Page 96 of Crossing the Top Line

There’s a lull in the conversation as a commercial comes on, and I sigh contentedly. Movement to one side draws my attention, and I realize it’s Spencer getting up to gather everyone’s plates.

“You don’t have to do that. I can deal with them,” I start, trying to stand up.

But two low growls make me freeze. One from Eli, who wraps his hand around my ankle, and the other from Oli, whose arm hugs me a little harder to his side. Spencer gives them exasperated looks before turning a little smile to me.

“It’s fine. You were nice enough to buy dinner. The least I can do is the dishes,” he says with a chuckle.

I give him a half-hearted look of disapproval, but he just brushes it off before finishing what he started. What I don’t expect is for him to reappear with a glass of wine for me and three plastic Mardi Gras cups for himself and the boys.

Eli takes a sip and grimaces, shooting Spencer a harsh look. “There’s no vodka in this water,” he says harshly.

Spencer doesn’t answer, choosing instead to move a throw pillow onto the floor in front of the couch and sitting on it, his head right in front of me.

“We drank more alcohol in four days than we have in the last twelve months combined, Joker. And we’ve got a game tomorrow, remember?” Oli says pointedly.

Eli grumbles something, but it’s too low for me to hear. Oli, however, lifts a hand and smacks Eli’s shoulder. A giggle spills out of my throat at the look of shock on the blonde’s face, but they don’t continue their spat as the movie comes back on.

It doesn’t take long for us to realize we don’t have a clue what’s going on, and instead have just started to wildly speculate over the plot and what the ending could be, which is honestly more fun than it has any right to be. I finish my glass of wine quickly, which only makes my theories that much more over the top. Spencer wins with his prediction of the big-city girl choosing to stay with her Christmas-loving lumberjack/toy store owner over returning to be with her businessman fiancé. Though none of us called the twist that the toy store owner was the secret child of Santa Claus.

As the credits roll, a thought occurs to me. We’re only a few weeks from the Christmas break, and I haven’t made a single plan. Usually by now, I’ve got flights booked, Christmas presents purchased, and plans made for nearly every minute of the three days I go back home. But Dad mentioned that he’s not really going home for the holidays this year, because he’s been asked to participate in a special charity event the Red Wings are throwing. Mom and Uncle Brian are going to visit family out of state, which has left me sort of on my own this year. With everything that’s happened so far this season, I haven’t really had much of a chance to consider what I’d been doing. And as I’m snuggled up on the couch with these three incredible alphas, a new thought comes to mind that I don’t reject outright.

“What do you guys do for Christmas?” I ask.

“I used to just stay home and sleep, maybe call my mom if she has the time, because she tends to be on call a lot during the holidays,” Spencer says.

“Busy?” Oli asks, tone filled with curiosity and confusion.

Spencer nods, his curls bouncing slightly. “The holidays are the worst time of year for people in dark places. Mom volunteers with the National Suicide Hotline from mid-December through March, along with making sure she’s there for her regular clients,” he explains.

My heart clenches a little, and I reach out a hand from under my blanket, tentatively brushing my fingers against his hair. Exactly as soft as I remember. My touch gets a little bolder as he leans back slightly, a relaxed sigh escaping his lips.

“I don’t tend to go home either. Winter in Sweden is rough, and with how remote my village is, I’m likely to get snowed in and not be able to get back. It’s been better not to risk it,” Eli comments, not sounding sad, per se, but there’s still an air of longing.

I glance over, frowning, but he gives me a little smile. “Don’t worry. I spend a ton of time with them in the summer, so much so that they practically shove me onto the plane when it’s time to come back,” he continues, laughing at his own joke.

“Same situation with me. I usually have to catch connecting flights back to Montreal through Chicago, and I don’t know if you’ve ever had to go through international check in through there, but itsucks,” Oli says, and we all make noises of agreement.

My frown deepens as their words wash over me. When was the last time any of these guys had a homecooked meal? Or spent time with family? When was the last time they got to enjoy a holiday?

“You could spend it with me, if you want.”

The words are out of my mouth and drop like stones into the silence before I can stop them. But even as I wait for any response, I find I don’t regret them. The idea of anyone spending Christmas alone is enough to make my heart ache, and being able to spend some time with the three of them without needing to worry about our jobs sounds like something I didn’t realize I need. But as the silence stretches on, my stomach twists. I sit up and look between them, meeting each look directed at me. Ocean, ice-blue, and yellow-gold orbs all staring at me with various levels of disbelief.

“I mean—only if you want to. You don’t have to. I just thought that maybe you’d want to do something different. But it’s not a big deal. I’m sure—”

My rambling excuses get cut off as Oli lunges forward, slanting his lips over mine and silencing me instantly. I melt under his touch, even if the kiss only lasts for a moment. I’m breathless as he pulls away, but I don’t have time to recover as a hand wraps around the back of my neck, and Eli pulls me into another heated kiss. It’s just as brief, but my head spins all the same, even as he releases me.

“If that’s what you want, then I’d be glad to join you,” he says, icy eyes dancing with his wide smile.

“Same with me, princess,” Oliver says, taking one of my hands and holding it tight.

I pull away from Eli and look to Spencer, finding him kneeling on the floor in front of me, smiling. He’s so tall that his face is the same height as mine, even though I’m sitting a good foot and a half off the floor. Our eyes lock as he moves slowly, a hand reaching up to brush a stray piece of hair away from my face before cupping my cheek in his massive palm.

“Are you sure? I don’t…” he starts, voice low and hesitant.

Without thinking, I lift the hand Oli isn’t holding and gently cover Spencer’s, leaning into this touch with a smile. I nod softly, and my heart skips a beat as his face splits with a wide, infectious smile. There’s a moment when time stands still, but then I see his face coming toward me, slow enough that I could move away if I wanted.

But I don’t.

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