Page 24

Chapter 24

Born To Be A Passenger Princess

Gabe

Getting railed to high heaven three to five times a week is like the merriest of holiday seasons.

It makes everything better. Nonexistent sun? No problem. Birds flew south for the winter? Okay by me. Neither No Nut November nor overcast skies are effective. Wade didn’t even make it twenty-four hours, and I’m getting more than enough Vitamin D to last me through saddie season.

Sleeping through the alarm this morning gave me an excuse to use a new dry shampoo. The botched batch of cupcakes I was supposed to donate to the Boys and Girls Club’s annual bake sale simply meant swinging by Go Ahead, Cake My Day on my way to work. Even the blizzard raging throughout the day doesn’t get me down.

I shake my head and smile at the frozen, snowy tundra of the network office parking lot. Someone’s started to clean it from one side. I can’t tell which of the custodial staff it is, considering they’re bundled head to toe, but wave a hand in thanks as I take a sip of coffee and move toward the parked Beemer.

I’m pleasantly surprised there’s a shoveled path to the driver’s side. “That’s nice.” Neither of the neighboring cars piled high with the fresh white snow have gotten any attention. I shrug.

Overnight bag thrown in the back, I get into the front with my tumbler, humming the network’s new theme song.

The engine turns with the automatic start button, and I set my lidded mug into its holder. While waiting for the car to warm, I lower my hooded scarf. Something white glimmers in the periphery.

I jolt at the silhouette of a person in my passenger seat with a shrill scream. “ Ahhhhhhhhh! ”

My legs push to scramble backward as far as possible from the intruder, fingers searching for the handle.

But it’s not a person. A six-foot, plush snowman looking smug in his silk top hat, striped scarf, and corncob pipe stares blankly at the visor, a permanent smile embroidered onto his rotund snowball face.

“What the actual fuck?” I curse to myself. Finally, the car door gives and creaks open.

A head pops between me and the door. “ Heyyyy , Freckles.”

I swing a fist but miss.

“Jesus!” The handsome culprit clasps his toque as he tumbles backward.

“Wade!” I seethe, bounding out of the car. “I’m gonna fucking strangle you!”

He prances in a jog through the snow, bursting with giddy laughter at our slow chase. “And I’ll enjoy it!”

“Why are you like this?” I yell. “I thought I was gonna die!”

“ Aww , babycakes ,” Wade croons and stops in his tracks and turns to scoop me up, arms tight around my puffy coat. “I’d never let anything happen to you.”

The snow crunches under his boots as he toddles us back to the XM.

“ Ewwww . Ironically, I prefer Freckles.”

“Ironic? I’m nuts about these gorgeous things.” His nose grazes each cheek before planting audible kisses over them.

“You’re such a simp.” I attempt to uncouple from him by pushing with both hands, but it’s useless. He plops me down by the door.

“For you .”

“And cheesy, too,” I deadpan.

“You love it.” That knowing smirk makes me wanna wipe it off by doing punishing things to him, but there’s no time to act on my less-than-savory intentions. “Want me to drive?”

“No, I will.” My finger draws a circle, motioning for him to round the car.

“ Phew ,” he mimes wiping sweat from his brow, “I was born to be a passenger princess.”

Duffle and hockey sticks stored in the trunk, Wade buckles the snowman in the seat behind him and hops into the front.

I reverse and pull out of the lot. “I thought we were meeting at your place to drive to Landon’s family farm. I was heading your way.”

“I know, but the Rover is getting serviced, and I wanted to surprise you.”

My eyes fall on the sizeable plush figure in the back row through the rearview mirror. “I have many questions.”

He sucks down a gulp of the green contents of his protein shaker. “Ask away.”

“What’s with Frosty?”

He looks over his shoulder. “Whaddya mean?”

“Why is he here?”

“ Ohhhhh ! That’s for Radek’s niece and nephew, Sadie and Gunnar.” His arrogant smile returns in a flash. “I’m their favorite .”

“ Riiiiiight .” I’m pretty sure Indi is their favorite, but don’t want to be the one to remove him from the delusion. “Where do you buy such a thing?”

