Page 15 of Christmas Agreement
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The ballet entranced Katie. We didn’t arrive in time to socialize, so we’d just slipped into our seats minutes before the curtain rose. She clutched my hand the whole time while she watched the dancers. And I watched her.
I was familiar enough with the music, but mostly, I enjoyed the expressions playing over her face and her huge smiles as she glanced over at me. I wanted to give her experiences like this for the rest of our lives. I didn’t care that it wasn’t my thing or that the seats were way too small for the average hockey athlete. Katie’s joy was everything.
“Rugar,” she breathed when the lights went up for the intermission. “Thank you for bringing me. This is amazing. I love it, and it makes me want to celebrate Christmas today.”
“We can celebrate whenever you want. But…for now…do you want to head out to the lobby and get a drink. We can say hi to a few people then sneak out directly after the second half.”
“Obligatory hellos?” she asked.
I nodded. Standing, I pulled her to her feet and we headed out to the reception area that had been set up for the fundraiser.
“A local wine bar and one of the breweries had donated all the alcohol, so all the proceeds are being donated tonight. They’re also doing a silent art auction, if you want to have a look.”
“Would I be a bad person if I said no?”
“Nope. Can I interest you in a drink though?”
“White wine? Something sweet?”
“Of course.” The bar line went fast, and we soon had stem glasses in our hands. I steered Katie toward my coach and his wife. They stood with several of the board chairs. If we didn’t talk to anyone else all night, we had to at least shake hands with this group. I glanced around. No sign of Kyle. Good. That problem could wait for another day.
Nine
Katie
“That was the most amazing night of my life,” I told Rugar as he drove us back to my apartment after the show. “It was even better than I ever dreamed it could be.”
“You’re going to give me a complex,” he grumbled. “Are you telling me I have to live up to a performance like that?”
I rolled my head to the side and stuck out my tongue at him.
It really had been a wonderful evening. Rugar had taken me out to the nicest restaurant in town, though I’d assured him I would have been perfectly happy with fries and a shake. We’d encountered Clarence. We’d seenThe Nutcracker.
When we’d gotten to the charity event, I’d quickly realized arriving together as we had was the social equivalent of becoming official. I’d met his coach, then Rugar had introduced me to the hockey support staff, board chairs, and his team, all the while with his arm around my waist and his hand resting on my hip.
All was good until we’d seen Kyle.
My brother had eyed us with questions and murder on his face until his girlfriend had steered him away. Mandy might have annoyed me before tonight, but after the knowing lookshe’d given me before redirecting Kyle, I knew I owed her. I’d misjudged her and she was more in my corner than I’d thought. It was fully her doing that Kyle hadn’t been able to corner us the rest of the night. Still, I knew an interrogation was coming.
As promised, Rugar had kissed me every chance he could get. Including a few times during the performance when he’d leaned over and stolen a few while I’d tried to keep my gaze locked on the stage. That was a feat. I had the hottest man in the world beside me. The dancers dulled in comparison.
“You were a big hit with my friends,” he said, bringing me back to the present.
“They’re great people,” I told him. “Your coach’s wife is sweet.”
“She friends with my mom. I guarantee, she’s already called my mother and my mom is at a craft store buying yarn to start baby blankets for us,” he responded, and I could see him roll his eyes in the lights of an oncoming car. “You know, my mother offered me my grandma’s ring when I visited them last summer.”
“Why? We weren’t together,” I shook my head. “I mean… I’m assuming. Was there someone else?”
“God no! It’s always been you. I mentioned you to my parents—I mean, they know you, but I told them my feelings for you. Neither of them was surprised. They’ve known I’m in love you for years. I just…hadn’t told you you.”
Silence fell heavy in the Jeep as he kept his gaze locked on the road ahead and I stared at him.
Wait…what?
Rugar loved me?
