Hockey Christmas (A Holiday Sports Romance Love Story)

by Naomi Niles

  I nodded. “He is,” I replied. “I met him a few days ago when I went over to the house to drop off the food.”

  “I see,” mom said knowingly. “And how was it, seeing him again after so long?”

  “It was strange,” I replied honestly. “But it still felt the same somehow.”

  I knew I was contradicting myself but that was genuinely how I felt. Seeing him that day had been such a mix of emotions that I had had a hard time keeping up with them. There had been a jolt of some current that had surged through my body as I saw him.

  He looked amazing. He had the kind of body that you would normally see on the cover of a fitness magazine. He was all broad shoulders and hard muscle. His hair was cut short and shaved close to his scalp, which only heightened the attractive sharpness of his features. I’d forgotten how beautiful his eyes were. They were blue like mine, but his were subtle, soft, and held all the colors of the ocean.

  A selfish part of me had wished that he hadn’t turned out quite so good looking; it would have been easier for me to deal with his presence in town. I thought back to our adolescence and I remembered how bright we had burned together and I knew that I was only kidding myself. His looks had nothing to do with it. It would have hurt either way.

  “I know that doesn’t make much sense,” I said to my mother.

  She smiled at me. “It makes sense,” she said. “Are you planning on seeing him again after the funeral?”

  “I don’t know,” I replied. “I don’t think that would be such a good idea.”

  “Why not?”

  “I don’t think getting involved with Dylan again is a good idea, mom,” I said. “He’s only in town for a month; it can’t go anywhere.”

  She didn’t say anything; she nodded and wrapped her arm around me again. I knew she wouldn’t push it; she knew how hard it had been for me to get over Dylan. Our conversation was put to an end when Tyler approached me. He looked calmer than I had seen him in days.

  “Elizabeth,” he called. “Are you ready?”

  I took a deep breath. “Yes,” I nodded.

  Tyler led me up to the piano that was placed on the side of the coffin a short distance away. I sat down and I felt a tingling in my fingers. I knew that everyone’s eyes were on me but I didn’t dare look up. I hadn’t seen Dylan yet and I didn’t want to at that moment. He would only make me more nervous. I tried to steady myself as I poised my fingers above the keys.

  “This is it,” I whispered to myself. “Don’t screw it up Elizabeth.”

  Then I started playing. It was a little shaky at first and I almost lost the tune a couple of times, but I willed myself forward and once I had got into the song, I managed to find a level of comfort that got me through the songs that Mrs. Thomas had personally requested. I concentrated on nothing but the keys and the music and when I finally finished playing, I noticed Dylan walk up to the microphone.

  He was wearing a dark suit that made him look like a model straight out of a perfume ad. I noticed that his gaze was on me and I gave him a small smile. He thanked everyone for coming, he introduced himself, and then he started talking about his father, about the kind of man he was and about his time in the Navy.

  “People knew how important that uniform was to him,” Dylan said. “They understood how proud he was to have been in the navy and that formed his identity. But he was made up of more than that; he was more than a soldier. He was a husband and a father. He loved his wife and he loved his children. And if you had asked him which one he identified with more, he would never have mentioned the Navy. He would have talked about my mother, who was the love of his life. He would have talked about my brother, whom he was so proud of. And he would have talked about me.”

  “That is the kind of man my father was. He had commitments, he had obligations, and he had a duty to his country. But he never forgot about the things that were important to him. He was away a lot when I was a child, but I never resented him for that absence. I knew he was out there doing something important and I knew he was thinking of me every second of every day. Even when he wasn’t around, he always made sure that we knew that he loved us. My father … he was a good soldier and a good man. But in my opinion, he was an even better husband and father.”

  “He’s a good speaker isn’t he?” Tyler said from behind me.

  I hadn’t even noticed he was behind me. I wiped away the tear that had slipped down my cheek and glanced at him. “I would have thought you’d give the speech?”