Wade shushes me loudly and whisper-yells. “He can hear you. Frosty.” He turns over his shoulder to address the silly stuffed toy. “Don’t listen to her. She’s mean. Santa told me he’s putting coal in her stocking.”

“You didn’t answer the question.”

“Where does one buy anything good?”

His hands beckon the answer from me.

“Amazon?”

“Costco.”

“Costco? Why do you have a Costco membership?”

“Why do I ” —he cuts himself off with a sputter of disbelief— “The real question is, why don’t you have a Costco membership?”

“Because I’m only one person.”

“That’s no excuse.” Wade pretends to lick a pen in the air and make a note by drawing squiggles on his palm. “Putting this on my list. Get Freckles a Costco card.”

“Oh, good. Now we won’t forget.” If sarcasm and schtick were a love language, we’ve got it down pat. “Also, how did you get Frosty into my car?”

“I’m very persuasive.”

“Are you?”

“And charming, too.”

“Mmhmm, mmhmm. Who was it?”

“It was a joint effort between Aden in security and your PA. He’s a fan, and your PA is very helpful.”

I raise an eyebrow. “You been flirting with my PA?”

Wade scoffs and spreads a hand over his chest, aghast. I don’t fall for his theatrics.

“I wouldn’t dream of it!”

I hit the gas, speeding up to merge onto 417 West.

“Whoa, Nelly.” His hands brace, gripping the console and door handle. “I can’t watch this.” He leans forward to unzip his backpack and retrieves a fluffy pink sleep mask with two eyelashed curves and the words, shhh…I’m sleeping , printed in swirly script. He quietly slips it over his eyes, wiggling his hips and shoulders to get comfortable.

I mouth a wow .

Wade snaps his fingers and points in my direction. “I saw that.”

“When you said passenger princess, you meant it.”

“You bet your sweet ass I did.” The power seat whirs as he reclines. “Wake me up in thirty, Freckles.”

“Sorry, do I look like your mother?”

“Not even a little bit,” he snipes back, unperturbed by my snark. “You can keep mouthing off, but in half an hour, both of us are gonna be in the backseat, and only one of us will have this over our eyes. I have no qualms about traumatizing Frosty with whatever happens back there.”

I seal my lips.

The four-and-a-half-hour trip takes six because… activities , and night falls by the time we reach the property in the middle of nowhere Ontario.

Radek’s family farmhouse is picturesque, like the Christmas scene printed in a Thomas Kinkade calendar for the month of December, snow-topped rolling hills, and glassy iced-over lakes reflecting moonlight while we follow the gravel driveway.

“Sorry we missed dinner.” Wade puffs out a breath and sways his head when Landon greets us in the foyer. “The holiday traffic was something else this year.”

“That’s okay. Glad you could make it, man.” Their hands clap together before they hug. “You two hungry?”

Wade doesn’t miss a beat and pats his belly. “I’m stuffed.”

My mind sweeps away to three hours ago when Wade sucked my clit so hard, I mashed Frosty’s face into the window and turned into a soprano.

Landon clears his throat, throwing a discerning glance between the two of us.

“I’m famished,” I say, straight-faced.

“I bet. Your boyfriend is an inconsiderate snack hog.” Radek shakes his head and pulls his mouth into a disappointed frown. “C’mon, I’ll show you to the guest house, then make you a plate. Babi made dessert to have while we open prezzies. Get me anything good, Boehner?”

“Yeah, a decent wrist shot. You’ve been flubbing those recently.”

They horse around on the brief walk, shoving each other until Landon curls an arm around Wade’s neck.

Why do they call men grown if it never happens?

I roll my eyes and imagine Indi would be doing the same if she were here.

“Hey, where’s Indi?”

“She’s inside, keeping her feet up.”

“She okay?” I point my thumb over my shoulder. “Should I go back in there?”

Landon pshaws. “Nothing to worry about. Normal pregnancy stuff. They ache after standing for a while.” He tuts. “My gorgeous wife played sous chef with Babi, Mom, and Delaney all day. And she won’t take a break and sit while coaching either.”

The car beeps, trunk rising with a whish as I hit the remote key.

