Page 55 of The Riley Effect

She pulls back so she isn’t speaking directly into my chest. “Caleb thinks you’re only coming tonight because you miss him.”

“Oh, he’s not wrong.” She pushes me away, laughing. Ivy runs her hands down my forearms and laces her fingers through mine.

“He is pretty amazing. Just help me finish up here, and we can go home and get ready for tonight.”

I grab my keys from the hook we have next to our front door at the same time my teammates come downstairs to leave for Coach’s. Marcus takes his time inspecting my outfit before he barks into a fit of laughter. My khakis and a button-down shirt are a little more formal than the guys’ Westvale-issued gear.

“What’s so funny?” I ask. “I wear this out all the time.”

“It’s not the outfit. It’s the five gifts you have in your arms.” Okay, so I might have gone a little overboard. It started with a bottle of wine and a bouquet of flowers. Then I thought, why not give Ivy a jersey to wear to our game tomorrow? The next thing I knew, Caleb was coming with her to the game, so I felt weird not bringing him one, and I couldn’t leave Stella out. So that’s how I ended up walking out this door with flowers, a bottle of wine and three hockey sweaters.

My only response is a shrug.

“I was already late to the shelter this morning. I don’t want to be late again. Have fun at Coaches!” I yell back at my teammates as I’m already halfway out of the door.

I’d never admit it to Ivy, but I’m more nervous to spend Thanksgiving with her family than I was for our Frozen Four game last season. During a hockey game, I know what to expect, the smell of the stadium, who my linemates are, that when our coach is pissed, the vein in his forehead pops out, making him look like a jock version of Harry Potter.

Tonight, I’m in a world of unknowns. I’ve never spent a holiday with a girl’s family, and my relationship with Ivy is still new. I’m nervous I will say something that will fuck this all up. I know how much Ivy’s family means to her. That her biggest aspiration is to repay her sister for all her sacrifices, so if she doesn’t like me… I don’t even want to think about that.

I text Ivy as I get out of the car because with all these bags in my hands, I won’t be able to ring the doorbell. I’m quickly distracted by the clicking of heels on asphalt. “Hey, Angel, want to help me with these.” I hold out the four bags and bouquet.

“You know it’s Thanksgiving and not Christmas, right?” she asks me with a twinkle in her eyes.

I shrug, bags in hand. “I can keep yours until Christmas. Let me put it back in the car.” I turn and place the bag containing her sweater on the back seat.

“Oh wait, that’s for me?” she asks. “I’ll just take that one in with me.”

I try but fail to hold in a deep laugh. Ivy laughs as she slips her hand through my arm as we walk to the front door.

“Is everything okay? You seem really tense.”

“It’s just that I’ve never spent the holiday with a girl’s family. Hence, the twenty-seven bags.”

“You know how Caleb feels about you. Stella asked if she could take a picture with you when I told her you were eating with us today, and Ruby likes to talk a big game, but in reality, she is a big softy.” She squeezes my forearm. “I think you would have been fine without the gifts, but a little bribery never hurt.” We walk slowly to make sure we don’t slip on the iced-over driveway.

Ivy opens the front door after her pep talk in the front yard, and I follow her in. When she goes to hang up our coats I finally get to see what she is wearing, an olive green dress with ruffled sleeves. I’ve never seen Ivy dressed like this before. Her hair is pulled up, giving me all the access I need to step behind her and kiss her exposed neck. She reaches behind her and holds my head there for a second.

“You look beautiful today. This dress is a little unexpected.” She steps out of my arms and turns to face me.

“Yeah, it’s a little different than what I normally wear, but I like it to keep everyone guessing.” She runs her hands over the front of my shirt. “It’s a shame a few more buttons aren’t undone right now, but I guess we will save that for later. Can I ask you a question before we head into the kitchen?” I nod, and she continues. “So we have a fostering event at the shelter every year right before Christmas break to see if we can get some of the animals placed in homes during the holidays. My team always helps out, and Jill was hoping you and some of your teammates might want to join us this year.”

“Let’s do it.” All I need is a cheesy grin and two thumbs, and I could be a star in a black-and-white comedy movie, but I thinkit will be good to have the guys do something to give back, and I could never say no to Ivy.

“Thanks Jay, I’ll text Jill right now.”

She pulls out her phone and quickly sends the message before we make our way to the kitchen.

The aroma of freshly baked pies is the first thing I notice. It is only interrupted by the loud thud of something falling over.

“I thought I told you to stop jumping on the living room furniture. If you want to act like maniacs, go into the basement.” I assume it’s Ruby’s voice that carries throughout the house.

“I told you, you have nothing to worry about. This house is always in a state of pure chaos,” Ivy jokes.

When we make it to the kitchen, Ruby puts the final touches on the table settings, and the kids are about to go downstairs. “Before you guys go downstairs, Jalen has something for you.”

The kids run over–Caleb nearly faceplants after tripping over a side table–and I hand them their bags.

“You should open yours now,” I tell them. Caleb picks through his bag first and holds up the sweater in awe.

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