Page 15 of The Goalie and Santa's Little Helper

“It doesn’t feel right,” I say.

He shakes his head again.

“It wouldn’t feel right not to chip in.”

I draw in a deep breath, my chest tight. I understand his perspective. I just wish I could do more.

Conner’s laughter peels our attention back to him. Norris must have overheard our conversation because he snapped a few candid shots while Noah and Conner were high-fiving. I catch him printing the extras out beyond the father’s shoulder. I nod and smile when he slips them into the envelope.

“Well, did you ask Santa for anything special?” his dad asks, scooping his son up and hoisting him onto his hip.

“I told him about the hockey stick I saw and maybe a new jersey.” His words end with a whistle.

“Oh, well. Hopefully they can get that at the North Pole. If not, I’m sure he’ll get you something just as great,” the man says, his gaze catching mine.

“Yeah. Of course he will, because he’s Santa!” Conner’s fist jets in the air, and his dad pushes his tight smile a little higher.

“Thank you all,” the man says, taking the envelope from Norris and nodding a silent thanks to me before shaking Noah’s hand.

“Man, that kid was cool,” Noah says as the father and son walk along the red carpet that leads to the exit.

“Hockey fan, huh?” I assume.

“HUGE hockey fan!” Noah stretches his arms out for emphasis.

My heart sinks, and I must be wearing the dejection on my face because the second Noah’s eyes meet mine, he drops his arms to his sides. His brow pulls in tight.

“What’s wrong?”

I glance back toward the parking lot, checking to make sure Conner and his dad are well out of range.

“How expensive is that hockey stick he wants?” I’m honestly considering clearing out some of my summer job savings to buy it for him.

“I think it’s going for three hundred, maybe three-fifty. But it’s too big for him anyhow. I think the junior version is half that.”

Half that is still a lot.

“Oh,” I let slip out, my tone reflecting the lump of coal forming in my chest.

Noah’s gaze drifts beyond me to the lot where the man is cranking the engine on a minivan, turning it over three times before it catches into a steady idle. His jaw seesaws as the crease between his brows deepens. I reach for his wrist, circling it with my hand, and his eyes instantly rush back to me.

“You made Conner very happy, and seeing Conner happy made his dad happy.” My hand slides down until our palms connect, and our fingers weave together loosely. It doesn’t feel forbidden until Noah’s gaze drops to our touch. Then his hand is suddenly amazingly warm, and the feeling crawls up my arminto my chest, nearly exploding when his fingers flex between mine and his grasp grows tighter.

“We should close up. I’m sure my brother is waiting for you so he can hit the pub for the game. It’s probably the second quarter by now.”

I stretch my fingers and wriggle my hand from his hold. The way his fingertips rake along my skin as if he’s given up and decided to fall from the cliff he’s been clinging to makes my chest burn. Then he bites his bottom lip as his gaze lingers on mine. I should look away, but I don’t.

Our trance is finally broken by the sound of metal clanking against ice. We both turn to look at the now-dented light kit lying in two pieces about a foot off the mat.

“Shoot, that’s not good,” Norris says, his palm working at the grizzly beard on his chin.

“It’s my fault. I should have helped you,” I say, rushing over to skate onto the ice and grab the few screws that bounced out of reach.

“Ehh, I should know better than to try to do two things at once. I can patch it up before tomorrow. Should be fine.”

I hand Norris three screws and a bolt, and he drops them in his pocket. Noah packs the rest of the camera gear while Norris hands me the various pieces of the busted light and stand as he dismantles it carefully. After Noah and I pull our skates off, the three of us shuttle the pieces out to his car for the night.

“I feel bad about that. I think that’s his own equipment,” I say as Noah and I watch Norris’s taillights fade.

---