“I’ve been working with the league to hire an assistant in secret. Your friend is unbelievably stubborn.”

“You’re telling me,” Wade chimes in. “It’s basically the reason they’re friends.”

Landon tosses him the sticks and grabs our bags while I trail behind them, empty-handed. A small, matching cabin stands to the left of the main house, donning a festive holly wreath on the door.

Our gracious host punches in the key code and explains how to reset it to whatever we want.

“I already had my dessert,” Pretty Boy mumbles from the corner of his mouth against my ear. “Three times.”

“Quiet, you.”

“What’s that?” Landon pries.

“How about we meet you back at the house in a few? I need to freshen up.”

“Alright, see you in a bit.”

I switch out my grungy, beat-up jeans and flannel top for a maroon sweater and leggings, and use the washroom mirror to untwist my delicate gold chain. Wade brushes aside the waves draping my shoulders and dots kisses on the cusp of my neck. We share a lazy hum.

“You doin’ okay?”

“Yeah. Why wouldn’t I be?”

He palms my nape and turns me to face him. “Your dad’s in India.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.”

“Gabe.” His voice is stern, cutting through my defense mechanism like a hot knife through butter.

My head sags but stays supported by his hold. “I’m fine. He wanted to go and I wasn’t ready yet. What do you want me to say?”

His stance widens and pins me to the vanity, cradling my jaw between his strong hands. “I want you to tell me the truth.”

The truth?

That I’m more attached to him than I thought was possible in three months? That I might be as obsessed with him as he is with me, but if I show it, he’ll freak out, and my heart won’t be able to take losing anyone else? That I’m more afraid of the loneliness waiting for me beyond New Year’s Day when we’re not together any longer?

I give him another truth instead.

My arms circle his waist, cinching him to me. “I’ve got everything I need right here.”

“ Oh , Freckles ,” he intones, tipping up my head so our mouths bump.

I smile where the seams of our lips meet. “I meant Indi.”

The extended Radek family fills the hearth room of the farmhouse. I’m familiar with a few from past interviews. His parents, grandparents, sister, and her kids. Others look similar enough to tell they’re related.

Some sip hot toddies and nod at us in mutual recognition, stopping Wade to chat. A couple of his nieces and nephews fish marshmallows from their hot cocoa. Indi stretches out on a couch where Delaney, Landon’s sister, massages her feet. A fire flickers in the fireplace next to a twelve-foot tree.

Landon unexpectedly pushes her off the cushion and jumps into her spot. “Get lost, Laney. This is my job.”

His sister rolls her eyes. “Cool it, caveman. I’m not looking to ‘steal yo girl’ or anything.”

Landon scowls at his sister, then melts to kiss Indi’s feet. “I’m sorry, she’s a beast.”

“I think we both know who the beast is?—”

“Laney…” a woman’s voice warns. I can’t tell if it came from his mom or grandmother.

Indi and I make eye contact. She waves me over. “Don’t mind them. Come hang out.”

Wade doesn’t let go of his clasp on my hand, and I snap back like a boomerang.

“Let go,” I say through a chuckle and make a second attempt with the same outcome. “Cut it out.”

“Need my kiss first.” His gaze floats to the frame of the opening above us. Mine tracks after, ending on the mistletoe.

My jaw sidewinds, tongue poking through my cheek at the smartass, but let him cup my face with his free hand and pull me towards his bowed, gleeful mouth.

“Haven’t you had enough?” I whisper against his lips.

“Of you? Never.”

We giggle through the playful smooch, keeping it clean for the sake of the children. Our audience cheers and applauses.

“You’re the worst kind of trouble,” he groans, fluttering those thick, dark lashes.

“Why?”

“Because I wouldn’t mind getting into you again and again.”

“You’re such a turd.” My open palm lands on his shoulder as his childlike grin widens. “Now unhand me, you brute.”

Sometimes, I forget that in big families, there’s almost no privacy. I sit down next to my friend but am being touched by at least three other women. One sandwiches me to Indi, and two on the back of the couch continue a conversation over us.

