Page 26 of You Make It Feel like Christmas

M OST PEOPLE CALLED N ICK by his last name.

But he was thinking, after not giving in to every shower fantasy he’d had over the last six months—all of which involved Maisie—his nickname should be Hercules.

Because not giving them both what they wanted was one of the hardest things he’d ever had to do.

He chuckled to himself at the thought. Literally.

Tossing the towel he’d used to dry off with in the hamper, he tugged on boxers, joggers, and a T-shirt before picking up his phone from the nightstand and dialing his publicist’s number.

Unsurprisingly, Hannah picked up before the end of the first ring.

There was a team publicist but Nick felt better having his own.

“There’s a town called Merry?” she asked. “And you’re subbing for goats in it?”

“Yes to both. My sister and nephew live here.”

“Tell me, Nick, my seventh-favorite client, how do you go from ‘keep me off the map and under the radar for a bit’ to standing in for a goddamn goat in a nowhere town that I’m still not convinced is real?”

Nick sank down onto the bed, brows knit together. “Seventh? What the hell, Han?”

“You were higher this morning but since then, gifts from two other clients arrived at my door and bumped you.”

He shook his head, smiling. He had a good team of people around him. “Your gift will get there. Then I go back to number one.”

“Aw, that’s cute. I rep Carrie Elliot. But nice try.”

This time, he outright laughed. Carrie was a famous-by-birthright, funny-as-hell, down-to-earth philanthropist-socialite-sometimes-actress. Nick had met her a few times and liked her a hell of a lot.

“I’ll let that one go. Listen, I know I asked you to keep me out of the headlines right now but it was for a good cause.” And it was fun, but he wasn’t admitting that to anyone. “Sorry if I made your job harder.”

She sighed into the phone. “Don’t ever apologize for making me work, Nick. That’s what I’m here for. Honestly, it probably did more good than anything else because there’s rumors about a trade, about your injury, and your future in general. Are you doing okay?”

No mention of panic attacks or retirement, so it was still a win.

Better than expected. “I’m good. I’m spending time with my family and enjoying the break.

” The words I want to retire sat like a heavy weight on his tongue.

But once he said it, he couldn’t take it back even if it stayed between them.

Was he ready to take that step? He needed to get back on the ice. Then he’d know.

“I’m glad. You needed it. Your knee is okay? Are you ready for the Seattle game on December thirty-first?”

The schedule was part of why this holiday had worked out perfectly. He was 99 percent sure he was ready physically. It was the mental piece tripping him up. What if he froze? Had a panic attack on the ice? What if he got hurt? What if playing again only took away his ability to play?

It was like he could feel each of his ribs restricting around his heart and lungs. “I’ll call you on the twenty-sixth.”

“Nick.” He heard the empathy in her voice. She might not know all the details but she knew he was struggling and had handled him missing a few games and not traveling with the team like a pro. Spun everything in his favor. “You need to do what’s best for you.”

He wished there was a way to know, with absolute certainty, what that was. “I know. I’m figuring that out.”

“Okay. Merry Christmas, Nick.”

“You too.”

They hung up and he tossed his phone on the bed, shoved his hands into his still-damp hair, and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. A tiny knock preceded Asher by barely a second.

“Uncle Nick, it’s dinner time. Then we’re making cookies,” Asher said, bouncing on both feet toward him.

He kept two-foot jumping, making Nick laugh, until he was right in front of him.

“You a bunny?”

Asher tipped his head back and laughed then looked at him. “No. I’m a kanaroo.”

Nick picked Asher up, lifted him into the air, his chest loosening with the little guy’s laughter. “Kangaroo?”

“That’s what I said.”

“Sure, buddy.”

As they headed for the door, Asher curled into him. “Hop, Uncle Nick.”

Nick shook his head. “Nice try, bud.”

D INNER INCLUDED SOME NOTICEABLE tension between Maisie and her mother and Nick wondered if that was what had her in tears earlier. He hated that he felt protective of her. How was he supposed to focus on his future while his mind was spinning with thoughts of her, him, them? Tangled up together.

“Eat your carrots, Ash,” Ellie said.

Asher pushed them around on his plate. Colton stole one from him, making the kid laugh.

“Uncle Colton, that’s mine.”

“I thought you didn’t want them,” Colt said, making Asher giggle.

The look Jake gave his husband did something weird to Nick’s gut.

What would it be like to know, without a doubt, that the person looking back at you wanted you for good?

All of you, at your best and your worst. His gaze landed on Maisie.