  Tyler shook his head. “This is Dylan’s forte; he did a good job.”

  “He did,” I nodded.

  “Thank you, Elizabeth,” Tyler said. “For playing.”

  “Of course,” I nodded and leaned in to give Tyler a hug and a kiss. I turned around and realized that people were queuing up to pay their condolences to Dylan and Mrs. Thomas who were standing on the opposite side of the church. “Shouldn’t you go and join them?” I asked.

  “I will,” Tyler replied. “I just … need a moment.”

  I nodded in understanding and made my way to join the line of people. It took five minutes to finally reach them, and when I did, I noticed that Dylan’s eyes were already on me.

  “I’m so sorry,” I whispered as I hugged him.

  He held on a little longer than I expected and then he let go of me. “Thank you for playing,” he said. “It was amazing to hear you play after so long.”

  “Yes dear,” Mrs. Thomas cut in. “Thank you for playing those songs.”

  “I hope I did Mr. Thomas justice.”

  “He would have been so pleased,” Mrs. Thomas said. She looked better than she had the first day I had see her, but the ache of sadness was still etched across her face. “Will you come to the house afterwards? The family will be there after the burial.”

  “Oh, I don’t want to impose—”

  “It’s not an imposition,” Dylan cut in. “Everyone will be there.”

  I nodded. “Then I will too,” I said before I moved away.

  I went over to the house straight after the burial with mom. The house was packed just like last time, so I left mom with the other mourners and headed for the patio. Tyler and Dylan were there, leaning against the patio railing and staring out at the lake in silence. They had both changed into pants and casual t-shirts.

  “The service was beautiful,” I said to them.

  Dylan turned around and I saw his eyes light up when he saw me. “I’m glad you’re here,” he said.

  I felt a blush creep up my cheeks and I tried desperately to stop it in its tracks. “How are you both doing?” I asked trying to skate over my own embarrassment.

  “Fine,” Tyler replied without turning his gaze from the lake.

  “I … I think I really need a distraction,” Dylan replied.

  I raised my eyebrows. “What kind of distraction?”

  “Beer by the old campsite?” Dylan suggested, and I couldn’t help but smile.

  We used to sneak out at night and meet just outside the woods. Then we’d walk about a mile north until we had reached this little creek that ran passed a tall thicket of trees. We’d bring beer and marshmallows, then we’d sit around the fire and toast them up and swap stories. Sometimes Dylan and I used to go there alone and when it was just the two of us, we’d take a blanket so that we could share.

  I’d sit between his legs and he’d hold me close and whisper ghost stories in my ear. They never scared me though. There was no possible way I could feel scared with Dylan wrapped around me like a human shield. I felt safe and warm and protected and like my youth, I had taken those moments for granted. I had simply assumed I would have them forever.

  “Lizzie?” Dylan said.

  “Sorry,” I said quickly. “I suppose we could do that.”

  “Great,” Dylan said. “We can leave soon.”

  “I’ll ask Maddie to join us,” I said quickly and then I turned to Tyler. “You’re joining us too right Tyler?”

  Tyler glanced at Dyla
n. “I don’t know if it’s … appropriate?”

  “We’re not going to a rave Ty,” Dylan said and I knew he was trying hard not to roll his eyes. “But if you don’t want to come, we’ll understand.”

  I frowned at Dylan. “Come,” I said.

  “All right,” Tyler said at last. “Maybe a distraction is a good idea. Mom will be surrounded by people tonight anyway.”

  “Great,” Dylan said, although his tone suggested otherwise. “Is Maddie here?”

  “She should be here by now,” I nodded. “She left the cemetery when mom and I did.”

  “Ok, then Tyler can bring Maddie in the car and you and I can take my bike.”

  My eyebrows rose. “Your bike?”

  “You remember her,” Dylan said with a secretive smile.

  “Of course I remember her,” I said. “I just can’t believe you still have that bike.”

  “Dad kept her for me,” Dylan said with a sad smile. “Will you ride with me?”

