Hockey Christmas (A Holiday Sports Romance Love Story)

by Naomi Niles

  I quickly grabbed my flip flops, debating whether or not this message warranted a reply before tossing my phone onto my bed sheets and racing outside to talk to him face to face–the way I liked best. Messages were nice enough, but hearing his chocolaty-smooth voice was music to my ears, a sound that I would never tire of.

  My eyes lit up when they spotted him standing under the pale moonlight facing away from me, over to the water. He was wearing a tank top and shorts, showing me all of the muscles that I lusted over, and his hair was the typically messy style that I’d come to associate with him. His body was so sculpted, which was clearly down to his athletic lifestyle, and that was something I hadn’t even realised I desired until I saw Rhett for the first time.

  When he heard my footsteps moving closer to him, he spun around showing me that face that was now in every single one of my dreams. “Well, hello there,” he grinned, immediately pulling me in for a hug as soon as I was close enough for him to do so. “You look wonderful.”

  “You don’t look too bad yourself,” I eyed him up and down appreciatively. I was being much flirtier than I normal was with guys, but then again, I couldn't think of anyone that I’d liked as much as Rhett. “Come on, let’s head back down to the pier.”

  But this time we didn’t quite make it down to the water’s edge. Instead, we sat surrounded by the bushes we’d hid in the night before, recalling the memory as if it was something that had happened ages ago, as if it was a solidifying moment in our relationship.

  Which, I suppose in a way, it was.

  Then all of sudden, we were kissing like horny teenagers that couldn't get enough of one another. I wasn't totally sure what happened–one moment we were laughing and reminiscing, the next moment our lips had crashed together and our hands were everywhere. I had no idea who made the first move, only that we were equally keen for one another.

  And this time, it didn’t seem like anything was going to stop us.

  As we kissed for what felt like hours, I knew we were losing track of time, but I didn’t even care. I didn’t want to leave, and eventually there came to a point where I actually found myself wanting to take things to another level.

  Rhett seemed to sense my newfound passion because his hand started to work its way up my dress and over the top of my bra. I could tell that he was testing the waters, seeing how far I was willing to take it. The heady fog of desire that was slowly consuming me. I felt ready to go very far indeed...

  But then something stopped me. I had no idea what it was; I just quickly pulled back and glanced at the watch sitting on Rhett’s wrist, panic coursing right through my veins.

  “Oh... It’s, erm, it’s really late. We should probably be getting back,” I stammered, feeling my face heat up. I had no idea why I stopped things from progressing, except for the fact that we were outside and it felt a little uncomfortable taking things to that level when anyone could interrupt. “Big day tomorrow.” My reasons were logical and truthful, but that didn’t stop me from feeling awful about putting a halt to something that was promising to be amazing.

  “Of course.” Rhett didn’t seem annoyed at all by my semi rejection, which calmed me down slightly. At least he wasn't mad about my freak out; he was even smiling kindly at me. The fact that he seemed to respect my boundaries made me like him even more. He was just so sweet and lovely, unlike any guy I’d ever spent time with before. “Let me walk you back.”

  As he dropped me outside my cabin, kissing me passionately once more, my heart pounded wildly against my ribcage. While he held me in his arms, I found myself regretting pulling away and not allowing things to escalate.

  I just hoped that it wouldn’t be my only chance.

  Chapter 6

  Rhett–Friday

  As I lay in bed, preparing myself to get up for the very last day at Camp Woodtree, my mind was all over the place.

  The sports and activities had gone so well–much better than predicted–and my and Danica’s team was a shoo-in for the overall first prize. We already knew that we’d won when we’d done so well every single day, but it would be nice to have that confirmed. I knew the kids were so excited to go and receive their medals at any rate.

  However, the last day wasn’t only going to be about that main prize. The children would also be rewarded for individual performances throughout the week, which the parents would be there to see them receive. That was as much of a huge event as anything else.

  After the awards ceremony, the counsellors were to take the kids and their parents around Camp Woodtree, to let the moms and dads know what their children had spent the week doing. I wasn't sure if that was just a chance to show off the camp’s facilities or if it was more of a reassurance thing, but I wasn't particularly looking forward to it. The children I could cope with–I had a bond with them–but who knew what the parents would be like. When I thought about my own parents, it made me despair even more.

  In all honesty, I was a complete mixture of emotions. On the one hand, there was an elation that we’d done so well all week, that I’d managed to have such a positive impact on the kids. It had given me pause for thought about my own life and the direction that I wanted it to take.

  But on the other hand, I was incredibly sad that it was all coming to an end, that the experience of a lifetime was practically over. I didn’t have any plans for the rest of the summer, and after being around such awesome people in such close proximity, the endless weeks with nothing to do and no one to see felt a little bleak.

  Plus, the thought of not seeing Danica again was awful. Utterly unbearable. I had no idea how I was going to cope.

  Sure, I’d agreed to go and visit her at college, but that was ages away–after the summer ended. It would be weeks until I could do that, and that felt far too long away. I had Danica’s phone number, and I could keep in touch with her that way, but it wasn't the same. It wouldn’t be like waking up knowing that I was going to get to see her beautiful face every day, knowing that I could talk to her and even kiss her if I wanted to. I was going to miss holding her in my arms, feeling her pressed up against me.

