Page 91 of The Christmas You Crash

“She was a little grouchy at first when I crashed her quiet Christmas alone.” I give my girl a wink. “It was adorable.”

Jeff chortles. “She must like you a lot if she hasn’t strangled you for a nickname like that.”

“He’s adequate,” Lexi replies breezily. “He does have a really big?—”

I cough and plaster my hand to her mouth before she can finish that sentence. I don’t think the size of my dick is going to win me any points with her mom.

Lexi pries my hand away. “Heart.”

Jeff guffaws at that. Especially when Lexi gives me a cheeky wink after letting her gaze drop to my crotch momentarily.

This woman.

Lexi’s mom opens her mouth to say something, but before she can get the words out, the doorbell rings. She exchanges a slightly sheepish look with Jeff before rising from the table. “That’ll be Henry. Excuse me a moment.”

With a shake of his head, Jeff plucks the open bottle of wine off the table and offers Lexi and me a refill. We both accept. “Sorry ’bout this.”

“It’s okay,” Lexi says, resigned. “I wish I could say I’m surprised, but I’m not.”

Jeff’s voice takes on a tender note. “She worries about you, and her heart’s in the right place.”

“You really love her, don’t you?” Lexi asks. She watches as the older man across from us gets a goofy, lovesick look on his face.

“Hard not to,” is his reply.

It’s clear this is the moment Lexi accepts Jeff. Her face lights up as a genuine smile curves her lips. “I’m glad she has you.”

“I’m glad to have her.” Jeff hesitates for a moment, studying Lexi with a slight twist to his mouth that tells me he’s considering something. “Your mother didn’t want me to sayanything, but you deserve to know. She and your father had been separated for almost six months by the time we met. She didn’t want to tell you and ruin your senior year of college.”

Lexi’s eyes widen, and she looks like she wants to ask a million questions, but Kelly walks into the dining room with Jeff’s nephew beside her, stopping this particular line of discussion. By the looks of him, he feels as awkward about this whole setup as Lexi does. But when he notices her hand in mine, I almost feel bad for the guy. Especially when his eyes widen as he takes Alexis in. I know exactly what he must be thinking. She’s beautiful. And he’d been dreading this meeting.

Now he’s probably wishing he’d agreed to it sooner.

“Sweetheart, this is Henry. Jeff’s nephew.” Kelly doesn’t look nearly as smug about this introduction as she probably would have before dinner. “Henry, this is my daughter Alexis and her…her boyfriend, Ryder.”

Henry shuffles his feet, looking between Lexi and me as Kelly talks. But when she says my name, his eyes widen, and he gives me his full attention. “Wait. Ryder? As in Ryder Hanson? The hockey player?”

“For the love,” Kelly mutters under her breath. The poor woman can’t seem to escape hockey.

I stand, finding my manners, and extend a hand. “Yeah, man. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Wow,” Henry says. “Same.” He glances between me and Lexi and nods. Like he’s decided it makes total sense for her to choose a hockey player over her mom’s boyfriend’s nephew. He’s not a bad-looking guy—not that Lexi seems to have noticed one way or another, which does great things for my ego—but my first impression is that he’s quiet and likely unsure of himself. And there’s no shame in that. But Lexi would eat a guy like this alive. She’s too full of spunk and fire. She needs someone who can give it right back to her when she’s feeling sassy and spirited.

I’d like to think I’m that someone.

“Hey,” Lexi says from her seat. She gives Henry a little wave and pastes an innocent look on her face. “I hear we may be cousins soon.”

The poor guy has no idea what to say to that. He sputters, looking between Jeff and Kelly. “Oh, uh, I didn’t know you proposed, Uncle Jeff. Congratulations.”

Jeff chuckles and shakes his head. “I haven’t, kid.” Jeff looks Kelly’s way. “Yet.”

Kelly blushes.

“Well, if everyone’s done with dinner, I suppose we should take this in the other room. Anyone want a beer?” Jeff pushes back from the table and claps a hand on his nephew’s shoulder.

“A beer would be great,” I say.

Henry’s gaze bounces between all of us before he shifts his weight and says, “I can’t really stay. I have some work I need to catch up on.”

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