Page 39 of Holiday Hostilities

He holds my eyes captive for another moment before he lifts his chin, then sits back down.

As conversations start back up around the table and the marzipan pig prize is presented to Jake on my behalf, the festive atmosphere quickly returns. I put my phone away once and for all, deciding that my work schedule is not worth almost taking myself out.

Lena comes over to chat with me, apologizing again needlessly until I redirect our conversation to something else. And that’s when I notice that Aaron—who’s chatting with Stefani and Randy Allen, the team’s backup goalie—keeps shooting me surreptitious glances. Like he’s keeping tabs on me, checking in to see if I’m okay.

A sudden, rather sobering thought occurs to me: Aaron Marino came to my rescue tonight like a knight in freaking shining armor.

Which means I owe him one. Big time.

But even more sobering than that…How on earth did he remember my allergy?

15

AARON

When Colton starts trying to waltz with Reagan, and Jake decides the only natural after-dinner activity is to partake in someHome Alone-style sledding down my stairs, it’s clearly time to call it a night.

One by one, my guests depart into the cool, fall night. Jimmy departs dressed in full motorcycle leathers—since when does he have a motorcycle?—and when Stef and Reagan decide to hit up a bar downtown, a couple of the guys offer to go with them. I order an Uber for Colton, and then help Sofia bundle a hiccuping Jake into the passenger seat of his car.

It’s kind of cute, watching my oldest friend drunkenly slur, “I love you Sofia, you’re the besssshht” while giving his girlfriend these love-struck, goofy, goo-goo eyes. Sofia rolls her eyes good-naturedly while patting him down to find his car keys. Jake often had a girl on his arm over the years, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen him mushy-sappy like this. Guess love really can change a man.

“You sure you’re gonna be okay getting him home?” I ask Sofia. “I can drive you both. Help you get him inside.”

She just laughs, waving a dismissive hand. “Don’t worry, Aaron. I can handle Jake.”

“I believe you,” I tell her with a grin. “You want me to hurry Olivia up?”

“No, she said she would find another way home.”

“Oh?”

Sof shrugs. “She was pretty insistent.”

“Okay, then.” I close the door behind her, then tap on the roof and salute her as she drives off.

I watch the retreating taillights of Jake’s Rover, wondering what Olivia’s plan could be. Most of the Cyclones and their families have taken off already.

My mind immediately (and unfortunately) spins to Dallas. After everyone finished their desserts, I couldn’t help but notice the way Dallas and Olivia got to chatting, him topping off her champagne glass as they laughed together cozily.

Maybe Dallas is taking Olivia home.The thought makes my chest clench.

It’s none of my business who Olivia Griswold dates, but surely she can see that Dallas is all wrong for her. Don’t get me wrong, I like the guy. He’s a great teammate and an even better friend, but he’s a playboy, through and through. And underneath the hard, prickly exterior she likes to project, Olivia is sweet. Sensitive. Cooper would chew her up and spit her out.

I remind myself that I don’t know anything about her dating life these days. I’m just doing what any good friend would do and looking out for my buddy’s little sister, but then again, maybe I shouldn’t underestimate her.

Maybe she’d be the one to break Dallas Cooper’s famously unbreakable heart.

As I step back into my house, I come face to face with the very man I was just thinking about. As my eyes travel over Dallas, Ihave to admit the guy has a certain roguishly handsome appeal Olivia could be drawn towards.

Dallas looks up from his phone. “Hey, man. I’m out. Thanks for a great evening.”

“Heading home?” I ask as casually as I possibly can, peering over his shoulder to see if Olivia’s following him out.

Dallas grabs his jacket off a hook next to the door. “Nah,” he says with a devilish grin. “Got myself a little Thanksgiving date.”

“You don’t say.” I’m aiming for jokey sarcasm, but I don’t get there. I hate how strained my voice sounds. I cough to cover it, but Dallas gives me a disconcerting look that tells me he sees right through me.

“Have a good one, Cap.” He winks, then walks out the door and shuts it behind him, leaving me standing alone in the hallway.

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