Chapter 14
TYLER
How I’ve survived three hours so far, I’m not entirely sure. Aunt Harper and my mom have been waiting for their moment to corner and interrogate me. The clock is no longer in my favor.
My dad and uncle are in the living room discussing stocks, which is as boring to me as sitting in the kitchen and peeling the potatoes for the latkes. Love the latkes but can’t stand peeling potatoes. Surely, there is a machine for this? Or they are simply hiding it to trap me longer.
The day started simple and easy. I had coffee and biscuits with my parents, and we opened a few gifts by the Christmas tree. Nothing crazy. We don’t do elaborate and instead opt for small things. Cliché sweaters, that kind of thing.
Staring down at the potato, I’m at my final peel. The moment that I drop the peeler, my aunt flicks her dark hair over her shoulder and glances at me as she continues to flip the latkes in the pan.
“So.”
Here it comes. My mom sitting on the other side of the island covers her smirk by keeping her mouth as shut as possible. I know how this goes, have my Aunt Harper do my mom’s dirty work. Then again, Harper is always ready for any gossip.
“You mentioned a neighbor… a woman… a good-looking one that is stopping by.” Oh, subtle.
“Did I say good-looking?” I reply blandly, purely because I’m aware that I shouldn’t slip in any details that they will use as ammunition.
“No, but your mom did. Tell me more. I need all the deets before she arrives later.” My family never ages, and I cringe when they attempt to use language that should just be criminal coming out of their mouths.
“Lainey is a neighbor with a cute kid. She’s a preschool teacher, and her brother used to play for my team but was traded. There. You have the deets.”
She turns off the stove, as she’s about to get comfortable and fire safety comes first.
“Single?”
“Yes,” my mom jumps in, and my eyes slide to her. She shrugs at me. “What? I have my ways of detecting these things, plus you talk about her all the time.”
“I do not.” My voice sounds a little uneven because I just lied.
My aunt snaps her fingers. “He’s doing that thing, Layla. The look away, squeak in his voice, and his words sound completely unbelievable. He always used to do it when he and his cousin would get wild at family gatherings.”
“Us, wild?” I scoff then look around my place. Eggnog with an extra dash of rum was opened promptly upon their arrival before my aunt took the liberty to spread Hanukkah-themed confetti on my table to make it bluer.
“Someone must have broken through your outer layer. You have a Christmas tree, for Christ’s sake.”
“Harper, don’t say the Lord’s name in vain.” My mom has never stepped foot in a church.
My aunt snaps her gaze to my mother. “It’s fine. Jesus is our favorite Jewish carpenter, remember?”
I rub my temples. Keeping up with these women and their fast conversations is a headache.
“Let’s not bother Tyler. He doesn’t have many days off during the season, so let him enjoy it,” my mother attempts to deter my aunt.
“Yeah, a chance to relax,” I deadpan.
My aunt throws her hands in the air. “Fine. But I’m on to you.” She points her spatula at me. “I love that she’s a teacher. We’ll have so much to talk about.” Shit. My aunt is a kindergarten teacher; she and Lainey will hit it off.
“Riveting.”
It’s not that I don’t want Lainey and Enzo to stop by, I do.
My family being present isn’t ideal. First off, they are an energy drain, and secondly, they will be observing us to prove their theories right.
I can’t forget that Lainey and I are kind of in a confusing state.
Neighbors, friends, hooking up. That’s what we’re doing, right?
In the end, it’s not about me. Enzo was curious when we were tree shopping about Chrismukkah, so it will be nice for him. They also live across the hall and have an easy escape if needed.
But maybe it is about me. An intuitive selfish want to have Lainey around.
I only have a few days off, and I want to enjoy them, and that seems to entail having Lainey nearby.
Yesterday was relaxed and simple. Making lists, checking them twice, and watching her cute expression when it involved wrapping.
We didn’t need to go to any expensive restaurants or make a big deal of the day.
I hear what some of the guys on my team do for their significant others, and to me, it’s over the top.
If I were to get Lainey a designer bag, I’m positive she would throw it back at me.
The next hour is busy in my head. We eat the latkes, a nut roast since turkey is not on the menu, and my mom made homemade cranberry sauce.
I make no mistake of the hours on the clock, and when my aunt and mom are busy in the kitchen cleaning up, I rush to the doorbell when I assume that it is Lainey arriving.
Opening the door, I press a smile with my lips. “Welcome.”
