Sienna and Imogen flag down Alfie and Jack as I await the head coach. The minute he spots me, he heads my direction.
“Hey, baby.”
“What are you doing for Christmas?” I blurt out before I can get another word out. I groan, dropping my head into Tag’s chest. Why can I not be more cool around this man? Not that I’ve ever been that cool to start with, but still.
“I don’t know. Do you have plans for the holidays?” he asks. Cupping the nape of my neck and tilting my head back, he forces me to look him in the eyes.
“No.”
Not that I ever have plans, but again, not something I want to tell this man that I’ve been seeing for the last few months.
“Well, my sister was going to try and come for a visit, but I don’t think that’s going to happen anymore. And with the games, I can’t really go home.”
“So that means you’re not doing anything?”
I wrap my arms around his waist and pull him closer. Not that he wasn’t close before, but I find that when I’m in reaching distance of Tag, I like being able to touch him. He calms me in a way that has never happened before.
“Olivia, do you want to spend the holidays with me?” The corner of his mouth quirks up into a soft smile.
“I would love to spend the holidays with you, Tag.”
“Good.” He presses a warm kiss to my lips and I sink into his hold. Tag makes me feel all fluttery and ooey gooey inside. I find that I want to feel this more and more.
“Shall we do it at your place or mine?”
“Do you have a Christmas tree?” I ask him. “I have a sad excuse for a tinsel tree that doesn’t necessarily need to be seen by others.”
“Considering I couldn’t get one in my suitcase and I wasn’t going to pay to ship it, I actually don’t have one.”
“Well, maybe that means you and I can go tree shopping beforehand. Maybe spruce up your place a bit.”
“I think that sounds perfect, Olivia. Spending my first holidays here with you.”
He says it like it’s the beginning of a lot more. It has my heart swelling in my chest, burying all the messy feelings that I’ve been feeling lately.
Because I can’t wait to spend this special time with the man who has captured my heart.
From: Stanley Easton III
Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2026 7:43 AM
To: Olivia Montrose
Subject: Tree
Liv,
Where is the best place to find a tree in London? I suddenly find myself needing to decorate my flat for the holidays.
Thanks,
Stanley Easton III
Head Coach - London Lightning
From: Olivia Montrose
Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2026 8:17 AM
