Page 38 of The Goalie and Santa's Little Helper

“I wanted a reason to spend time with you.”

“You could have asked.”

I chuckle and look down at my lap. She makes it seem so simple, and maybe it is. At the time, though, it was terrifying.

“You intimidate me a little,” I say. Her head leans to the side, and I shrug. “You do! I mean, you threw that sweatshirt at me pretty hard. It hadoomph!I was hurt.”

Her laughter is soft and subsides quickly, as does mine. I reach my hand up to her face, and my thumb gently strokes her skin. Her hand covers mine, holding my palm to the side of her face, then turning into me to press her lips on the inside of my wrist.

“I won’t hurt you again,” she hums.

My breath grows heavy. I hold her gaze for several quiet seconds, my heart wanting to say so many things. It’s not the time for that. But it is time for a promise.

“I swear I’ll never hurt you again either.”

13/

frankie

My knockon the Drake’s front door is timid. Part of me doesn’t want them to hear me outside. Inviting my brother to join us as we pick out a Christmas tree was Noah’s idea. And it was mature and thoughtful.

But I’m dreading the next two hours. And I don’t think Anthony’s excited about things either.

“It was a dick move for him to ask Dad like that,” my brother grumps.

I smirk, since my back is to him, but utter, “I know.”Really, though? It was smart. Noah asked our dad if he would be willing to encourage my brother to join us tonight. While my dad took over the Santa suit duties, Noah still came to work the food drive. It picked up steam today and we had a lot more donations.

“Sorry I’m late.” Mazy’s voice sounds from behind me.

“Right on time,” Anthony says. I flash my gaze to him, and he raises his brows.

“Hey, the more people, the merrier, right?” He shrugs.

“What am I missing?” Mazy’s attention bounces between me and my brother, and I decide at this point it’s best to put everything out in the open.

“Anthony found out about me and Noah, and he refuses to be alone with him so they can talk like adults because . . . ya know. Boys are stupid.”

I can sense my brother’s glare, so I don’t bother looking in his direction to give him any satisfaction.

“Oh, so it’s all out in the open now. That’s a relief,” Mazy sighs, looping her arm through mine.

“You knew?” Anthony steps between us and up the front stoop, but his incredulity is broken when Noah opens the door.

“You’re all here. And Mazy. Okay, this might get a little crowded, but we can make it work.” Noah steps out of the door, slipping his arms through a puffy jacket.

“Why don’t you let my sister sit on your lap,” Anthony blurts out. He’s being a dick.

“Well, that wouldn’t be a very safe way to drive,” Noah’s mom, Linda, says as she steps through the doorway behind her son. Her lips pucker into a smirk as our eyes meet, and my brother pinches his brow.

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Drake. That wasn’t meant for your ears,” he says.

“Oh, I know. But you kids were hellions when you were little, so I’m going to live it up now and torture you as much as I can. Consider that one payback for the time you broke my sconce trying to throw a perfect spiral down the hallway.” She pats my brother in the center of his chest and continues to pass through us, heading toward the Bronco.

“Classy, Anthony. Real classy,” I scold my brother.

“Like you can talk about classy. You’re shacking up with Tiff U’s Mr. November,” he jokes. I get that it’s a slam on how many girls Noah hooks up with. And he’s trying to make me have second thoughts about him. Except, I’ve always known who Noah is. I don’t judge him for anything. And I believe him when he says he hasn’t hooked up with anyone since before summer.

We all trail behind Noah’s mom toward the Bronco, but Noah stays behind a step and stops my brother in his steps. They have a brief stare-down, and I hold my breath as I pass them.

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