gave him a man hug, while I kept talking to Erica, Jessica, and Jacqueline. “Oh, and Jon, this is Bridget.” He pretty much grabbed my hand and tugged me over to where they were standing.

“So you’re the famous Bridget.”

“Yes, and you’re the famous Jonathan Toews.”

“Pat has told me a lot about you, it was nonstop texting one day.”

Pat hit him and I just laughed. “Well shall we go to the back? My mom and Bridget decorated the patio. Yes we are in New York home of both the Islanders and the Sabers but still.” They both put their arms out and I walked out with them arm and arm, and um arm. Sooner or later everyone else showed up with their “dates,” quote unquote. And they were probably just girls they had slept with, the night before. Except for Sharpie, Christobal Huet, and Brent Sopel who I knew were married.

“Attention everybody, Coach Q would like to make a toast.”

“But we have some youngsters that can’t drink!” Adam Burish shouted with a giggle. “It’s okay we have the cool sparkling cider.” Pat said raising his glass in the air.

“Okay, Okay, so anyway I am proud of all of you, yada, yada, yada, and I hoped this season would never end, but of course it did. Thank you for all the parents and friends and families support, and I can’t wait until next year,” He raised his glass in the air, “Chicago Blackhawks 2011 Stanley Cup Champions!”
After dinner Jake came up to me, Pat was talking to Jonathan on the patio,” Hey, um, can we talk?”

“Yeah sure, I guess.”

He led me around the perimeter of the pool,” So, um, we didn’t get off on the right foot after the date a couple days ago, and I want you to give me another chance. I really like you, and I think you’re a really sweet girl, so would you please give me another chance?”

PATRICK’S POV:

I took a glance away from Jon and saw Jake and Bridget walking around the pool…together. Of course he is begging her for another chance. Duh, he screwed up…big time! “Jon, I have to-,” He stopped me,” Yeah man, I know, go save your girlfriend from a complete jerk.” I nodded my head and casually walked over to the two of them,”…so would you please give me another chance?” I wanted to hear the answer but I didn’t want to hear it, if that made any sense what so ever.

“Jake, you’re not going to get another chance!” They both turned their heads and I saw Bridget mouth,’ what are you doing,’ do me but I kept going.

“Yeah, you’re not going to get another chance not now, not ever! Bridget is too good of a girl for you.” At this point everyone stopped their conversations and was staring at us.

“Pat what the Hell are you doing, I thought you were okay with this?”

“Um no, when the fuck did I say that?”

“You didn’t but that’s what you implied!”

I looked at Bridget, and she shook her head no, because she knew what I was going to do. But I wouldn’t listen to her this time. I looked back at Jake who crossed his arms to make him look bigger than he already was. I looked him straight in the eye and then I punched him straight in the nose. He fell directly in the pool. There were shouts and yells coming from all over the backyard. “Oh my god Patrick, do you know what you just did?” Bridget was mad at me now. “You probably just broke his nose!” “Bridget, I’m sorry, I just couldn’t let him lie to you like that, he only wants you for your-.” I froze,” Well, um, now that I have your attention,”

I stood up on the diving board and watched Bridget’s mouth drop lower and lower,” The truth is that I am in love with Bridget Shultz!” Bridget’s jaw was on the ground. “I’m sorry Bridge but that’s what had to be done.” She quickly walked pasted me,” I’ll talk to you later.”

Everyone watched as she hugged Erica and the rest of my sisters and ran to her room. Gosh I felt so bad after I did that. I knew I should’ve waited until she was ready to tell everyone but, I just couldn’t wait anymore. I’m so stupid.

BRIDGET’S POV:

How could he do that to me? I can’t believe that he couldn’t have waited! I trusted him to keep it from everyone. Being with him was just, I don’t know. I love him, but I’m not sure about him. He probably uses those cute lines that make him feel irresistible on every girl, every summer. Which means that I’m one of them, one of those girls who he just dates for a summer, loves them, cares for them, and then dumps them, gosh how could I have been so stupid?

I lied on my bed crying my eyes out. When a knock was at my door, I wished that it wasn’t Patrick, and thankfully it wasn’t. It was Erica,

“Oh, my, gosh, Bridget I’m so sorry. I know how much you wanted to keep this a secret.” She gave me a big hug.

“Yeah, but now the big secrets out, and I don’t know what to think anymore.”

“What? If it’s about Pat then in my opinion, he hasn’t looked at a girl the way he looks at you, and that’s completely true. I’m not lying to you what so ever. Bridget he really likes you, that’s why he had to get Jake off your back. His heart can only take so much.”

“Am I going to hear this again from him?”

“Probably, that’s how much I know about my brother.”

We both smiled and I gave her a hug. “Thanks Erica, I love you so much.”

“Alright, now fix your make up; I’m going to send him up here to talk to you in 20 minutes.”

“Ok, fine.”
She left the room and 20 minutes later when my make up was completely fixed and reapplied he came.

“Hey,”

“Hi,” I gave him a smile.

“I’m sorry for the way I acted; I just couldn’t see you with him. I could only see him in the pool with a bloody nose, and you and me together where we didn’t have to hide it anymore.”

“I know, your sister gave me the entire story, and I forgive you.”

I kissed him, and he picked me up, “Are you ready now?” I nodded as he carried me down the stairs honeymooners’ style. We got down the stairs and he put me down. I giggled as once the patio door opened everyone was looking at us, but Jake was nowhere to be found. I tried to find him to apologize for Pat, “He’s gone Bridget.” Erica came up behind me,” Yeah, I don’t think that Pat and Jake are going to talk to each other very much anymore.”

I laughed and while Erica hung around her friends I hung around with Pat, Jonathan, Kris, Patrick, Adam, Troy, Colin, Christobal, Niklas, and all the rest of the Hawks players. I sat there with Pat knowing that he cared for me, and nothing could come between us anymore, not Jake, not Erica, not anyone.