Hockey Holidays

by Toni Aleo

  “Maybe I will,” I lied. “I’ll see you at home.”

  By the time I left the arena, I had a plan, and I needed space to think. I caught a cab and ended up in the park that Archie and I had found. My mom was the first person I called; she always knew the right thing to say, and maybe she could make the big decisions for me.

  I wanted what Alex and Jo had. Hell, I wanted what my mom and dad had. Of course, I did. I wanted love, a happy ever after, a big family, lots of kids, the whole deal. Professional athletes didn’t always have that.

  Mom listened to me patiently as I explained it all. About what had happened with Archie, about being seen, about my overwhelming fear of losing everything.

  “You’ve never been a quitter,” she interrupted as I was heading into full flow, but her tone was softer. “I don’t recognize this version of you.”

  “What? Mom, I’m—”

  “Scared? Of what will happen? Of the team? Have you talked to them?”

  She was right. I was scared. More like terrified. “Not all of them.”

  “What about your captain? Have you talked to Alex?”

  This was the point where I could either be entirely honest with her or just let it go. She always knew when one of us was lying; being a mom to six kids gave her scary skills. That innate respect I had for her made me all kinds of honest.

  “The man I was seeing? It’s Archie Simard, the captain’s brother.”

  She went very quiet, and then I could imagine her nodding with that determined look on her face.

  “Which makes it even more important to talk to your team, but Alex first.”

  “He’s already talked to me. He knows.”

  “And?”

  “He doesn’t want me to hurt Archie. But it’s not my fault, Mom. It’s not as if I have any choice here.”

  “Logan, you have to follow your heart,” she said after a small pause.

  “I can’t. It means giving up everything. It’s impossible—”

  “Logan Edward Maxwell, now you listen to me. Love is supposed to be impossible.”

  She couldn’t say that. She and Dad had met on a blind date. They’d been fourteen, childhood sweethearts, and they’d been together ever since. They fell in love so easily, and nothing stood in their way.

  “It was easy for you—”

  “Easy!” she shouted down the phone. I could hear the anger in her voice, and I hated that I had upset her. I knew I’d said it all wrong.

  “Mom, I didn’t mean—”

  “It wasn’t easy to fall pregnant at sixteen. Every single person who knew me told me that your dad would leave, that I would be a single mom, stuck in the same town I grew up in, with no future. I could have moved on then, but I loved your dad, and we worked hard every single day to keep ourselves in love, to fight everything put in our way.”

  “I’m sorry—”

  “So don’t tell me that what you have with Archie is too hard. If you love him, you fight for him.” She never pulled her punches, even when we were kids, and it didn’t look like she was starting now.

  Archie’s words were right there: I’ll fight for you if you say you love me.

  Was I quitting love before I had to make the big choices?

  I stood in the cool Dallas sunshine, wishing there was snow. Maybe everything would feel right if there was snow.

  “I love you, Mom,” I whispered.

  “I love you too, Logan. Please remember hockey isn’t everything.”

  We said our goodbyes, and at least I knew she wasn’t angry with me. Then, I called my agent, right from the middle of the park, and didn’t even let him speak.

  “I want sports endorsements for who I am, not where I’m pretending to be something I’m not. Oh, and I’m coming out to the team, so you may want to put things in place.”

  He spluttered something about money and timing, punctuated with swear words. I ended the call when he was in mid-flow.

  I could get a new agent, but I couldn’t get a new Archie.

  I pulled up the last text from Archie, the one I couldn’t seem to bring myself to delete.

  I won’t stop loving you. A, xx

  And I hit reply.

  It didn’t take him long to get to the park, and I watched as he walked toward me, back into the trees where we’d hidden for that kiss. His hands were forced into his jacket pockets, his expression unchanging, even when he saw me. He looked so good, and even though the rest of what I was doing was going to be a mess we’d have to wade through, we could at least do it together.

  I moved toward him when he stopped.

