Page 77 of Offside for Christmas
He started to leave, then turned back. "Ellie?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you. For knowing what you're doing. For fighting for it. For..." He gestured vaguely. "Everything."
Her heart did something complicated in her chest. "You're welcome."
After he left, Ellie stood alone in the training room, surrounded by her equipment, her protocols, her perfectly organized assessment forms.
Derek Matthews was gone. Her job was secure. Her competence was validated.
And Cole—stubborn, grumpy, protective Cole—trusted her completely.
For the first time in days, Ellie felt like maybe, just maybe, things were going to work out.
She picked up her bag, turned off the lights, and headed out, humming "Deck the Halls" all the way to her car.
Tomorrow was the winter festival. Tomorrow, she'd watch Cole with the town kids even though he couldn't play. Tomorrow, she'd let herself enjoy the Evergreen Cove she loved and the man who was slowly learning to love it too.
But today? Today she'd won.
And that felt pretty damn good.
The town square looked like a Christmas card come to life.
Ellie stood in the middle of it all, checking items off her clipboard while chaos swirled around her in the best possible way. Vendor booths lined the square, strung with white lights and evergreen garland. Food trucks were setting up along Main Street, the smell of hot chocolate and cinnamon-roastedalmonds already filling the air. The ice skating rink had been cleared and polished to a shine. And in the center of it all, the forty-foot Christmas tree stood waiting for tonight's lighting ceremony.
The Evergreen Cove Christmas Festival. The biggest event of the year. And Ellie had been helping plan it since she was twenty-one.
This year felt different, though. Special. Because this year, Cole would be here.
"Ellie!" Mac called from across the square. "Where do you want the Eagles booth?"
She consulted her map. "Near the center, between the bake sale and the craft vendors. You'll get the most foot traffic there."
"You're a genius!"
"I'm organized. There's a difference."
The Eagles had volunteered to run a fundraising booth—selling team merchandise, offering "Skate with a Player" tickets, serving hot chocolate with candy cane stirrers. It was good PR and good for the community, and Coach had enthusiastically volunteered the entire team.
Ellie watched as Mac, Luke, Jamie, and Cole hauled boxes of merchandise toward their designated spot using only his good arm. Cole caught her eye across the square and smiled—not his usual smirk, but a real smile that made her heart do acrobatics.
She smiled back before she could stop herself.
"You two are adorable," her mother said, appearing at her elbow with a tray of gingerbread cookies. "And not nearly as subtle as you think you are."
"Mom—"
"Honey, I've known for weeks. The way he looks at you? That boy is smitten." Caroline Winters set down the cookies and pulled Ellie into a quick hug. "I like him. He's good for you. Bring him over for dinner?"
"He's leaving in three weeks."
"Maybe. Or maybe he'll surprise you." Her mother pulled back, studying her face. "Ellie-bear, you deserve to be happy. Even if it's scary. Especially if it's scary."
Before Ellie could respond, her phone buzzed with an alert about the sound system for the tree lighting, and she was pulled back into coordinator mode.
But her mother's words stayed with her.
