Page 39 of The Goalie and Santa's Little Helper

“Actually, it was Mr. April. But you’re just bitter you didn’t make the calendar, so I’ll forgive you,” Noah finally says.

My brother’s head falls to the side, and Noah bites the tip of his tongue, laughing as he backs away. I relax, a little comforted to see them give each other shit like normal.

I help Linda flip up the back seats, and she and I, along with Mazy, climb into the back seat, forcing the two guys to sit in the front together. They don’t say a word the entire trip to the tree farm. My brother storms off the second Noah parks, so I hang back in the Bronco as Mazy and Noah’s mom exit so he and I have a few seconds alone.

“He’ll get over it,” I say, reaching between the seats to squeeze his hand.

His eyelashes flicker against the tops of his cheeks as he drops his gaze and runs his thumb over my knuckles. He lifts a shoulder.

“I don’t really give a shit what he thinks.”

I lean in and touch his chin with my free hand, coaxing him to look up. Our eyes meet.

“Yeah, you do.”

His mouth forms a tight, guilty smile. I slip between the seats a little more and press my lips to his, then exit the truck to give him a few seconds alone.

Mazy, Linda, and I weave through the rows of trees, inspecting the remaining inventory. We’re a bit last-minute in terms of buying a tree, with Christmas only a week away, but there are still a few beauties on the lot. Their prices, however, come with a bit of sticker shock.

“That’s what I get for dragging my feet,” she says, examining the tag for the tree she likes best as she chews at the inside of hercheek. Her gaze flits up to mine, then darts to either side before she waves me in closer. Mazy is wandering the rows behind us.

“Don’t say anything, but Michael—Noah’s dad—he’s coming home!” Her whisper feels loud, so when I cover my mouth to hold in my squeal, I glance around to make sure nobody heard.

“He has forty-eight hours, but he really wants to see Noah before the end of his senior season. Maybe pass the puck around. He’s going to surprise him on Christmas Eve.” She squeezes my hand, and despite how cold it is, her palms are sweaty from nerves. That’s a big surprise to plan and hold in.

“That’s amazing! Let me know if I can help,” I say.

“Well, I’d ask you to keep Noah distracted, but I think you have that handled.” She giggles, and my body flashes with a red-hot blush.

“Noah told me you caught us kissing this summer.” I gnaw at my bottom lip, wondering if she’s caught us any other times. Like, recently.

“I knew it was just a matter of time. I mean, this is your mother’s and my greatest wish,” she says.

My mouth hangs open.

“Oh, yeah. We played Cupid. Constantly!” She nods, a rosy pink coloring her cheeks as she smiles. I think she’s proud.

“Stop it!” I say in a hushed tone, glancing to my right in search of Noah’s head. I saw him leave the Bronco and head in Anthony’s direction.

“Every dinner we all had together? Those seating arrangements were strategic. And when your favorite birthday gifts always seemed to be from Noah? We made sure of that. Just, you know . . . nurturing it along.”

I chuckle and shake my head.

“I don’t know that I’m the one who needed help. I was pretty head over heels from the start.”

She waggles her head.

“Maybe, but it never hurts to have your mom helping you shine a little extra. And that dress your mom let you buy for homecoming sophomore year? The one with the?—”

“The slit up to my thigh!” I cup my mouth, remembering how shocked I was she spent the money on it and that she let me out of the house in it. Linda’s smug grin as she nods fills in so many of the gaps.

“Yep. She sent me a pic from the mall and asked me what I thought, and I knew Noah would die when he saw you in that. And man, you were all he could talk about the morning after the dance.”

My wide eyes may never close again. Noah was the homecoming king, and his date was the most popular girl in school. I knew I caught his eye that night, and he even commented on how I needed to watch it because of all the attention I was getting. But I didn’t know I made that much of an impression.

“I think you should buy the big one,” I say, feeling like everyone deserves a little splurge.

Linda’s smile spreads.

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