  “Archie,” I murmured and smiled, waited for him to return the smile with the affection he usually showed. Nothing. If anything, he was stoic as if he was expecting the worst.

  I reached a hand out to him, the words I wanted to say tight in my throat. This was everything; this was my whole life ahead of me with the man I loved at my side.

  At least, I hoped it would be, and that he’d meant what he said.

  I waited until he finally took one hand from his pocket and held mine. His eyes were bright with emotion, and I just had to say the words.

  “I love you,” I said.

  For a moment he was still, utterly silent, surprise etched into his face.

  “Logan?”

  I don’t think he believed me, and I stepped closer, released my hold on his hand, and cradled his face. “I love you,” I repeated.

  And waited.

  Then he smiled so wide and kissed me with passion and love, and when we parted, he was serious again.

  “I’ll fight for you.” He covered my hand with his. “With you,” he amended.

  “This won’t be easy,” I said. “But Alex says he has my back.”

  “You spoke to Alex?” Archie was surprised, then wary. “How does he know? You have to know I never told him about us—”

  I cut off his words with another kiss and held him tight.

  “He just knew. I think maybe more people know than I thought. But we have the team, the fans who won’t care, friends watching out for us, and most of all we have each other, and that’s something worth fighting for.”

  Hand in hand we walked back to the house, and it was Connor who saw us first. He snapped a quick shot of us that he said we could use on Instagram for when I made an official announcement.

  But it wasn’t that photo I had plans to use. No, the image I wanted to show the world was the one of Archie and me on that first perfect day.

  The day I’d fallen in love, and everything had become possible.

  THE END

  The Burlington Dragons Hockey Team

  Read Ryan and Katherine’s story in The Code

  Read Simba and Josephine’s story in The Heart

  rjscott.co.uk/dragons-hockey

  Books by RJ Scott

  Hockey Romance

  The Vermont Dragons (Male/Female)

  The Code (#1)

  The Heart (#2)

  The Legacy (#3) (Coming soon)

  Harrisburg Railers (MM/Gay Romance)

  Changing Lines (#1)

  First Season (#2)

  Deep Edge (#3)

  Poke Check (#4)

  Last Defense (#5)

  Goal Line (#6)

  Neutral Zone (#7) (Railers Novella - 25 November)

  Hat Trick (#8) (Railers Novella - 14 February)

  Owatonna U (New Adult MM/Gay Romance)

  Ryker (#1)

  Scott (#2)

  Benoit (#3)

  Standalone Hockey Romance (MM/Gay Romance)

  Secrets

  For all other RJ Scott books please visit rjscott.co.uk

  About RJ Scott

  RJ is the author of the over one hundred published novels and discovered romance in books at a very young age. She realized that if there wasn’t romance on the page, she could create it in her head, and is a lifelong writer.

  She lives and works out of her home in the beautiful English countryside, spends her spare t
ime reading, watching films, and enjoying time with her family.

  The last time she had a week’s break from writing she didn't like it one little bit and has yet to meet a bottle of wine she couldn’t defeat.

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  NEWSLETTER

  Melody Heck Gatto - Icing isn't Only for Cookies

  The Renegades Series

  Avery James wasn’t looking for love when tall, dark, and deliciously handsome hockey player Kyler Wilson walked into her bakery.

  Author’s Note

  See what happens when tall, dark, and deliciously handsome Pittsburgh Renegades hockey player Kyler Wilson trades his hockey skates and stick for an apron and mixer. His baking skills had Avery intrigued, but the deep rumble of his voice is what sends Avery’s heart a flutter, and his sugary sweet kisses make her weak in the knees.

  After assisting Avery with several dozens of cupcakes, cookies, and sharing a bottle of Limoncello, helping the bakery fulfill holiday orders is no longer the only thing on Kyler’s to-do list…

  Chapter One

  Avery

  Avery James looked over the sea of people that were partying like it was New Year’s Eve, because it was. The room was hot and loud, and the bass from the music pounded in her chest as she downed another glass of wine. She had lost count of how many she had, and since she had already handed over her keys in favor of taking an Uber home, the bartender kept them coming.

