Page 99 of Offside for Christmas
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
Cole kissed her then—soft and sweet and coming home. When they finally broke apart, both breathless and grinning through tears, their entire neighborhood had come out to watch.
Someone started clapping. Then the whole street was applauding, and Ellie was laughing and crying at the same time.
"We just gave the town something to talk about," she said.
"Good." He pulled her close again. "Let everyone know that Cole Hansen came back for Ellie Winters. That he chose her. That he's never leaving again."
Mrs. Chen from 3B called from her balcony, her voice thick with emotion: "Get inside, you two! You'll freeze! Merry Christmas!"
"Best Christmas show we've had in years!" Mr. Rodriguez added from his window.
Cole looked down at Ellie, his eyes bright. "Your neighbors are watching."
"Let them." She took his hand, threading her fingers through his. "Come inside. I'll make coffee. And then..." She hesitated. "My family's real Christmas is tomorrow, the 26th. They work the bakery on Christmas Day. Would you—would you come? Meet everyone officially?"
His smile was everything. "I'd love that."
They walked up to her apartment hand in hand, and when Ellie closed the door behind them, it felt like everything had finally fallen into place.
"Merry Christmas, Cole," Ellie said.
"Merry Christmas, Ellie." He kissed her one more time, quick and sweet and promising forever. "Best one I've ever had."
Later that evening—close to nine PM—Ellie sat wrapped in Cole's arms on her couch, her head resting on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. They'd spent the afternoon talking, crying, kissing, and just holding each other. When her phone buzzed in her pocket, she almost ignored it. But Cole shifted slightly, and she pulled it out to find a group text from Mac.
MAC:Emergency team meeting at O'Brien's. NOW. Hansen better be there or I'm sending a search party.
SOPHIE:Not an emergency, he's just dramatic. But seriously, come celebrate. The whole town wants to see you two.
JAMIE:Free drinks for the loveys who made us all bawl this morning
LUKE:Mac's buying. That alone is worth showing up for.
MAC:I'm not buying shit!!! But I will give Hansen the best hug of his life. YEHA!
COACH DAVIS: Cole, son, get down here. Your team wants to welcome you home properly.
Ellie showed Cole the messages, and he laughed—that real, genuine laugh she'd missed so much.
"I guess we're going to O'Brien's," she said.
"We don't have to. If you want to just stay here—"
"No." She stood, pulling him up with her. "They're your team. Your family now. And they want to celebrate with you. We should go."
"For a little while," Cole agreed, his hand finding hers. "But then..." His eyes darkened slightly, his voice dropping lower. "Then I'm taking you home. We have seven days to make up for."
Heat flooded through Ellie at the promise in his voice. "Your place or mine?"
"Mine's closer." His thumb traced circles on her palm. "Seems like the bed should get properly broken in."
"Cole Hansen." She tried to sound scandalized but couldn't quite manage it. "My entire family is inside."
"Then we better say goodbye quickly."
