Page 49 of Offside for Christmas
"Okay." Ellie took a breath. "And we take it slow. One day at a time. No expectations, no pressure."
"I can do that," Cole said quietly. "Can you?"
"I'm going to try."
"That's all I'm asking."
Cole pulled her close, one hand sliding to the small of her back, the other cupping her face. "So we're doing this? Whatever this is?"
"Yeah. We're doing this."
He kissed her—slower this time, more deliberate. Not the desperate urgency of last night but something deeper. A promise. A claiming. An answer to a question neither of them had quite asked.
Ellie melted into him, her hands fisting in his jacket, and thought that maybe, just maybe, this was worth the risk.
"SERIOUSLY?!"
They sprang apart to find Mac standing in the doorway, arms crossed, looking torn between amusement and exasperation.
"Can you two stop making out for five minutes? Roads are clear! We're heading home!"
Ellie and Cole looked at each other and started laughing—the kind of helpless laughter that came from too much tension and not enough sleep and the absurdity of being interrupted by Mac for the second time in twenty-four hours.
"Worst timing ever," Cole muttered.
"It's a gift," Mac called back, already heading inside. "Now come on! I want to get home before dinner!"
The drive home was quiet.
Ellie drove alone—she had driven herself to the cabin. The roads were clear but still lined with snow, the late afternoon sun turning everything golden.
Her phone buzzed as she was pulling into town.
COLE:Tomorrow night. My place. Let me cook you dinner.
Ellie's heart did that stupid flutter thing again. She pulled over to respond properly.
ELLIE:You cook?
COLE:I'm full of surprises.
ELLIE:This is a date.
COLE:Yes.
ELLIE:We said we'd keep it quiet.
COLE:It's quiet if nobody knows but us.
Ellie stared at her phone, thumb hovering over the keyboard. This was it. The moment where she either went all in or backed out. Where she either protected herself or took the leap.
ELLIE:...okay.
COLE:Yeah?
ELLIE:Yeah.
COLE:7 PM. Don't be late.
