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The Pumas were one of the country’s top teams. It had been a no-brainer.

Hockey still wasn’t as popular in Germany as it was in other countries, yet I earned three times more than I had before. Games sold out quickly, merchandise was popular, and our fans were great.

Let’s not forget that they have the hottest captain in the league.

Just like Austrians, Danes celebrated Christmas on the 24th of December.

Christmas hadn’t bothered me much in past years. But somehow spending this time with Arne made me giddy with excitement.

“Good morning, Yndling.” My gorgeous viking woke me with a soft kiss.” I have a surprise for you. Is that all right?”

“Good morning, Princess.” I yawned and cuddled him closer to my chest. I loved to feel his naked skin on my feathers. If I could, I’d crawl inside him. “Why wouldn’t that be okay?”

He shuddered when my lips found his neck.

“Well, I read a lot about autism. One article said that neurodivergent people often struggle with surprises.”

“You read articles on autism?”

“Yes?” He sounded uncertain.

“Princess.” I pulled him around and took his mouth in a deep kiss. “You actually read stuff about autism?”

“I did.” Arne gasped for breath. “I thought I could find some things that would help me be a better partner for you…”

Tears blurred my vision but I managed to find him.

“I love you, Arne,” I sobbed into the kiss.

“I love you, too, Max. Shh, baby. You are important to me. If there’s anything I can do to make life easier for you, I will.”

Fresh tears spilled down my cheeks. I buried my face in his chest and cried for way longer than my partner trying to accommodate me should require.

Nobody ever had. Not to this extent.

“Okay, let’s go.” I freed myself from his embrace and sat up.

“Are you sure, baby?” Arne sat up, too. He tilted his head at me, a soft smile on his lips, and reached out to brush the curls off my sweaty face.

His chest hair was plastered to his skin.

“Yes! Is it a good surprise?”

His smile widened, crinkling the corners of his eyes. “I hope so. Put on warm clothes, yeah?”

We got dressed and got into the car. My boyfriend—Goddess, I loved calling him that—kept his hand on my thigh the entire time.

“Oh, is that what I think it is?”

“It’s a Christmas tree farm. I thought you’d like to pick our juletræet.”

“Say that again.”

“What? Juletræet?” He grinned at me.

“Yep, that sounds so cute.”

“What is that in German?”