CHAPTER 16—DAMIAN
***
Sorcha: Crisis averted! Love Me Tender is back in her terrarium.
Damian: Good. Last thing we need is a tarantula crashing Santa's photo op.
LOVE ME TENDER WAS found quicker than I expected—mainly because the not-so-little spider had tucked herself into her favorite hiding spot behind the heat lamp. Crisis averted, but Maddie's face is still pale as chalk.
"They pretty much only bite when they're cornered," I say, watching her edge away from the terrarium. "Even then, the bite is mostly dry. No venom."
She shoots me a look that's half exasperation, half amusement. "Of course you would know this, Bitey. Any bat facts you'd like to share while we're at it?"
I can't help but smirk at the nickname. "Bats are the only mammals capable of true flight. Essential for pollination and seed dispersal."
"Well, aren't you a walking animal encyclopedia," she teases.
I shrug. "Animals don't judge. They don't care about your past or your screw-ups. They... accept you."
The words hang between us, heavier than I intended. Maddie's eyes soften, and for a moment, I think she might reach out to me.
"Is that why you spend so much time here?" she asks softly.
I nod, deciding to let her in a little. "Yeah. After my parents... left, animals were easier to trust than people." I pause, then add, "There was this social worker, though. Gave me a book about animals. Said it might help me connect."
"That was kind of her," Maddie says.
"It was," I agree. "The system can be shitty, but there are some bright spots." I take a deep breath. "Speaking of my parents... they emailed me again."
Maddie's eyebrows shoot up. "Oh?"
"Yeah. Wanted to meet. Use me for more of their PR bullshit," I growl, feeling the old anger rise up. But this time, I don't let it consume me. And yet, here I am, heart racing and palms sweating, anticipation thrumming through my veins. "They want their interview released on Christmas Day. Because, of course, they do."
Maddie's eyes widen slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing her face before they lock with mine, filled with a softness that has my throat tightening. I can tell she's trying to process what I've just shared, her fingers tightening around her phone as if steadying herself. She doesn't say anything, just waits, giving me the space to keep going. That simple act of patience—of just being there—does more for me than any words could. And instead of pulling away, she leans in, like she's ready to shoulder some of the weight if I let her.
"I told them to stop contacting me, to quit using me as some heartstring moment," I continue, my voice gruffer than I intended, but Maddie doesn't flinch. As the words settle between us, a strange sense of calm washes over me—a calm I haven't felt in years. Maddie's gaze is steady, and in it, I see understanding, maybe even admiration, and that feeling of calm intensifies, making me think that I've done the right thing. By sharing. By answering. I set boundaries that they probably won't respect. But I can block them. Ignore them now. I did what I needed to do for myself.
She reaches out, her hand resting lightly on my arm. The simple gesture grounds me, reminding me I'm not alone in this anymore. "It was... freeing, actually," I admit, surprised by the truth in my words. "Facing it head-on instead of just ignoring it. Like I'm finally taking control of my own story, you know? I sound like one of my mom's fucking romance heroes." I shrug, but I can feel tension easing from my shoulders.
Maddie nods, a small smile on her face. "That takes guts. And yes, you're more than romance hero material. You're growly and grumpy and ..." She pauses. "And you're working on yourself to be an even better man than you already are."
"Maybe," I say. "Or maybe I'm just tired of letting the past dictate my life."
Our eyes lock, and for a moment, I let myself really feel the connection between us. It's new, but not as terrifying as it once would have been.
Sorcha calls from the other room, reminding us we've got an event to run.
"Come on, Princess," I say, guiding her with a hand on the small of her back. "Let's go find some forever homes for these guys."
As we head out, I spot a kid looking nervously at the dogs. I crouch down next to him. "Hey buddy, want to meet someone special?"
The boy nods shyly, and I lead him to Prancer. As the kid's face lights up when the dog licks his hand, I catch Maddie watching me, a soft smile on her face.
And I realize: facing your past, opening yourself up – it's not easy, but it's worth it. Maybe this Christmas won't be such a shitshow after all.
The décor in the large community room screams Christmas like the rest of the town: Tinsel everywhere, lights blinking like a damn disco.
"Wow, I can't believe it's the same place," Maddie whispers.
"Quite the winter wonderland, huh?" I mutter.
"It's amazing," she breathes.
I grunt, but I can't help noticing how the lights make her eyes sparkle. She's beautiful. For a second, I forget to be a Grinch.
Some poor guy (probably Paul or Liam) is sweating his ass off in a Santa suit. There are kids and puppies everywhere, a tornado of squeals and yaps. It's the kind of holiday cheer I usually avoid like the plague, but with Maddie here, it's almost bearable.
As I scan the room, I overhear Aunt Locelli gossiping about some big Hollywood production coming to town. I shake my head, dismissing it as small-town chatter.
Maddie turns to me with a frown. "Wait, we need Santa hats or something?" She's right – Sorcha, Aisling, Alessandro, the shelter staff, and even the volunteer firefighters are decked out in Christmas gear. With the shelter logo on them.
"Hmm, they're in the utility walk-in," I mutter. Without thinking, I take her hand. As we both glance down at our intertwined fingers, time seems to freeze.
That's how it started on Halloween. The trivia night where we were on opposite teams, but how we laughed on the way back from Plates she's drifted over, curiosity written all over her face. Without thinking, I move closer to her, as if I could somehow shield her from what's coming.
Grant continues, oblivious to the tension on our end. "They're going all out. Celebrity endorsements, major media coverage. It's going be huge. And I'll be there for Christmas—hoping the invite still stands."
"Ugh, definitely. That's... great," Alessandro manages, but I can see the worry in his eyes. He knows what this could mean for our Christmas-A-Thon.
After a few more details—Grant will be in Ocean City tomorrow and will give us more information, Alessandro hangs up. The silence that follows is heavy.
"So," Maddie says, her voice unnaturally bright. "Sounds like we've got some competition."
I nod, jaw clenched. "Looks like it." A familiar fire ignites in my gut. I've never backed down from a challenge, and I'm not about to start now. Especially not for those pups.
As I watch the smile fade from Maddie's face, replaced by a determined set to her jaw, I realize our little Christmas-A-Thon just got a whole lot more complicated.
Alessandro runs a hand through his hair, then his face lights up with an idea. "Hey, why don't we brainstorm about this tonight? At the O'Connor White Elephant party?"
Maddie's eyes widen in recognition. "Oh right, Aisling mentioned that earlier. I almost forgot. I did get a gift."
"Yeah," Alessandro nods, a hint of excitement creeping into his voice. "Aisling's been baking up a storm, and Ryan's headed back home to whip up some of his famous appetizers. It'll be perfect for putting our heads together."
I raise an eyebrow at Maddie. "You in, Princess?"
She hesitates for a moment, then nods, a small smile playing on her lips. "I've got a therapist appointment but I should definitely make it. Maybe between Aisling's treats and Ryan's cooking, we'll find some inspiration."
As we wrap up the day, I can't shake the feeling that we're standing on the edge of something big. Ocean City's got their fancy Hollywood production, but we've got heart. Still, there's a lot riding on this—more than I'm ready to admit out loud. As I lock up the shelter, a thought nags at the back of my mind: if we pull this off, it could be huge. But if we don't... well, failure's not an option.