Hayley
T is the season to be merry.
Or is it tis the season to have drama.
Currently, that’s how my life has been going.
It started when my parents invited Brooks and me to join them for Christmas in Tahiti.
Tahiti would have been nice, except for the fact we only have a three-day break for the holidays.
Oh, and we can’t forget the small fact that during my entire confession session with Brooks a few weeks ago, I forgot to mention that my real last name is Richards, and I’m the daughter of the owner of his team.
Yeah. Just a small little oversight. One where I have once again screwed myself over with a truth I can’t seem to come out with.
“Is Cassidy bringing that tool Burch to dinner tonight?” Brooks says, pulling the turkey from my double oven.
Oh, yeah. Did I forget to mention that with my own drama I have brewing, there’s unspoken drama between Cassidy and Channing now.
“I’m afraid so.”
“I want words with that ass tonight,” he snarls while sharpening the carving knife. “I don’t trust the dick, especially after hearing he sided with Cameron.”
“Shh. Can you keep your voice down?” I say, placing my hand on Brooks’ arm.
His muscle bunches in tension before relaxing.
“Camden still has no clue about any of this. If he heard what his father was trying to pull and then found out who he was before I had lawyers involved, it could be a catastrophe waiting to happen.”
He places down the carving knife before returning to face me, pulling me in for a tight hug. “I know. I’m just so pissed off by this entire situation. Did that girl Kyle referred you to get back to you yet?”
“Yes,” I say, pulling away to take a sip of my wine from the counter.
After the Kyle debacle, he put me in touch with his friend Jess.
She’s a lawyer for Tommasi, Manfredi, and Associates, a top firm here in Seattle.
Even though she’s leaving the firm, she has agreed to help me.
“She’ll get in touch after the holidays.
Not to change the subject though…” Totally changing it on purpose. “Is Channing coming tonight?”
“Yeah, said he was bringing a date.”
A date?
I know Channing has had a thing for Cassidy since he joined the team a few years ago.
He’s the one guy Cassidy has gravitated to in a long time.
She’s always down for a hookup. One and done.
A wham bam, thank you, ma’am type of ordeal.
However, I know when Cassidy started to let Channing in, she wasn’t down for that anymore.
I’m not entirely too sure what happened between Channing and Cassidy, but I know that she showed up to my house one night, dressed to the nines in the pouring down rain with tears streaming down her face.
After that, she and Channing were friendly, but not as they once were.
“Is he bringing a date to make Cassidy jealous?” I say, bringing plates over to the dining room table to set up for Christmas dinner.
“Nah, I brought a date because I didn’t want to be the odd man out,” Channing says, strutting into the kitchen. “Merry Christmas,” he says, placing a kiss on my cheek before shaking Brooks’ hand. “This is Natasha Bedford, my lady of the evening.”
Natasha couldn’t be anymore opposite from Cassidy.
She’s tall and modelesque, wearing a black form-fitting dress that makes her legs seem to go on for miles.
While her platinum- blond hair is styled into perfect waves cascading down her back, there’s no way in hell that’s all her hair; my guess is extensions all the way.
I give Brooks a curious glance as he furrows his brows in confusion.
“It’s so nice to meet you. Thank you for inviting me to your home, Harley.”
“It’s Hayley,” I say, cutting her off but not fazing her in the least.
“And Brooks, it’s always a pleasure to see you. What’s it been… almost a year?” she says, making eye contact with Brooks, a devilish smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.
Oh, God. Channing has brought a fucking puck bunny to Christmas dinner. What in the sweet baby Jesus is he thinking.
“Not long enough apparently,” Brooks mumbles under his breath, pulling me closer to his side. “Almost didn’t recognize you with all the work you’ve had done recently.”
I look at Channing, who’s rolling his eyes as he pours two fingers full of whiskey, while Natasha’s smirk grows into a full-blown seductive smile. “Kind of you to notice the upgrades.”
Yup, puck bunny and a complete and total ruse to get a rise out of Cassidy.
“Party’s here!” I hear Cassidy bellow as the front door slams shut. “Sorry we’re late. Had to stop to pick up some more libations for this eve…”
She stops abruptly in the entryway to the kitchen, eyeing the room suspiciously as Vince runs into the back of her, wrapping his arms around her waist, suddenly breaking her internal thoughts.