One of the smallest kiddos rubs their eyes and whines. Delaney goes over to collect her and leads her up the stairs amidst whines of wanting to stay up until Santa comes.

Indi seems to understand my growing panic. “I know. It’s a lot.” Her hand rests on my arm. “You get used to it.”

“You fit right in.”

“I do, don’t I?” Her eyes go round and glossy, hand on my arm returning to its spot on the swell of her lower belly. “Who would have thought?”

As much as I love the smart-mouthed, snippy Indi, this Indi is so joyful, so comfortable. So herself.

“ D’oh !” I facepalm. “I didn’t get you a Christmas present.”

“Who cares ?” Indi inflects. “You being here is what matters.” She extends her arms for a hug, and I give it to her.

“Your boobs are getting so big,” I say in her ear.

“It’s a sweaty curse I wish upon no one. This is probably what Bea feels like 24/7. Poor thing. She’s struggling so hard right now. I miss her and won’t see her until…” She pauses, her eyes brightening with a thought. “Would you make garden-themed cupcakes for the baby shower in March?”

“ Um , duh.”

“Oh, thank God. Anjali Davé is already in planning mode. We’re all suffering under her iron fist.”

Delaney returns with a large album. “Look what I found,” she sing-songs. She wedges herself between Indi and me as everyone on the sofa scoots over to make space for one more. Others hover from behind.

It’s Landon and Indi’s wedding album.

Stunning photo after photo is oohed and aahed at as she flips through the pages.

They tease Landon for being bricked up in all of the pictures, posed or candid.

I stifle a giggle at the series of groomsmen poses.

Landon tears through the loosely forming memory of that night by shooting his arms in the air. “I couldn’t help it! My wife is fucking hot .”

A raspy voice draws my attention away. It blends with the sweet pitch of a young child. I escape the clutches of the couch by crawling away and find Wade in the kitchen, seated on a bay window with Landon’s nephew on one knee, his overgrown blond curls bouncing as they sing the lyrics of “Beggin’” by M?neskin. My shoulder bites into the wall where I lean, needing all the support I can get, considering my ovaries are spontaneously combusting.

Wade peters off when he notices me. Landon’s nephew pouts.

“No stopping!”

Delaney rushes in. “There you are, ya lil stinker. Come on, Gunnar. Time for bed.” She picks him up with a grunt and waves. “Goodnight, Uncle Wade. Night, Miss Gabe.”

When we’re alone, my neck swivels to the little liar. “You sing?”

His shoulders lift and drop. “I sing all the time.”

“Not like this. You can actually sing .” An exhale hurls from my windpipe. “So what? You’re pretending to be the NHL’s worst singer?”

“Better than being the worst goalie.”

“You got me there. Hey,” I nudge him with my knee, “that was pretty cute.”

“I know.”

That dimple in his cheek is a menace to my swooning reproductive system.

“You don’t even know what I’m talking about yet.”

“That’s okay. I’m always cute.”

“And annoying. Don’t forget annoying.”

His elbow digs into mine before the same arm squeezes our shoulders together.

“I’m not used to saying nice things about you, especially not to you, but…” My nose kisses his stubbled cheek. “I think you’d be an amazing dad someday.”

The smirk on his face dissolves. “I don’t know about that.”

“Well, I’m pretty sure I’m always right, so…”

Wade tosses his head back and laughs, the three quick ha ha ha ’s enveloping my heart in their warmth. He slopes toward me and drops a lingering kiss in the corner of my jaw. “You’re the best.”

In bed later that night, Wade addresses the massive elephant in the room. We stare at one another from our pillows.

“What’s the game plan for after New Year?”

“ Um .”

“It ends.”

“Yep.” My tucked hands shift under my head.

“Do you wanna stop?”

“No,” I admit, cheeks flaming.

Wade beams. “Neither do I.”

My eyes screw shut. “We’re idiots.”

“Yeah, we are.” The crook of his finger cradles my chin. “Hey.”

“ Mm ?”

Excitement and relief peer back at me. “Let’s not stop.”

“Okay.”

He snickers at the eager reply. “Merry Christmas, Freckles.”

“Merry Christmas, Pretty Boy.”