Chapter 34 #2
“It was nothing, really.” I shake my head. “If Janie hadn’t been so committed, I’m not sure I could’ve seen this through.”
For a few minutes, the conversation drifts to everyone’s Christmas plans—who’s going where, what they’re having for dinner, the usual holiday chaos.
Then Brax’s tone shifts. “One more thing, Rourke.” Brax moves closer to the phone. “Don’t disappear like that again without telling us where you’re going. We’re your family too. And what you did—running off like that—was crazy stupid.”
“Thanks, guys,” I say, trying to appear normal, even though my throat feels tight. “I’ve never had a family that cares about my crazy stupid stuff before.”
“And now you won’t be able to get rid of us,” Brax jokes.
“All right, enough mushy stuff,” Leo announces. “Go eat your breakfast and do whatever disgustingly cute couple things you’re planning to do now that you found each other.”
“And, Janie,” Brendan calls, “welcome to the family. I’ll warn you though, these guys never shut up. Like seriously, never.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” she says, squeezing my arm as she shares the screen with me.
“Merry Christmas, everyone,” I say one last time.
“Merry Christmas!” everyone says at once, waving at the screen before it goes dark.
Janie hands Aria more wrapping paper to play with. “I love your team.”
“They’re like brothers…but more annoying.”
“Well,” she says, sitting on the floor with Aria, “I always wanted some annoying brothers.”
Seeing the gifts still wrapped under the plant reminds me of one more surprise. “Hey, I have something for you. It’s for Aria actually, but you’ll appreciate it more than she will.”
Janie looks at me curiously. “You already got us gifts, remember?” She points at the glass star now hanging from the plant. “No way was I going to leave my favorite present behind.”
I glance at the star, then back to her. “I can’t believe you dragged that all the way here.”
She shrugs, smiling. “Priorities, Riley.”
I cross the room to retrieve the box. When I hold it out for her, she eyes me suspiciously before opening the lid. Inside is a matching Crushers jersey for Aria with my name on the back.
“Rourke,” she says, holding it up. “You got one for her too?”
“I was going to give it to you after the pageant, but then I saw you with Nick—”
“And decided to be noble instead,” she finishes.
“Noble and stupid,” I say with a soft laugh. “Could we try it on her? I want to see both my girls wearing my name.”
She carefully slides the jersey over Aria’s head as she squirms.
When she turns to face me, Aria in her arms, both of them wearing my jersey, everything in me goes still. Everything I didn’t think I deserved, standing right in front of me.
“What do you think?” she asks, turning around to face a mirror on the wall.
I move behind them, placing my hands on Janie’s shoulders as I study our reflection. “I’ve never seen anything more beautiful in my life.” I pause, meeting her eyes in the mirror. “I wanted you both to have something that shows the world you’re part of my home team.”
For a beat, she’s quiet, just staring at our reflection. Then she turns in my arms and rises up to kiss me.
“Thank you,” she whispers. “For letting us be part of your team.”
Then she steps back to reach behind our little tree and pulls out another package. “You’re not the only one with a surprise.”
I unwrap each end of the present before letting the paper fall open.
It’s a framed photo of Aria and me from when we were decorating the Christmas tree with Janie.
I’m holding Aria while she reaches for an ornament, grinning like she owns the world.
And I’m gazing at her like a guy who finally gets it—this is it. This is everything.
Janie touches my arm. “You said you never had good holiday memories. So I wanted to give you one—the moment you became part of our family.”
I stare at the photo, seeing myself through her eyes. The man in that photo isn’t running anymore. He’s found what he never thought he’d want—love, family, and yes, even Christmas.
“Read the back,” she whispers.
I turn the frame over and see the inscription: “Our First Christmas Together.”
“Janie,” I say, studying the picture, my throat tight. “You have no idea what this means to me.”
I set the photo on the coffee table where I can still see it, then pull her into my arms, her back resting against my chest as we sit on the floor.
“You know, you didn’t just help me see the holidays differently.
” I kiss her head before resting my cheek against her hair, thinking of how different this year is from every other season past. “You accepted me—despite all my complaining about the commercialism, the fake cheer, and the endless decorations. You let me be me.”
I look around the cabin—at the decorated plant, at Aria jubilantly ripping paper, and Janie curled against me wearing my jersey.
“Next year,” I say, “we’re getting a bigger tree and tons of tinsel. The whole house—lights, garland, the works. And a stocking for Aria that’s twice the size of mine.”
Janie turns toward me. “You’re already planning next Christmas?”
“Yeah. We’re a family now. Might as well start arguing about how many lights are too many.” The words roll off my tongue like it’s the most natural thing in the world. I tilt her face toward mine. “Every Christmas for the rest of our lives.”
As my lips meet hers, I realize something incredible.
I don’t just like Christmas anymore. I love it.