Page 75 of Sticking Around

He is a team player, and he’s gotten so much better at handling the losses and not thinking the entire responsibility is on his shoulders. He’s a better player because of it and the bond with his teammates is even stronger now that he let’s them in.

We carry the plates into the other room and set them down. The Christmas tree is still set up and all our housewarming presents are underneath it.

“Open mine first,” Conner calls out, and I eye him.

Brady groans as Conner grins like the village idiot. “What did you do?”

“Here, this one.” He reaches under the tree and pulls out a big box. He hands it to Brady.

“What is in here and why is it so heavy?”

“You’ll have to open it to see.”

I laugh because he looks like a kid on Christmas morning. I eye Dani, who whistles innocently. “Oh, you’re in on this too?”

“Maybe.”

Everyone makes room on the sofa, and Brady and I drop down. “Nothing better jump out at me, Conner,” I warn.

“Just open it.”

I tear into the paper, and Brady takes the lid off the box. We both glance in, and start laughing.

“Conner, what did you do?” Lanie asks.

Everyone leans toward us, trying to see what’s in the box, when Brady pulls out a big codfish, mounted on a board with a plaque beneath. “I love it,” Brady laughs.

“Is this the cod…from the night of my celebration?” I ask as I examine the gorgeous taxidermy work. It really is quite spectacular.

Conner looks so proud of himself. “The one and only. Read what it says.”

I lean in and read the plaque. “She kissed the cod.” I note the date below it. I burst out laughing. “Conner, I absolutely love it. I can’t believe you did this.”

“To my Newfoundland friends,” he toasts and holds up his beer. Everyone salutes to that, and I take a drink of my cranberry juice.

Brady lightly nudges me. “That’s the night I told you I loved you.”

“Which makes this even more special.”

“Are you going to kiss the cod?” Gunther asks.

I wink at Brady. “Yes. I definitely plan to kiss the cod.” He grins because he knows exactly what I’m talking about. Brady puts his hand around my neck and pulls me to him, and my heart is so full I’m sure it’s going to burst from my chest.

“Kiss the cod. Kiss the cod,” Gunther begins to chant, but then stops abruptly. “Wait, are you talking about…”

The room breaks with laughter, and Gunther groans as I press my lips to the man I love, his eyes brimming with a bevy of unchecked emotions as we fall just a little more in love…

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