“Hey, Tyler, thanks for the gift. It’s awesome.” Enzo seems excited and races into my home before I get a chance to respond. It’s kind of funny.
“Sorry. He’s been talking about this the entire ride home,” Lainey explains.
I place my hand on her shoulder and grab her attention. “Just give me a sign when it’s too much or feel free to fake an illness when they have zero filter,” I say in a hushed tone.
She chuckles under her breath. “I’m sure it’s fine. Right?” She begins to doubt.
“Tyler,” my aunt sing-songs my name.
I grumble to myself and indicate with my head for Lainey to follow me. When we reach the living room, it seems that Enzo has already introduced himself because this kid has confidence and is always fearless, which he could have only gotten from his mom.
“What a little gentleman you have,” my mom compliments Lainey.
“Good to see you both again. Merry Christmas,” Lainey gives a little wave to my dad, “and Happy Hanukkah,” she greets my aunt and uncle.
“I’m Harper, and this is Max,” my aunt introduces herself.
“We ate ham for brunch, but my mom said I wasn’t supposed to say that,” Enzo almost proudly says before running to the table where he must spot the sufganiyot donuts that my mom brought from a special bakery in Chicago.
Lines of awkwardness form on Lainey’s face. “Sorry about that.”
My dad waves her off. “It’s fine. I snuck a piece of bacon this morning that Tyler forgot to pack in your bag. Besides, it’s also Christmas and not your dietary requirements.”
“I’m vegetarian. One with the animals, you know. Tyler tells me that you are a teacher. So am I.” My aunt is already scooting down the couch and patting the spot next to her, indicating that Lainey has no choice but to join her for a chat.
Lainey happily joins her.
Maybe this will all be alright. Everyone returns to their conversations, and I walk to Enzo who is indeed eyeing the donuts. “See something you like?”
“Yes. Are these the ones with jam in the middle?” he asks as if he is an expert.
“Yep. My weakness, I could eat about five,” I admit. When the dough is fluffy enough and the jam proportion is generous and the powdered sugar soft, I’m a goner. Thank goodness for cheat days.
My mother touches my shoulder as she joins me and looks down at Enzo. “Grab a plate for him.” She gives Enzo a big smile.
“Don’t worry. That was already in the plan.”
She rubs my back. “You know, your mood changed the moment they arrived.”
“Enlighten me how.”
“I’ve never seen you this way. That’s a good thing.”
And she’s right.
Lainey endured my aunt babbling her ear off for a solid half-hour.
Enzo stuffed his face with latkes and donuts, and I’m positive he will have a stomach ache later.
He seemed fascinated when my aunt lit the fourth candle.
With the excitement of Lainey’s arrival and the traditions out of the way, we are all enjoying a drink in my living room.
I love Matchbox IPAs, and I was lucky that my uncle Max brought me a case of their new blend. Sitting on the arm of the sofa, Lainey is next to me and sipping on her wine.
“In all honesty, your son was my worst nightmare as a neighbor,” Lainey explains when my dad asks a question about first impressions.
My dad takes a sip of his scotch. “I couldn’t stand Layla when I first met her, either. Plus, her brother was going to kill me anyhow.”
“I’m sure Seb won’t kill Tyler.” She eases his worries with a smile.
My mother lifts her nose as though she just connected a dot. “Why would Seb want to kill my son?” She’s onto us.
Lainey’s mouth opens and a scratched sound leaves her throat. “Oh, I mean, on the ice, of course. They don’t play on the same team anymore.”
“Yeah, those hockey guys are a completely different species when they are on the ice,” my dad comments, oblivious.
“To be honest, I was kind of surprised by the sparkle on the front door. I didn’t take my nephew for a guy who enjoys garland,” my uncle adds his thoughts.
Lainey stifles a laugh. “That’s because I did it to annoy him.”
“He also came to Thanksgiving and annoyed my mom, too.” Everyone whips their attention to Enzo on the floor who is busy drawing.
“I thought you spent the day with a teammate,” my mother grills me.
“That was the plan, but…”
Lainey pretends to glance at an invisible watch. “Look at the time. I probably need to head across the hall and get the little guy ready for bed. There is still wrapping paper scattered around the living room that needs to be cleaned up too.”
I can’t blame Lainey for faking a reason to escape. The room is closing in on us. She helps Enzo pack up his pencils and books before she makes her round saying goodbye to everyone.