She smiled softly, her eyes not lighting up the way they usually did.

“Your sister has some news,” Maisie’s mom—she hadn’t told people to call her Laura, which Nick found pretentious—said in the lull of the conversation.

Maisie’s fork clattered onto the plate and she sent her mom a look he definitely wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of.

Her sister perked up. She’d had a rough day with nausea and he’d overheard her and Ellie talking about pregnancy before he headed upstairs earlier.

“What news?” Natalie asked.

“Keeping secrets?” Jake teased.

Nick lowered his fork, looked at Maisie, wishing he was sitting next to her so he could take her hand or take that worried look off her face.

Her jaw twitched as she looked at her brother, then her sister. “I planned to tell everyone when Dad got here. I’ve accepted an artist-in-residence position at the University of Washington. I’ll be helping students work on their craft and portfolios.”

Nick’s heart expanded, crowding his chest with pride. While her siblings and in-laws spoke excitedly over one another, he continued to stare. “You did it.”

Maisie looked at him and that connection was so strong it made him feel like they were touching. She nodded.

“I’m so proud of you.” She’d told him she was thinking about it but was scared to try.

She told him about how hard it was for her in school, how reading was a constant struggle to the point that she never wanted to do it.

Having a family full of overachieving academics just made it all the harder.

Nick had told her to follow her gut and her heart.

Between the two, they always had the right answer.

Then maybe you should take your own advice.

Nick was happy to see that everyone other than her mom praised and congratulated Maisie. It pissed him off that her mom didn’t but that wasn’t his focus.

Until she spoke. “Yes,” her mom said through the chatter. “It’s a wonderful opportunity. One that could turn into so much more.”

“In what way?” Colton asked, stealing another of Asher’s carrots.

Her mom looked at Maisie and though there was a resemblance between them, there was a much softer openness about her daughters. A likability they clearly hadn’t inherited from her; but maybe he was biased.

“She could finish her degree. Go for her master’s,” her mom said.

It was like she’d poured water over the enthusiasm with her words.

“Degree in what? She has a thriving business. Do you even have time to go back to school, Maisie?” Jake asked, tossing his napkin on his plate.

“I thought you didn’t want your degree? You certainly don’t need it,” Natalie said, an edge to her tone as her eyes darted to their mother.

Nick was glad her siblings had her back.

“I don’t have a degree. I made out okay,” Nick said.

Ellie laughed nervously. “We might want to stay out of this one.”

Laura stiffened. “There’s nothing to stay out of, dear. And you can never go wrong with education. I’m sure even you, Nick, who must be coming to the end of a career, can see value in having a backup.”

“Mom,” Maisie whisper-yelled.

Nick’s gaze went wide. It wasn’t his place but, in this moment, he didn’t care.

“I have a backup, Laura. I bought a bunch of real estate and property. Didn’t need a degree to do that, either.

I also sponsor several products for a healthy sum of money.

I got those based on how good I am at my job.

Sort of like how Maisie got the university job. ”

“I don’t want my carrots,” Asher said, his tone just short of whiny.

“Okay, honey,” Ellie said, reaching for his plate.

“Really?” It wobbled a little in his hands when he lifted it.

“Sure. No cookies tonight though.”

Asher frowned, set his plate down. Colton lifted his fork but lowered it with a look from Ellie.

“Kanaroos don’t like carrots.” Asher ducked his head and picked up his fork.

Nick worked to contain his frustration. He was out of line but he wasn’t sorry. He leaned toward his nephew. “Eat three carrots, we’ll go outside and shoot the puck around while the others clean up. Then we’ll decorate cookies.”

Ellie smiled at him over Asher’s head. Asher gobbled up three carrots.

Maisie stood up.

“I’m sorry, Ellie. Dinner was delicious. Would anyone mind if we did the cookie contest tomorrow?”

“But I ate my carrots,” Asher said loudly.

Though she looked like she was going to snap the plate in half with her white-knuckled grip, Maisie smiled at Nick’s nephew with a sweetness that sent a whoosh of adrenaline through his system.

“If your mom is okay with it, you can still have some, sweetie. I’m just kind of tired and I want to be at my best when I beat the others. ”

“Can I be on your team?” Asher asked.

“Of course.” Maisie looked at her mom, said nothing, and walked into the kitchen.

“I apologize, everyone,” Maisie’s mom said, looking around the table.

“Mom says you gotta say why you ’pologize,” Asher said, proudly setting his fork on his empty plate.