  I sighed internally. There was no way I could say no to that smile. “Sure,” I nodded.

  We left Tyler in the house to look for Maddie and Dylan led me out to the garage where the bike was kept. The moment I saw the bike, I felt a wave of nostalgia hit me. It was like I had stepped twelve years into the past. I approached the bike gingerly.

  “She hasn’t changed,” I said.

  Dylan helped me onto the seat behind him and I was forced to wrap my arms around his waist as we set off down the winding driveway. We were so close that I could smell him. I closed my eyes and reminded myself that I was not seventeen anymore and Dylan was not my boyfriend. I told myself that no matter how good this felt, at the end of the day, I would have to let go.

  Chapter Eleven

  Dylan

  I felt like I was sixteen again. I had the same tingling in my stomach that I used to feel any time Lizzie was near me. I wanted to kiss her, touch her, hold her all at the same time, and I never wanted to let her go. The more time I spent with her, the more I simply could not understand what had ever made me leave her side.

  Her arms were tight around me but I could sense her need to let go, almost as though she were scared to get too close. I knew that shouldn’t have upset me but I was. We rode into the woods and stopped by the old creek nestled next to a wealth of trees. I used to think of it as our special place but in truth, there was nothing exceptional about it. We were the ones that made it special.

  I got off the bike and helped Lizzie down from it. She didn’t actually need my help, but it was an excuse for me to touch her. The campsite was pretty much the same, but it was clear that no one had been near it for a long time. Leaves, roots, and dirt were everywhere and I wondered whether bringing Lizzie here had been the right move.

  I turned and she had pushed aside some of the leaves and sat down on one of the larger logs that fallen to the ground. I smiled, remembering that she had never been one to shy away from nature. She didn’t mind dirt or bugs. She had always been an adventurer, even though she had never believed it herself.

  “It takes me back being here,” I said softly.

  She didn’t answer immediately. She was looking around at the campsite as though she were seeing ghosts. I sat down beside her and resisted the urge to put my arm around her. It was strange how certain impulses were sitting there, just underneath the surface as though it hadn’t understood that eleven years had passed and things were not the same anymore.

  “What are you thinking?” I asked, hating the fact that I wasn’t sure. I had always been good at knowing what was on her mind. Now, I could only guess and wait to see if I was right or not.

  “Nothing,” she replied, guarding her thoughts.

  She looked so beautiful, with that fiery-red hair and those burning, blue eyes. The soft prettiness that she had possessed as a girl had turned into bright beauty. She looked like she belonged some place magical. You could have painted wings on her and it wouldn’t have looked out of place.

  I was thinking about reaching out and taking her hand when we saw headlights some distance away and I realized that Tyler and Maddie had arrived. I tried not to look too disappointed as we waited for them to join us.

  “Hi, guys,” Lizzie said brightly when they appeared. She got to her feet unnecessarily and went to sit beside Maddie.

  “This was a great idea,” Maddie said as she passed around some cold beer.

  “Dylan has always been full of ideas,” Tyler said as he sat down. I wondered if the girls could notice the bitterness in his voice.

  “So,” I said, pointedly ignoring Tyler. “Have you guys been in touch with the old gang?” While we were in school, it had been Maddie, Lizzie, Tony, and I. The four of us made up intimate circle, but we had also been a part of a bigger group. “Does Miles still live in town?”

  “Miles ended up marrying Bridget,” Maddie replied. “They got married right after college and they moved soon after. Bridget sends me a Christmas card every year. They have a son now.”

  “He’s almost two,” Lizzie filled in and I detected a soft note in her voice that I couldn’t place. She sounded happy for them, but there was another emotion there.

  “We lost contact with Brett and Davis after graduation,” Maddie went on. “Lara is a lawyer and she lives in the city but we see her now and again when she comes home to visit her parents.”

  “And Tony?” I asked without any real interest.

  “Not sure really,” Maddie replied. “After we broke up we lost contact.”

