My mom arrived on Tuesday to pick Josie up after putting her mom to rest two days before. Unsurprisingly, my mom didn’t speak much. She just held onto me tight, and when Josie went inside my room to pack her things, my mom finally let a few tears fall. I offered to let them stay the night, but my mom had to get back to work the next day for a double shift. She said her boss had been relatively understanding about her missing work. She got a coworker to cover her shift, and in exchange, my mom was taking her Christmas shift. A bit of a bummer, but I’d try to find a way to make it up to Josie.
“Why do you look like you’re in the middle of getting a root canal?” Jake’s voice snaps me back to reality. We were curled up on his bed, a Bruins game playing on the TV.
“Just thinking about my mom and Josie.”
“That kid has an impressive set of lungs on her.” A smirk comes over his face. Josie had been in full fangirl mode the night of the concert, dressed head to toe in merch courtesy of Sienna, who had deeply undersold the tickets she had gotten.These tickets included backstage passes where we got to see IZTY practice for dress rehearsal and even take selfies with them. After that, we got personally escorted to our front row seats where she spent the entire opener teaching Jake different dance moves. The lock screen of my phone was now an image of the two of them dancing along to one of Josie’s favorite songs.
“I can’t thank you enough for all you did for her, for us, that night.”
“The only thanks I require is seeing you happy.” He presses a kiss to my temple.
“Wow, looks like the romcoms we’ve been watching have been rubbing off on you. That was a solid line.”
“One day, my sweet Ellie, you'll learn how to accept a compliment or term of endearment without following it up with a sarcastic quip.”
“I’ve already been talking to my therapist about that. It’s a work in progress.”
“Aren’t we all?” Jake winks, likely remembering our first few encounters.
“Some more than others.” I laugh as he rolls his eyes and gives my hip a gentle squeeze. “Any updates from the Bruins on your contract?”
“They’re sending me and my lawyers a draft of my standard player contract, which is like an entry-level NHL contract, in the next week or so.” The excitement in his eyes makes my heart squeeze.
“That’s so amazing. I’m so freaking proud of you.” I give him a soft kiss. “So, what are the next steps?”
“My lawyers will look it over and consult with me. Sometimes, people decide to go into negotiations, but I’m hoping I won’t need to. My plan is to sign it at the end of our season, and this time next year, I’ll officially be inthe NHL.”
“So you won’t get to finish your senior year at Westchester?”
“No. At least not on the hockey team, per NCAA rules. I can remain a student, but I’m going to try to take some extra courses next semester and in the summer, so I can graduate early.”
“Is that why you’re putting so much pressure on yourself this season?”
Jake lets out a long sigh. “I just want to leave on top. Want to be able to say I won the Final Four in my last year of college hockey before I went professional. That probably sounds dramatic given I have a contract lined up and have nothing left to prove really?—”
I shake my head. “It doesn’t sound dramatic. It makes sense to me. You’re one of the best and you want your last season to reflect that.”
He places a soft kiss on my forehead, and we turn our attention back to the TV.
“Fair warning. Emotional Christmas commercials always hit me in the feels, so if any of those pop on, you may see me shed a tear or two,” I joke.
“Speaking of Christmas, what do you and the fam usually do?” Jake asks.
“Nothing too special. Usually we get takeout, put on a Christmas movie, and have some hot cocoa. I want to do something more this Christmas since my mom has to work, and I know that’s really gonna bum Josie out.”
“Damn, are you serious? Working on Christmas blows.” Jake groans in frustration.
“Agreed. Josie and I will figure something out.” I assure him.
Jake shakes his head, not having it. “Isn’t Christmas your favorite holiday?”
“Technically I said Iwantedit to be my favorite holiday,” I correct. “I love everything about it, the snow, the gingerbread houses, the lights and decorations. But I’ve never gotten to experience any of those things myself.”
“Well I think it’s time we fix that.” Jake pulls his phone from his pocket, shoots off a quick text, and then takes my hand in his. “Pack your bags. You and Josie are spending Christmas at my family's cabin. Your mom can also come if she can make it. We’ll be there for a whole week starting on the 23rd.”
“What? No. I can’t. I don’t want to impose on your trip?—”
“First, you could never impose, and second, I already texted the family group chat, which means I’ll have to deal with the wrath of my mom and sisters if you don’t come. And we wouldn’t want that, now would we?”
