“And I taste-tested the mashed potatoes,” Jaxon adds.
“Good, now you can put them on the table,” she says, turning back toward another bowl and handing it to Cam. Zeke carries over his two trays, and I grab the rolls. Brinley carries over the ham last, and as I cut into it, the few stragglers we were waiting on walk through the door.
“Seems about right that you would show up when all the hard work is done!” Zeke yells as they make their way to the table.
“The only work you did was carry food over to the table,” Brinley chucks a roll at him, and I laugh, thinking of me doing the same thing not long ago with Jaxon. Except, unlike Jaxon, Zeke shoves the whole roll into his mouth and gives Brin a cheeky grin.
As everyone starts to find seats around the table, I realize that Ember and I never set out the place cards, which means that if I sit next to her, Cam will know it’s because I want to. I watch closely as everyone fills the chairs, and that’s when I realize there are only two spots left.
One spot next to Ember… one spot at the head of the table. I finish cutting the ham, and as I do, I feel a hand squeeze my elbow and look up to see Brinley walking past me. She gives me a wink and then takes a seat… at the head of the table.
Ember smiles at me, and I shoot her one right back before finding my rightful place next to her.
“Merry Christmas Eve eve… eve everyone,” Brooks says, reaching for the bowl of mashed potatoes.
“Merry Christmas Eve eve eve,” we repeat.
As food gets passed around, I find Ember’s knee under the table and give it a gentle squeeze.
Christmas never really meant anything to me when I was younger. It only meant the lake was frozen solid, and I could get more practice when our arena was closed over the holidays. It was never about presents or family… it was just another day for my dad.
Which was why I was never a fan of Christmas.
But tonight, that changed.
thirty
Ember
Have you ever wanted to stop time?” Declan wonders. His hand is running up and down my back as we lay in his bed.
Our celebration ended almost two hours ago, and Brin became my savior when she told me I had to hang out with her tonight because we both go home tomorrow. Cam didn’t even bat an eye.
“Are you a mind reader?” I laugh. “I was just thinking about how I wish we could stay like this forever.”
“We could,” he begins. “We could both call our parents and say we came down with something and decided to stay on campus.”
“And what are you going to tell your coach?” I ask, sitting up on my forearm to look at him.
“That I’m dying?” he says, and I roll my eyes.
“It’s only two weeks, right? We can make that work.”
“I never said anything about it not working,” he mumbles. “I just, I’m gonna miss you.”
“I never would’ve taken you for such a sap,” I tease.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize missing my girlfriend meant I was a sap.”
Every time he says that word, my stomach erupts with butterflies.
“You called me your girlfriend.”
“I did.” He smirks. “I have been for a little while now.”
“I know, but—”
“I like how it sounds too.”
