Page 57 of Bound and Blitzed

“Yes, thank you,” I say, grinning at her.

She reaches over and passes me a hat. “Put this on your head.”

Raia snorts. “Mom, it’s not that cold.”

“It is by Tennessee standards,” Arlene replies.

“You were born in Vermont,” Joe points out.

“That was ages ago.” Arlene flicks her wrist and tugs on the end of her daughter’s scarf. “I have more gear if you need it.”

Raia chuckles and snuggles closer to me. “I love Christmas Eve. I’m happy the guys are playing tonight instead of tomorrow.”

“Me too,” I agree. “This is one of my favorite days of the year and I’m glad we can celebrate it together.”

Raia nods before shifting closer in her seat.

My eyes dart to the field and I suck in a lungful of air as Avery clasps the football and falls back, his eyes scanning the field. He cocks his elbow back and throws a perfect spiral down the left side of the field, right into West Crawford’s waiting hands.

West catches the ball easily and takes off at a sprint, holding out a hand to keep defenders at bay. He crosses into the end zone smoothly, gracefully, and tosses the ball into the air as he whoops with joy.

The crowd goes wild as we jump to our feet, cheering and hollering and waving the blanket over our heads.

“Let’s go, Coyotes!” I scream.

Raia pulls me into a hug, and I watch as Avery’s parents embrace.

It’s sweet, the way his family shows up for him. It’s a familiar scene for me, having witnessed this same type of exuberance at Ale’s and Carla’s games over the years. I just wish that my parents could find a reason to celebrate my successes the same way.

We huddle together for the remainder of the game, screaming when the Coyotes win.

“Now, we have an even bigger reason to celebrate tonight,” Arlene explains.

“Nothing worse than when the team loses on Christmas Eve,” Joe agrees.

Raia rolls her eyes and tugs my arm. As we wait for Avery and Cohen to leave the locker room, I glance around at the other families.

Nova stands to the side with sweet Stella. Three men and a woman are gathered around her, and I guess that it’s her father and brothers and sister-in-law.

Leni stands with her sister Lincoln and her mom. She waves at me. “Happy Holidays, Valentina!”

“Same to you!” I wave back.

“There you are!” Avery says, walking out of the locker room and right to me. He wraps me in his arms and picks me up, sweeping me off my feet.

“You were amazing!” I tell him, hugging him hard.

Avery kisses me. “I’m happy you were here tonight, Lena. It’s different, playing for your wife in the stands.” He places me on my feet and the look he gives me is all smolder.

I suck in a breath, relieved when he turns away to exchange hugs with his parents and sister.

But his words…they echo in my mind for hours.

Could he be falling in love with me too?

Could our desire to give our marriage a chance turn into something real and everlasting?

Christmas Eve at the Callaways is chaos. And laughter. And pure entertainment.

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