Page 38 of You Make It Feel like Christmas

N ICK WONDERED IF HE should give Maisie some time with her friend—he definitely had some shit he needed to do, including calls to his publicist, manager, and the team physiotherapist. But they didn’t seem to want him to go.

He suspected Lexi was scrutinizing every word he said, every action, every look he gave Maisie.

This was new to him for a number of reasons.

Ellie’s closest friend growing up was Colt.

Nick didn’t have a frame of reference for another woman looking out for her best friend in that sense.

He also hadn’t had a steady girlfriend, or even more than a few dates with the same woman, in longer than he could remember.

A gentle buzz of nerves vibrated along his skin.

He could even pinpoint some of the sources, as the therapist had taught him to do: his feelings for Maisie, playing at the end of the week, reconnecting with his team, meeting someone who mattered a great deal to Maisie.

Plus all the other shit, tangled into a big heap in his brain.

Nick kept Maisie’s hand in his as he listened to them catch up as though they’d been apart years and not a week. It made him smile.

“We should go to Side Tap tonight. Then you can meet Will. How long are you here? Do you have to play soon? Where’s your team?”

Maisie either sensed his unease with the rapid questions or he flinched, because she squeezed his hand tightly and leaned forward, looked at her friend.

“Simmer down, Nancy Drew. He’s on a short break from the team.

We haven’t even had breakfast yet so can we let you know about Side Tap later?

” She looked at him and he was still stuck on the easy way she used “we,” like they were a given, when she told him, “We do have to eat tonight, and I make amazing cookies, but everything else is sort of hit or miss.”

“Which is still better than me,” Lexi chimed in.

“Though, her real weakness is serving the food, so if she ever tries, don’t let her bring you anything. I’m talking not even water. Definitely nothing hot.”

His head turned side to side, watching them volley barbs almost like siblings. It made him miss the guys. His teammates had all checked on him, a few more than others. He’d been dodging texts and phone calls because he didn’t want to talk about what was going on.

“I want to deny it but I can’t. Fortunately, I’m not waitressing at all anymore so you don’t have to worry about that,” Lexi said.

Even to his own ears, his laugh sounded forced. He knew Maisie realized it when she pushed forward on the couch.

“I love you, Lex, but like I said, we haven’t had breakfast, so can I text you in a bit and let you know about dinner tonight?”

Lexi eyed them both, like she was weighing her friend’s words, looking for hidden meaning. She stood up, put her jacket back on, and grabbed her purse.

“Of course. Will went into the office today so I’m going to stop by and surprise him.”

Nick stood at the same time as Maisie. He reached a hand out. “It was nice to meet you.”

Lexi held his gaze as she shook his hand. “I hope you guys can come out tonight. I’m sure your schedule must be crazy but I think you’ll get along well with my fiancé and with my boss, who owns Side Tap.”

He nodded, already knowing that even if he didn’t want to go, if Maisie did, he’d do what she wanted. And that was new as well.

While Maisie walked her friend to the door, he checked his phone.

Coach

Trying not to pressure you but I’d like you dressed for NYE game. How you feeling?

Nick

I’m ready.

It was time. His knee felt good even after running around in the snow the other night and a run today.

Coach

Team is in town day after tomorrow. Meet us at the arena at noon. We’ve got their workout space for three hours.

Nick

I’ll be there.

Coach

You talk to the doc?

He meant the therapist.

Nick

Frequently but not this week. Left a message.

Coach

You holding up? Had a good Christmas?

Nick

I’m good, Coach. I’ll be there. I won’t let you down.

Coach

You never have, Nick. Just get your ass to practice. Everyone misses you.

Nick

I hear you, Coach.

“Everything okay?”

Pocketing his phone, Nick looked up to see Maisie standing in the little archway that led to the kitchen.

Fuck, she was so pretty. She could be beautiful—truly stunning—like the night he met her at Wes and Hailey’s wedding.

She’d been in her element, dressed in a pale-green gown, all that gorgeous hair tucked up in a fancy twist, weaving in and out, taking her own photos unobtrusively.

She could be cute as hell, like she was in a reindeer onesie or in a puffy jacket with her hair bundled under a hat and her cheeks rosy red from the cold.

But right now, standing in his shirt and a pair of loose-fit jogging pants, her hair down around her makeup-free face, there was such a light and sweetness to her it made his chest ache in a not-so-awful way. In a way that he wouldn’t mind feeling a lot more often.

She stepped closer.

“Nick?” His name was a whisper on her lips.

“Yeah, baby?”

Walking to him, she wrapped her arms around him, held him tight, and burrowed in. His arms went around her automatically, like that was their sole purpose in life, holding Maisie Smart.

“I know you have a lot going on,” she said quietly, somewhat muffled with her face against his chest. “I don’t want to add to the weight you’re carrying—”

He cut her off by pulling her away from him, still keeping her close so he could see her face.

“You don’t add to it, Maze. Don’t think that.

Don’t say that. I don’t think I’m an easy guy to be with on a good day but right now, these last several months, I’m the opposite of easy.

Being with you, seeing you again and having you in my life this week has made me feel like I can breathe finally.

The weight is still all there but it’s like seeing you helped me shuffle it around, put it in more manageable boxes.

If I’m distant, if I’m difficult, it’s not you. ”

She bit her lip like he knew she did when she was nervous. Put ting his hand to her cheek, he used his thumb to pull it free, kissed that spot.

“I have to be at the arena day after tomorrow. I’d like to go out with you and your friends tonight. I’d like to see what you love about Seattle. And I’d like you to spend New Year’s Eve with me.”

She gazed up at him like she didn’t believe he was real. “Aren’t you working?”

“Whether I’m on the ice or not, it’s time.

I need to be there. But it would mean a hell of a lot to me if you were there too.

” Even as he said it, his phone buzzed again but he kept his focus on Maisie.

He might be out of practice, or out of his depth with relationships in general, but he knew she needed to see the truth in his eyes.

Sliding her hands up his chest, she nodded. “There’s nowhere I’d rather be.”

He lowered his head and took her in a kiss that pushed away everything around them.

Everything but the two of them and the way they made each other feel.

Nick could guess how he made Maisie feel, but as to how she affected him?

It was like she’d found a way to shine a light into the darkness and it was helping him find his way.