  The night was still young, it was only eight o’clock in the evening. Her wine intake already had her relaxed and calm, just the feeling she was looking for.

  The music changed to a hard ballad, and the words reminded her of her ex-boyfriend, Jack. She was supposed to spend tonight with him. Avery thought for sure he was going to propose to her tonight. She couldn’t think of a better way to start off the New Year. Happy, and in love, and as a newly engaged couple.

  But, things don’t always work out the way you think. The day after Christmas, Jack asked her to dinner, and what had the potential for a romantic night out turned out to be the complete opposite.

  Jack was smart to break her heart in a public place. He knew she wouldn’t make a scene, and she didn’t. She didn’t yell, and she didn’t cry. Instead, Avery just sat in silence, and watched him walk out the door. After two years together, and what she thought was leading to a walk down the aisle, ended abruptly. Jack cited them growing apart, and it was as cliché as it sounded. He had done the growing – closer to his secretary.

  Avery had no idea why she was at this party, other than Becca dragged her here. She should call it a night and get her Uber home. Against her own better judgement, Avery waved her hand to the bartender for another glass of White Zinfandel. One more, then I’ll leave. A tall, muscular man sat down beside her and loudly called for the bartender’s attention.

  “Keep your shirt on, buddy. He’s waiting on me next.” Avery said, annoyed at the self-important yuppy who claimed the seat next to her. Why did he think he should be waited on before anyone else?

  “I try to keep my shirt on, at least in public.” He mused. “But, seriously, you should see me without it. I’ve been told it’s quite transcendent.” He flattened his large hand along his stomach.

  Avery rolled her eyes, not finding his humor funny, or maybe it was just the company. Or, maybe it was the alcohol feeding her already miserable mood. “Well, no one wants to see your transcendent abs tonight, sir. Just wait your turn.”

  “You sure?” The tall, dark stranger grabbed the back of his shirt at the collar and prepared to pull it over his head.

  Avery shook her head but couldn’t help that her glance lingered at the waist of his pants. As if she was waiting for a sneak peek.

  “Okay.” He shrugged and fixed his shirt. “You look like you could use another drink. What’s got your panties in a bunch anyway?” he still thought he was humorous.

  Avery spun the bar stool to look this annoying man in the eye, but what she found stopped her dead in her tracks. “You seem to think you’re pretty–” The man that stood before her had the most mesmerizing hazel eyes. His smile was as cocky as his attitude, but those eyes. She couldn’t look away.

  “Uh,” he carefully shook his head, that cocky smirk still on his lips. His eyes squinted as the smirk reached them, and he jutted out his muscular chest. “I don’t typically call myself pretty. I tend to use handsome, attractive, and some girls say sexy. But if you want to call me pretty, then I’m okay with that. I can be a pretty boy too.” He ran his hand through his short dark hair.

  The stranger exuded cockiness. The scary thing was, she liked his flirtatious spirit. And his five o’clock shadow gave him a rugged look.

  Avery was tongue-tied and couldn’t come up with a smart comeback. She just stared at his strong arms. Her head was already fuzzy from the wine and her wittiness had suffered because of it. The bartender appeared in front of her and refilled her wine glass. She went to pay for her drink, but the stranger pushed her hand out of the way with his large fistful of cash, paying for her drink and his own order.

  “I’ll take a beer, thanks.” The man handed the bartender his cash. Then he directed his attention back to Avery. “Wine, huh?”

  Confused as to what just happened, she nodded. “As much wine as it takes to make me feel better.”