  I didn’t know how the hell I was going to go on without that.

  Last night, as we sat under the stars, I snapped a picture on my phone, which I took a quick look at before the day began. She was only half aware when I took it, so in the image she’s half smiling and half talking, which somehow makes her look even cuter. Her bright, sparkly eyes shine with excitement, which is just how I’ll remember her: as a shining light who made absolutely everything brighter.

  Then my eyes drifted over to my packed suitcase, and my heart sunk all over again. The dream was coming to an end. Tonight, I would be back in my own home, in my own bed, far away from Camp Woodtree.

  I didn’t want things between myself and Danica to be just a fling. I was already in far too deep for that. I really liked her a whole lot, and it seemed like she felt the same way about me. I just hoped that we could make things work when we weren’t living in one another’s pockets.

  Before I could allow myself to get too wound up and upset over something that I currently couldn't do anything about, I pushed the door open and stepped out into the cool, fresh air all over again.

  “Rhett!” I heard a familiar voice call out the second my feet hit the grass. “Look what we made for you.” Ricky rushed to my side handing me a giant card that the boys had obviously spent some time making in secret. To say I was touched by their effort would be a huge understatement. I was overwhelmed they’d taken the time and effort to do that, when they really didn’t have to.

  I read the words inside the card aloud. “To Rhett, Thank you for the best week of our entire lives. You rock! From Ben, Ricky, Gary, Mark, Timmy, and Frank. “Aw, guys, that’s so great!” I smiled widely to cover up the emotion currently circling me.

  “The girls did one, too, for Danica.” They were all standing next to me by this point, bouncing around like excited little monkeys. “To say thanks to you both. None of us w
ant to go home–we don’t know what we’re going to do for the rest of the summer without this place.” You and me both, I almost said. “And, we live too far from each other to meet up easily.”

  “Well, you’ll just have to come again next year!” I grinned, throwing my arms around each of them in turn. “Do it all again. Meet up then.”

  “Will you be here?” Gary asked, staring up at me with his puppy dog eyes, causing guilt to flow right through me. I had no particular plans to return, but maybe if these guys come back, I would feel compelled to. I’d grown a bit attached to them, and I couldn't imagine them doing what we’d done with someone else as their counsellor.

  “Yeah, maybe. If you lot are here, I wouldn’t want to work with anyone else. Now come on, let’s go and meet your parents; it’s time to collect our prize.” I tried to ignore the way that my heart fluttered with nerves at that statement.

  As we sat in the same hall where we had our orientation, where everything all began, I made sure that I had myself positioned as close to Danica as I could be in polite company. Once we started to show the parents around the camp, our groups would go their separate ways, I didn’t know if I’d be able to catch a glimpse of her again–a thought that terrified me.

  “Ooh look,” she gasped, leaning in to me, seemingly sharing none of my fears. “Frank just won the Best Friend award.” We jumped up and yelled and cheered, happy for one of our children to have won. These awards were nothing to do with the actual sports, which made them even more important to the kids.

  And then Danica’s girl Holly–the shy and quiet one–won the Most Improved award and all fourteen of us went mad. Some of the other parents glanced around at us in shock, but we didn’t care–she deserved it. She really was a great kid, and she’d transformed during this week. I just hoped that she could take that forward with her, to lead a more confident life.

  Then the time came for us to collect the main award for winning the week of activities. As we stepped forward to collect our medals, the parents of our children cheered for us, but everyone else only gave a half-hearted clap, allowing their blatant jealousy to shine through.

  None of us cared about any of them. We were our own little family, and that was all that mattered.

  Once we were done, we were shipped out with our teams in a blur, and it wasn't until I was standing by the ropes course, regaling the tale of us winning the obstacle course day, that I realised I hadn’t even said goodbye to Danica.

  ***

  I didn’t see Danica again until we were waving the kids cars off. Some of the other counsellors had already gone back to their cabins to gather up their belongings, but I was hanging around until the very last second, just in case. And thankfully, that patience paid off because it didn’t take long for Danica to make her way over to me.

  “Well, that was a crazy day.” She smiled brightly at me, trying to disguise the tears that were already filling her eyes. “I can’t believe that we’ll be going home soon.” Her voice cracked with emotion, which brought everything to the forefront for me, too.

  As I considered her words, a tight knot of stress began to form in my stomach. The reality of it all really hit, and that didn’t feel good at all. Sure, I’d been very aware of what was coming, but it didn’t reach its full impact until I could hear the sadness in her voice.

  “Yeah, well...” I heard myself saying, in a tone that sounded angrier than I intended it to. I just had no idea how to say goodbye without completely and utterly falling apart. “We all knew it was only going to be a week.” I sort of wanted that to be a joke, but it definitely did not come off that way at all. I sounded like a dick, and I knew it. I just wasn't sure how to retract that.

  “Right,” she nodded, a seriousness on her face. “Okay, well... I mean, it’s been fun, though?” There was a question in her tone, one that wanted an answer from me, but I knew that I couldn't give it without bursting into tears.

