Page 81 of The Pucker and the Princess
Part of me wonders if that’s the real reason. I don’t think she’s embarrassed by me, and I know that coming back here has been a source of stress for her. But I’m not sure what to make of her keeping me quiet. Though the fact that she’s happy to remain tucked under my arm goes a long way toward reassuring me that it’s more to do with her own comfort with sharing things with her family and not anything to do with me.
Another young woman who looks a lot like Marissa slides in next to Elizabeth. She has the same long, sleek dark hair, the same twinkle in her eye that shows she finds something especiallyfunny, the same curve of her lips as she tries to hold back her smile. “Hello. You must be Dozer?” She leans forward and offers her hand.
I take it. “I am. And you’re the little sister?”
She laughs lightly. “Once upon a time, I’d have been upset as being referred to only as ‘the little sister.’”
“Sorry.” I give her a sheepish grin. “I’m afraid I can’t remember your name.”
“Gabby,” she supplies. “Well, Gabrielle if we’re being technical, but I’ve always gone by Gabby.” She wrinkles her nose to show how she feels about her real name.
“I’m Benjamin if we’re being technical, but I’ve been Dozer for too many years to remember to answer to anything else.”
“Benjamin,” Elizabeth repeats, sounding much more satisfied. She looks me up and down again. “In a suit like that, Benjamin seems much more fitting than Dozer.” She says my nickname like it’s something distasteful, and I shoot a glance at Marissa, who’s rolling her eyes.
“Mother!” she scolds. “You can’t just tell people you don’t like their preferred name.”
Elizabeth sniffs, uncowed, and Gabby rolls her eyes and shakes her head too. From what I can tell, this is pretty typical behavior for their mom.
“My mother will be happy to hear that you approve of her name choice. But even she’s only ever called me Benjamin when I was in trouble.”
“Where do your parents live?” she asks, eyebrows raised.
“Michigan. That’s where I grew up. I get to see them when my away games take me back there, which is pretty often.”
She glances between Marissa and me. “I see you’re a long way from home in Seattle too.”
I shrug. “I’ve been away from Michigan since I was sixteen, so it’s pretty normal.
“So young!” Elizabeth tuts. “I had a hard enough time letting my babies leave when they went to college. Marissa staying was my only saving grace, and now she’s gone too.”
“Competitive hockey is a different world,” I put in. “I’ve always been able to stay with them when my schedule takes me to their neck of the woods, though, so I get to see them frequently.”
“Is that why you don’t feel it’s important to visit them for Christmas?”
Smiling, I shake my head. “Normally I would, but my mom’s always wanted to go on a Christmas cruise, so I got that for them as their gift this year.”
“I didn’t realize that,” Marissa murmurs next to me, and I glance down at her with a slight shrug.
“Oh, that’s touching,” Elizabeth says, sounding sincere for maybe the first time this whole conversation. Then her brows crimp together. “What brought you here, though? Marissa didn’t mention anything about you coming.”
I suck in a deep breath, glancing at Marissa, trying to gauge how much I should say. “Well, Marissa left before I got back from my last week on the road. And I missed her so much that I decided to surprise her. I apologize for intruding on your family holiday. I’ve already booked a hotel to stay in so I don’t put you out.”
“Nonsense,” Elizabeth says. “The more, the merrier. We don’t have a spare room at the house with all the kids home, but you’re more than welcome to spend your days with us while you’re here. How long are you planning on staying?”
I shoot another look at Marissa. “Well, I booked an open-ended ticket because I wasn’t sure how long I’d be welcome. I’d hoped to stay as long as Marissa, though.”
She grins at me, and that’s all the answer I need. Even if Marissa’s parents aren’t thrilled about me being here, she wants me here, and that’s what matters to me.
“Of course,” Elizabeth says after a slight hesitation. “We’re thrilled to have you.”
“Let me know if there’s anything I can contribute while I’m here.”
That seems like it was the right thing to say because Elizabeth’s smile, though small, is more genuine than the one she was giving me before. “That would be lovely.”
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
Marissa