  “Okay, I’ll bite. What is it you’re trying to forget about? And before you ask how I know, let me just tell you that no girl as pretty as you sits at a bar all alone and downs wine the way you are unless they are trying to forget something or someone.” When she didn’t answer him, he called back to the bartender, and waved some cash in the air. “Can we get a few shots of tequila over here?”

  Avery shook her head, “No. I don’t drink tequila.”

  “Oh c’mon. You’re all relaxed now from your pretentious wine, now have a little fun with some tequila. The drink of champions.”

  “Pretentious? Who are you calling pretentious?”

  “Um, you?” The man innocently shrugged.

  Avery had no idea who this guy was, but she’d be damned if she was going to let him sit there and call her pretentious. As soon as the bartender set the shot in front of her, she downed it before the stranger could say anything else. She wasn’t a tequila drinker, and it burned going down her throat. She wanted to puke. Heat rushed to her head, then her whole body warmed. The loud music became nothing but background noise, and the nausea disappeared.

  He shrugged, “Okay, so maybe I’m wrong.” He stuck his hand out to shake hers. “I’m Kyler.”

  “Hi.” She shook his hand. Avery’s brain raced, she had no idea who this guy was, there was no way she was giving him her real name. “Anna – I’m Anna. Nice to meet you, Kyler.”

  Kyler downed his shot, slammed the glass on the counter and called out, “Bartender, two more, please.”

  Two more turned into two more, and before she knew it she no longer minded the taste of the tequila, and was on the dance floor with this man, doing dance moves she never realized she knew. It was as if she was watching someone else acting like a fool, but it was her, and she couldn’t control it. Secretly, she liked feeling this free.

  She looked around the crowded dance floor for her friend, Becca, but she was nowhere to be found. The girl had bubble gum pink hair, you’d think she would stand out, but tonight, with all the party hats, and costumes, Becca was not easy to spot at all. The tequila was rearing its ugly head, and things were getting fuzzy. Grabbing on to Kyler to steady herself, she was met with his hot, wet lips against hers.

  “I don’t usually–”

  Kyler put his finger to her lips. “Shh.”

  She never did this kind of thing, but this guy was sexy as sin. He was tall, dark, and deliciously handsome. She had nothing holding her back, no fiancé, no boyfriend. The tequila might have been suggesting she have one night of unadulterated fun, but her body was in full agreement.

  Kyler pulled her into his strong arms and kissed the heck out of her, sliding his
tongue through her lips, and tangling with hers. Her body tingled with excitement. Getting swept away in his kiss, because he was an extraordinary kisser, Avery forgot all about Becca. Or maybe it was the tequila that had her forgetting all about her friend. She didn’t care which, because he was hot.

  The tequila no doubt had a hand in what happened next, and she’d have to remember to thank the creator of tequila for that.

  Hours later, Avery looked around the dark and unfamiliar hotel room. She vaguely remembered the events that led up to this moment. Dancing with a stranger turned into grinding with a stranger, and that turned into this. Naked in a hotel bed beside the sleeping tall drink of water she only knew as Kyler. The covers thrown around haphazardly.

  She didn’t remember which one of them suggested the hotel room. But here they were.

  Glancing at the clock on her cell phone, it wasn’t even midnight yet. They did the dirty more than once, then both passed out, and it was only eleven-thirty. Stupid tequila.

  Avery quietly slid out of bed and pulled on her clothes. After freshening up in the bathroom, she returned to the room to see Kyler awake and staring at her. His eyes still glassy, he appeared out of it, which might work in her favor.

  “You taking off already, sweetheart?” He seductively smiled as he rubbed the scruff on his jaw.

  “Yeah,” Avery looked into his still glazed over eyes, then her gaze traveled down his muscular chest, to that six-pack, and finally to the sexy as hell V that pointed to what was being hidden by the sheet that hung dangerously close to not covering it. “I have to work in the morning.”

  Her brain was fighting her body on this decision. She did have to work in the morning. Just because it was New Year’s Day didn’t mean people didn’t want fresh pastries.