After
Christmas
Tessa
Slater parks the rental car, and I lean forward. “I can’t believe we’re here!” I turn to him. “Thank you!”
“I told you I would get you to your family for Christmas.”
I sigh. “You’re pretty wonderful. Have I mentioned that?”
He smirks. “Maybe just a few times.”
“Well, it’s true.” Slater surprised me a few days after his big game with what he said was an early Christmas present and handed me two tickets to fly home.
I’m so glad we have this time away. It’s been an interesting time.
He told me about everything that went down that night with Sam when we got back into town after the College Cup.
I still can’t believe it all. I sat in on the pack meeting as Alpha Blackwood made plans for moving forward.
I took it all in, in a daze. I feel awful knowing that Sam is dead, and that Slate is the one that had to kill her.
But I know he did the right thing, something Alpha Blackwood has affirmed several times.
I can’t help feeling awful that I feel safer now that she’s gone, but I do.
“Do you think your parents figured it out yet?” Slater asks, interrupting my thoughts.
“Nope. They have no clue. I talked to my mom this morning, and she was bemoaning her first Christmas without her baby girl.”
“Well, then, I guess we should get you inside,” he says with a grin.
I step out and take a deep breath of the crisp, cold air. “It says we’re supposed to get snow tonight.” I turn to him. “Wouldn’t that be magical? Snow on Christmas? Does it get any more romantic than that?”
He takes my hand in his and squeezes gently. “Nope.”
We walk up the steps, and I can’t stop my smile. “I can’t wait to see my mom’s face,” I tell him as we take the last few steps to the door. I ring the doorbell and wait. And when the door opens a minute or so later, it doesn’t disappoint.
My mom takes one look at me and starts sobbing. “Tessa! Oh baby!” She wraps her arms around me, and I look at Slater’s startled face over my mom’s shoulder.
I get my emotions from her.
He smiles. That explains so much.
My mom pulls back and puts her hand on my cheek. “I can’t believe you came home for Christmas!” Then she faces the open door. “Honey! Get out here!”
“What is it?” my stepfather says, stepping outside to join us.
“Tessa, Honey.” His arms encircle me, and I melt into his embrace.
It’s odd. It’s an amazing hug; my stepdad always gives the best hugs.
But it doesn’t feel quite the same anymore.
Or maybe the hug hasn’t changed, but I have.
Because my stepdad’s hugs don’t give me the sensation of being home like they used to.
Now...I look over to Slater and feel tears come to my eyes because his hugs feel like home now.
Shorty, what is it?
I smile. These are happy tears. I’ve been teaching him that there’s such a thing as happy tears; he’s still a little skeptical.
Tears are still tears, he reminds me.
I laugh softly. I know. I pull back from my mom and my stepdad. I take a step over to Slater and take his hand in mine. I watch as my parents both take in the soccer player standing on their front porch and our joined hands. “Mom, Dad. This is—”
“Slater Thorne,” my stepdad says first with wide eyes. Then he coughs and looks over at me.
I laugh. “Yes, this is Slater Thorne.” I smile up at Slater, and he smiles down at me. That smile is so full of warmth and the future. I see the future every time I look up into his face. “My Hotshot and the guy who holds my heart.”