Page 45 of Snowed In With the PUCK

Before I can respond, there’s a knock at the door. We both freeze for a second, then break apart as the reality of Christmas morning comes crashing back in.

“That’ll be Kathy and Laura,” Jessica says with a grin, and I nod, stepping back as she moves to open the door.

Kathy Stanton and her daughter, Laura, burst through the door, arms full of wrapped presents and faces lit up with Christmas cheer. Kathy’s laugh fills the space, and she leans in to kiss both Jessica and me on the cheek, pulling us into the whirlwind of the Stanton family Christmas.

“Merry Christmas!” Kathy exclaims, setting the gifts down on the coffee table. “We broughtwaytoo many presents, but it’s Christmas, so who cares!”

Laura is right behind her, smiling widely and looking as happy as I’ve ever seen her. “Merry Christmas, guys!”

Jessica beams at them, and I can’t help but smile too. It’s hard not to get swept up in the energy of the moment. Kathy and Laura have a way of making everything feel lighter, more festive. The house is filled with warmth and laughter as we exchange greetings, and soon we’re sitting around the Christmas tree, unwrapping gifts and passing around mugs of coffee.

I can’t help but steal glances at Jessica throughout the morning. Every time she catches my eye, she smiles, and there’s something in her gaze that tells me she’s thinking about last night too. It’s like this secret we’re both carrying, tucked away just beneath the surface, and every time we look at each other, it feels like a promise. Like something real.

The door opens again, and this time, Bill Stanton walks in with his wife, Chrissy. From what I understand, they’ve been married for five years and both Chrissy and Kathy get along just fine. It’s rare and wonderful.

Bill is my coach, but this morning, he’s just a guy celebrating Christmas with his family. He’s grinning from ear to ear, his arm slung casually around Chrissy’s shoulders as they make their way inside.

“Merry Christmas!” Bill calls out, his voice booming through the house. “We come bearing gifts!”

Chrissy waves, her smile warm and genuine. She’s the kind of woman who instantly makes you feel at ease, and as soon as she walks in, the room somehow feels even more welcoming.

The morning flies by in a blur of laughter and presents. Kathy and Laura are joking around with Bill. Chrissy is admiring the ornaments on the tree, and Jessica is sitting next to me, her knee brushing against mine. There’s a comfort in it, in this makeshift family we’ve found ourselves in, and for the first time in a long time, I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. If every holiday season can be this happy, I might never be triggered again. I remember back to the day I first came to this house, how isolated and lonely I was. How fast everything has changed.

After the gifts are unwrapped and the room is littered with torn wrapping paper and ribbons, Jessica and I slip away to the kitchen to grab more coffee. It’s quiet for a moment, just the two of us, and I can’t help but reach for her hand as we stand at the counter.

“So,” I say, my thumb brushing over her knuckles. “About last night”

Jessica glances up at me, her eyes soft and a little shy. “Yeah?”

I hesitate for a second, not sure how to put into words everything I’m feeling. But then I remember how easy it felt last night, how right it all seemed. And suddenly, the words come easier.

“I don’t want last night to be just…somethingthat happened,” I say quietly.

Before I can say anything else, my phone buzzes, breaking the moment. I glance at the screen and see a notification from social media. Without thinking, I grab it and open the app, only to see the picture Jessica and I posted earlier this morning—a simple shot of us together, smiling, with the caption:Happy Holidays from us to you.

The “breakup” was never official, but after last night, it felt more than natural to post an “us” photo on social media.

The photo already has hundreds of likes, and as I scroll through the comments, I feel happy. It almost all feels real. Most comments are from fans congratulating us, but then I see a text pop up from Allison, the Avalanche PR lead. I open it, already knowing more or less what she’s going to say.

Allison:Great job on the post! This is perfect for the team’s image. You two should do a couple of events together soon—maybe a New Year’s Eve charity appearance? Let’s keep the momentum going.

I groan at how relentless Allison is but show the text to Jessica, who groans right back at me and leans her head on my shoulder. “Does she ever stop working?” she pouts, and I laugh.

“Apparently not.” I type a quick response to Allison, telling her we’ll figure something out after the holidays, and then toss my phone back on the counter.

Jessica looks up at me, a small smile playing on her lips. “So, we’re back in the PR team’s good graces then, huh?”

I grin, leaning down to kiss her. “Yeah, I guess we are.”

It’s strange how quickly things have changed between us. Just a few weeks ago, I couldn’t imagine this—couldn’t imagine wantingthis—but now, it feels like the most natural thing in the world.

The rest of the morning goes by in a blur of laughter, food, and Christmas cheer. Bill and Kathy are trading stories about their younger days. Chrissy is teasing Laura about her upcoming wedding plans, and Jessica and I are sitting close, our knees brushing under the dining room table as we join in on the conversation.

It’s Christmas. It’s friends and family. And for the first time in a long time, I feel like I belong. Under it all, I feel a pang of sadness that my mother chose not to give any of this to me. I can’t help but wonder if it is somehow my fault that she walked out and didn’t want me.

Chapter twenty-two

Jessica

---