As soon as I open my door, Enzo races across the hall and opens their unlocked door. She takes a step but then pauses and spins on her feet to face me. “That was fun.”
My eyes widen, and I blow out a breath. “I mean, it was, just a lot, you know. They can be…”
“They’re special.” She means that sincerely.
I drag my thumb along my chin. “Yeah, they are. Detectives, but family. They always want what is best.”
“Good.”
My face sours, and I scratch the back of my head. “They might have this crazy idea that I’m really into you and we are a thing.”
Her head retreats back slightly. “Is that a crazy idea?” She’s testing me, I can see it. Maybe she is curious.
I’m just going to own this moment; a few seconds pass, and my face eases into a soft smile. “Yeah…” My voice is delicate, even I recognize it. “I am into you.”
She absorbs my words then steps closer, peeking over my shoulder to ensure nobody has snuck into the hallway behind me to watch us. Lainey brings her warm palm up to cup my cheek. “I think I like that.” The corner of her mouth tugs because we are both in agreement.
Her finger points up. “You weren’t joking about the strategic mistletoe.”
I follow her line of sight, and my mouth drops open. Someone must have just put that there because that was not there two hours ago.
“I’m supposed to be enjoying the holiday cheer, so in that case.” I lean in to give her a respectable but long kiss on her cheek. Chaste with a hint of wicked.
We enter our little world again where time stops and our eyes tie together.
“I guess you are away for games the next few days.”
I nod. “I am. We even have a game on New Year’s Eve. It’s a 2pm game, but we probably won’t get back to Illinois until late. Not the first time I’ve missed when the clock strikes midnight.”
She doesn’t say anything. Maybe she was hoping that we could spend it together, or at least I was hoping we could spend it together.
“Doesn’t sound cool. We’re going to a New Year’s party a few floors down. The parents of Enzo’s friend are throwing one. It’ll be easy to get Enzo in bed after midnight,” she explains.
She’ll do anything for him, but maybe I sense that in a different time and place, it wouldn’t be the way that she would celebrate. I wish I could change that. The celebration part.
“Well, I should get back inside,” I mention, but I would rather be here.
“Me too.”
Neither one of our feet moves. I can’t help it, I lean in to kiss her mouth, but she meets me halfway because she wants it too.
This isn’t a soft kiss, it’s wild, reckless, and I trap her against the wall next to my door.
I kiss under her jaw then back up to crash my lips onto her mouth.
Her hands land on my hips, and she jerks me closer.
But I’m aware where we are and do my best to unglue our mouths. Her mouth is red and swollen which means my mouth must be a mess. Our breathing is heavy and everything about it screams that I would take her to bed right now if I could.
Alas, all I can do is enjoy her angelic smile. “Happy Chrismukkah, Tyler.”
“Happy Chrismukkah.” I grin.
She heads inside her apartment, and I wait for her door to click closed before taking a breath to stabilize myself and return to my place.
I’m closing my door behind me when I nearly jump because I’m startled.
“Tyler, a word.” My mom sounds stern, and she never has in my entire life. She’s standing at the end of the hallway waiting for me.
Walking to her, she stands with her arms crossed where the hallway meets the living room.
“Yes, dearest mother.”
She pokes my chest with her finger. “She’s the one.”
“Excuse me.”
“Lainey, she’s the one. Despite your aunt’s theory that her cards and the position of the moon was telling her that Lainey is your one.
” My mom seems to shudder at that idea. “My theory isn’t one at all.
It’s fact. The way you look at her, the way she looks at you, that kid is adorable, and most of all, you are so happy, and it gives me joy.
Even if you haven’t figured it out yet, you will. Others sometimes see it first.”
I bite my cheek, and I’m unable to give a reply.
“You have your hockey career to be a grumpy chunk of steel. Off the ice, you no longer have to be that way. You found your key, and it isn’t just the holidays putting you in this mode—because let’s be honest, come garbage day for tree pickup on January fifth, then you will be rejoicing—but it’s Lainey.
Someone would have to be blind not to see it.
As your mother, I’m telling you not to let her go. ”
“You got all of that from just a few hours?” She nods confidently. I inhale a deep breath. “I hear you.” That’s the generic answer that I give.
She wiggles her finger at me. “Good. New Year’s and Valentine’s Day are now part of your calendar because you have someone to celebrate it with.”
Her hands form a ball, and she brings them to her heart. “This is the best gift to see you this way,” she gushes.
And she’s right.
I’m beginning to understand how I have gotten the best gift.