The tension in the room is heated and stifling, growing as Cassidy’s eyes wander from Natasha, who is ogling the fuck out of Brooks, to Channing.
That vacation in Tahiti with my parents sounds better than ever right about now.
“Cass, thank you for the wine,” I say, walking to her and grabbing the bottle from her hand.
“Vince, good to see you.” Not. “Well, now that we’re all here, I think it’s time to say that dinner is now served,” I say, gripping Brooks’ hand as a signal to follow my lead.
“Camden. Buddy, time for dinner.” I move toward the entryway to call on him.
Cam comes into the dining room fist bumping Brooks and Channing before taking a seat on the opposite side of me.
Food is passed back and forth around the table, to the sound of silver scrapping against plates.
I look around the table, listening to the side conversations.
How did this weird, dysfunctional group become my family?
Well, everyone minus Natasha who looks like she’s about to be murdered by Cassidy.
It’s weird. Camden and I used to spend Christmas alone mainly because I had to work.
We never seemed to mind the absence of family, yet today, I can’t imagine another holiday without it.
“So, Halloway,” Cassidy says, clearing her throat. “Who’s the bunny you brought with you?” The words pour from her lips like venom as she narrows her eyes at him.
Natasha howls like a monkey, laughing as if the comment Cassidy had called her is the most hilarious thing she’s ever heard. I watch as she runs her hands up his arm and across his chest, pushing his hair back on his head. “This is Natasha. Natasha… Cassidy. Cassidy… Natasha.”
Natasha waves a little too eagerly at Cassidy. “And she’s not a puck bunny. She’s an aspiring sports reporter and model if you must know.”
Bunny.
“Pff,” Cassidy snorts as she takes a sip of her wine. “Is that what you’re calling women who sleep with multiple pro-athletes nowadays?”
“Cass—” I begin to say as I’m cut off by a loud laugh.
God, I swear she sounds like a howler monkey.
“Cassandra, was it?” Natasha smiles, showing off the white porcelain veneers I’m sure one of her flavors of the month paid for.
“Cassidy,” she snaps back.
“Whatever.” She waves her off. “Channing and I aren’t just a one-time thing. In fact, we know each other very well. He has had some big, BIG plans for us,” she says, placing her hand on Channing’s crotch, causing him to flinch and spit his drink halfway across the table.
“Big plans where you take advantage of him and all his money. Then leave him for someone else?” Cassidy says, slamming her hands down on the dinner table.
“Actually…”
“Enough,” I say, standing from my chair.
“Channing, I think it’s time you take Tasha here home.
” Natasha begins to interrupt me, but I cut her off before she can get a word in.
“For Christ sakes, my son is here at the table and the entire time you’ve been here, you’ve done nothing but make sexual innuendos, flirt with my boyfriend, laughed like a goddamn howler monkey, and grab Channing inappropriately.
Now if I were you, I would get the hell out of my house before I remove you myself, you underrated plastic barbie. ”
Giving in to defeat, Channing gives me a solemn nod before standing and ushering Natasha to the door.
I know Channing is doing this to only get a rise out of Cassidy.
I get it. We all get it. One can’t notice how he looks at her as if she’s hung the moon and the stars.
But he lollygagged for too long and ultimately lost her to Vince.
Not an upgrade or prize-winning cow at the fair if you ask me.
Trying to lower my blood pressure, I excuse myself from the table, stepping onto the back deck, breathing in the fresh crisp air of December. ‘So much for a drama-free Christmas.’ I mumble to myself as I wrap my arms tightly to my chest.
“I’m sorry,” Cassidy’s voice says from behind me.
“What the fuck was that back in there, Cass?” I snap, pointing at the house behind her. “Camden is sitting at that table. My son. Your nephew.”
“I know. I’m sorry. “
“You’re engaged to Vince, so why the fucking witch hunt on Channing?” I pry.
She looks over her shoulder at Vince and Brooks sitting at the table in an intense stare off. “She was using him for his money.”
“She’s a puck bunny. That’s never bothered you before,” I say, walking up next to her and staring at the guys from the sliding doors. “You can’t bullshit a bullshitter. So, what’s the real reason you lost it on Channing?”