  “Mhmmm,” I nodded, looking everywhere but her. I focused on the trees, the cars, the children...anything but those damn eyes. “Yeah.”

  A loaded silence filled the air. I could tell Danica wanted me to say something, anything, to make things right between us again, but for some reason, I couldn't. The tension was absolutely rife between us, and I wondered if anyone else could see it. It felt so obvious to me that I would have been very shocked if others were oblivious. But as always, no one else was paying us any attention whatsoever.

  “So do you have any plans for the rest of the summer?” she eventually asked politely, sounding like she’d only just met me. The last few days simply melted away, and we became strangers all over again.

  I didn’t want to even think about the rest of the summer. It seemed so bleak and endless without her, so I gave her the most idiotic answer ever. “No, not really,” then I shrugged, as if her words meant nothing to me, but the reality was they cut deep. I wasn't sure why I was so desperate to hide my emotions; all I could focus on was holding it together. “Do you?” My tone was childish and petty, and she could sense that.

  “This and that,” she replied evasively. I could sense that she was looking at me curiously, but I absolutely refused to return her gaze. “Right, well... I’m gonna go pack.” When I didn’t say anything back to her, I felt her slink away taking my last chance with her.

  I stood there for a few moments, staring out into the emptying car park, wishing that I’d done absolutely everything different. It was unlikely that Danica would ever want to speak to me again after that act of rude stupidity, which ruled out any college visits, any possible future–the one thing that I’d been clinging on to keep myself going.

  What an idiot I was!

  I hung my head in shame, knowing that I’d lost her forever.

  As a single tear began to fall down my cheek, I turned and made the long sad walk back to my own cabin, safe in the knowledge that I’d totally fucked everything up, and that after everything, we would be leaving on bad terms after all.

  Chapter 7

  Danica–Saturday

  As I stood in my now empty cabin, idly staring around to see if I’ve left anything behind, my mind was fixed firmly on the memory of Rhett’s face. What the hell was wrong with him? Why was he acting so...dickish?

  I had such high hopes that we would leave here on good terms, that we would make arrangements for the future. Sure, it wasn't likely that I would be able to spend time with him over the summer, what with the upcoming wedding, but afterwards at college, like we arranged.

  I’d tried to convince myself that I would be totally fine if things between us ended as a mere fling, but I was wrong. The closer I got to Rhett, the more I liked him, and I’d even managed to convince myself that I might actually be falling for him.

  I quickly shook that thought from my head, trying to block it out. There was no point in allowing my thoughts to go down that route–I’d only end up more upset than I already was.

  Knock, knock.

  I jumped at the sound of a light tapping on my door, my heart racing wildly. Did I really hear that? Or was I imagining things?

  Knock, knock.

  Nope, that was louder. There was definitely someone there.

  I swung the door open quickly, not wanting to get my hopes up just in case I was wrong. But no, there he was, staring at me with those deep, dark, penetrating eyes, looking like a dream come true.

  “Rhett?” I gasped, hardly able to believe it. “What are you doing here?”

  He looked suitably embarrassed at his previous actions, which caused me to step back to allow him inside. I wanted to hear what he had to say, to listen to his explanation. I owed myself that much, him, too.

  “I’m sorry, Danica,” he said sadly, as he stepped past me. “I didn’t mean to act like such a douche earlier. I just... I don’t know, I hate saying goodbye. It feels too hard.”

  Emotion welled up inside of me at his words. I knew exactly what he meant, but it felt even more difficult now that he’d vocalised it. “I
know.” I nodded, trying to keep my voice steady. “I know.”

  Instead of replying, he took me in his arms and held me close to his body. As I inhaled his familiar, musky, manly scent, I tried to really savour the moment. I would miss this so much, and I didn’t want to let him go. I tried to think of the right words to say, but nothing came to mind. I was blank with lust, desperate for this moment to never end.

  “If I don’t do this now...” Rhett pulled back and stared deeply into my eyes. He placed a kiss lightly on my lips–an action which sent desire coursing through my body. “Then I’ll always regret it.”

  Did he actually mean what I thought he did? Was he suggesting that we take us to a brand new level? The hooded, desire filled look that he gave me told that me he really did, that he really wanted me. Was I ready for this? Did I really want this to happen? Here? Now?

  I stepped backwards and moved to lock the door. Of course, I wanted this. I did not want this opportunity to slip through my fingers.

  Then Rhett gripped hold of my fingers, and he led me towards the bed, before pulling me in for another deep and passionate kiss. As our lips moved against one another, I realized that all the pent up feelings that we’d been trying to keep at least a little under control were finally flowing free. There was definitely none of the doubt I’d felt during our last make out session, nothing holding me back anymore.

  As his hand began to snake its way up my top, running over my skin, I didn’t feel the same nerves as before. Instead, there was only excitement, and I wanted more, so I tugged it over my head, revealing only my bra to him.

  “Oh God,” he panted, leaning in to rein kisses over my neck and collar. “You’re so beautiful.” I ran my fingers through his hair as he lips sent sparks of passion racing right through me. This moment felt so perfect, so amazing, and I never wanted it to end.