The Winging It Holiday Special (Hockey Ever After) by Ashlyn Kane & Morgan James

Author:Ashlyn Kane & Morgan James [Kane, Ashlyn & James, Morgan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2022-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

9. Christmas Eve Eve

THE DEKES played their last game before Christmas on the twenty-second, in Denver. Dante always liked playing there, and this one was particularly nice because they won 4–2 and got to fly home on a victorious note.

But they didn’t have long to enjoy it.

They landed in Quebec in the early hours of the twenty-third. Their cleaning service had been in and the grocery delivery had come, so the house was stocked. But somehow they hadn’t actually wrapped any presents, and their parents were due in today.

“We could pass it off it as being eco-friendly,” Dante suggested when they dragged themselves out of bed at nine to survey the pile of presents on the dining room table. It sat twelve. No surface was uncovered. “Wrapping paper is bad for the environment, right?”

Gabe thwapped him in the chest with a tube covered in figure-skating penguins. “It’s recyclable. Come on, team effort.”

Involuntarily, Dante made a mournful noise. “I’ll put the coffee on.”

They finished the wrapping as they drained the pot, and then Dante made omelets while Gabe dealt with the paper-scrap carnage in the dining room. His phone beeped as he was waiting for it to set.

In the car to meet Mom’s bf’s fam and I think I’m gonna hurl, Michelle said. I haven’t sat in the back seat since I was 12.

Dante smiled. Sure you’re not just nervous?

Please. This guy’s so sweet I have secondhand cavities. Can’t imagine his family’s any different.

He jiggled the pan—almost set. Put your phone away. Eyes out the window, on the horizon. It works for boats?

Which he’d learned the hard way on their honeymoon. Dante might like watching Pirates of the Caribbean, but he’d take a pass on reenacting it.

He was just turning the omelet over onto a plate when his phone chirped again. Thanks.

Gabe finished up in the dining room, smacked a distracted kiss on Dante’s cheek, and got the plates out of the cupboard. “Who’s that?”

Dante glanced up from cutting the omelet. “Michelle, on the way to Christmas. Turns out she’s carsick if she has to sit in the back seat.”

“Oof. Merry Christmas.” Gabe retrieved the cutlery, and also the ketchup because he was a heathen.

“No kidding.” He flipped the stove off. “I feel like Christmas nausea should be restricted to after you’ve had all the candy in your stocking, or at least a few glasses of eggnog.”

The ketchup made a farting noise as Gabe squeezed it onto his plate. Dante snickered like a twelve-year-old.

They lapsed into silence while they ate, and Dante mentally cataloged the contents of the fridge and freezer. Sure, they’d gotten the groceries they ordered, but what if it wasn’t enough? What if Gabe’s dad’s girlfriend had food allergies or, like, a craving for dark chocolate M&M’s? Dante didn’t want to be a poor host, especially not the first time they met Talia in person. Chris had been single for too long. He deserved to be happy.

He probably had time to go to the store. He just needed a list and some body armor to protect him during the crush of last-minute holiday grocery shoppers.

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