  I nodded. “We had some good times, didn’t we?”

  “We had great times,” Maddie nodded, but I was waiting for Lizzie to speak. She was so quiet that it was driving me crazy. I hated not knowing what she was thinking.

  “Let’s get a fire started,” Tyler suggested as he bent down and pushed some fallen twigs together in the center of our little circle. I bent down to help him and within minutes we had a roaring fire sitting between us.

  The bright flames illuminated Lizzie and it seemed only to enhance her beauty. The others started talking about the town, about people they knew, about the good old days, but I could barely participate. I kept staring at Lizzie, as my desire to be alone with her just kept magnifying.

  When Tyler and Maddie became engrossed in a conversation, I seized my opportunity, unable to contain myself any longer, and I went up to Lizzie. “Let’s take a walk by the creek,” I said holding my hand out to her.

  I noticed the three of them exchange glances but I didn’t care. Lizzie was looking at me with those wide eyes of hers and I wondered what I would do if she invited Tyler and Maddie to come along with us. It was a long moment of hesitation, but at the end of it she took my hand and I helped her up.

  We left Maddie and Tyler sitting by the campfire and we started walking along the creek. I tried to keep a grip on her hand but she slipped her fingers out of mine and we walked in silence until we were a fair distance away from the fire. I turned around and realized that we couldn’t see or hear Tyler and Maddie anymore.

  “You’ve been quiet.” I observed lightly.

  “Have I?” she asked. “Sorry. I’m just a little preoccupied.”

  I wanted to ask what she was preoccupied with but I knew she wouldn’t answer. “Is it strange for you,” I asked cautiously. “Seeing me again after all this time?”

  “Is it strange for you?” she asked in response.

  “A little,” I nodded. “But it also feels … familiar, comfortable … I don’t know how to describe it.”

  “You don’t have to,” Lizzie replied. “I guess I feel the same way too.”

  “What made you marry Paul?” I asked abruptly, surprising even myself by the question.

  She looked at me unblinkingly for a moment. “He was different when I married him. He was kinder, sweeter, and I believed he loved me.”

  “How long were you married?”

  “Two years,” I replied. “Things were rocky almost from the beginning of our marriage. We even ha
d a fight on our honeymoon but I believed that we were just adjusting to one another. I had hope that things would get better. But in the end, I realized that Paul was just being Paul and there was no way to change that.

  “I hated the idea of getting divorced,” Lizzie went on, dropping my gaze. “To me, it was just another failure, so I held on as long as I could, I made excuses for him, I tried to talk to him, I suggested we go to therapy together …”

  “Nothing worked?”

  “He had so much … pent up anger inside him,” Lizzie said. “And I was his outlet. He was controlling and jealous and I just couldn’t take it any longer.”

  “You got out,” I said. “That’s the most important thing.”

  She sighed. “Getting out is one thing,” she said. “Living in the same town with your ex-husband is a completely different problem.”

  “Do you have much contact with him?” I asked.

  “I don’t really have much of a choice there.”

  I lifted my eyebrows. “What do you mean?” I demanded. “Does he still bother you?”

  “It’s not important,” she said quickly, and I knew she wasn’t telling me the whole truth.

  “Lizzie—?”

  “You haven’t told me anything about your life,” she interrupted.

  “My life?” I said.

  “Yes,” she nodded. “Your life as a Navy SEAL; what’s it been like for you?”

  I looked away from her for a moment. I usually didn’t like talking about it with people, but it felt different with Lizzie. It felt natural to want to share with her. This girl had been my childhood and my adolescence. I had believed once that she would be the rest of my life too.

  “It’s been … hard,” I said finally. “I travel a lot, but it’s not what most people think it is.”

  “I don’t imagine it would be,” Lizzie replied. “It’s not like you’re lounging out by the pool in five-star hotels.”

  I laughed. “Some people tend to take that view though.”

  “Do you mean Tyler?” she asked knowingly.