Cassidy has never been open about any feelings or relationships in general.
It’s one of the main reasons I was so taken aback by her sudden engagement to Vince.
I hadn’t even known that she was dating anyone until she showed up at Thanksgiving dinner looking like she snagged the last turkey from the supermarket shelves.
Something more happened between her and Channing. There’s a history there that for some unknown reason, she won’t open up to me about.
“Two years ago, when Channing was first traded to the team, I was smitten by him. One night after a game we won, I threw myself at him, and he walked away from me,” she says, taking a deep breath as if all the air has escaped from her lungs.
“You like him.”
“Liked,” she says, looking over at me. “Keyword there. I liked him. Now he’s just a… “
“Friend?”
She shakes her head. “I’m sorry I ruined tonight for you and Camden. I know this is your first Christmas without your parents.”
Yeah, because I couldn’t tell Brooks that I’m the owner’s daughter when I spilled my guts. I choked like Toronto in the playoffs last year.
“Honestly… this is probably the first holiday that felt like a real family Christmas,” I say, pulling her in for a hug. “My parents always made Christmas a huge spectacle or a boring dinner.”
“Gotta admit… Drilling Channing with all those questions about that puck bunny was entertaining,” she says, walking back toward the door with me.
“Yeah, but let’s not make a habit of this when I have parties, okay?”
“Deal.”
◆◆◆
Brooks loads the dishwasher, while I get Camden settled for bed.
It’s nice having him here to help me out with all of this.
This is how it should have been all along.
The family dynamic that Camden has deserved all those years.
Yeah, my parents do a great job trying to make his life seem as normal as possible, but nothing about it is normal.
He has an over-worked mom, an absent father, and grandparents who spoil him way too much.
Watching Brooks with Camden as he opens gifts makes my chest fill with warmth.
He’s wonderful with Cam, so good that I can’t help but imagine him with a child of his own.
One that looks just like him with dark-brown locks and blue eyes that sparkle every time they see him.
Kind of how Cam lights up every time Brooks is around.
Deep down, I know Brooks could be my forever. The more I spend time with him and see Camden with him, I can’t help but envision a future together. But would Brooks be willing to have all that with me? Start a family with Camden and me. Build a life together with room to grow.
“Thank you for doing that,” I say, staring at him as he loads the last dish.
He waltzes up to me, his hand wrapping around my waist, pulling me close to him before brushing his lips against mine. “You’re welcome.” He kisses me a few more times before pulling away. Worried lines marring him forehead.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah, just a little tired. Come, let’s sit. I want to talk to you about something.”
I follow him to the sofa, a warm fire roaring in the fireplace as soft music filters in the background. The light from the Christmas tree illuminates the barely lit room. He hands me a glass of red wine, before sitting down with his own glass of whiskey.
“Are you all right?” I say, taking a sip of my wine and snuggling into his side.
His stare bores into the flames of the fire as he swirls his glass of whiskey gently. His finger runs up and down my arm as tension builds in the room. “Did Vince say something to you at dinner? You’re acting strange.”
“No.” His response is clipped and quick. “No, I just… you told me everything. Everything about Boyce and whatnot, right?”
I knew Vince said something to him. Boyce probably sent him here to plant seeds of doubt in my relationship with Brooks. But for what purpose.
“Yes,” I say, reassuring him.
He nods before pulling me back into his side, a warm kiss pressing to the top of my head. “Hey,” I mumble into his chest. “I was thinking… maybe we should talk about you staying over here on like a more permanent basis.”
“Are you asking me to move in with you, Red?”
“Only if you want to,” I say with a small smile. “I know you have your place, but it’s nice having you here. And I know Cam loves you being around.” I like you being around. “You don’t need to give me an answer tonight, but I just love having you here. I love you.”
The words slip out of my mouth before I can stop them. I know he mouthed them to me before the game in Arizona, but I thought he wasn’t being serious. That it was a ruse. Yet the way his lips fuse to mine after I’ve said them now, solidifies any shred of doubt I have.
“I love you too,” he says back before his mouth meets mine again. Claiming me.
He is mine.