Page 16 of Your Love (Merrimack Mavericks Hockey #3)

Chapter 16

“So Far Away”

Kerri - Age 18, 1988

A s I sit on my narrow bed in the cramped dorm room, Landry’s voice crackles through the receiver of my old phone. “I can’t wait to see you tomorrow,” he says, making my stomach feel alive with butterflies.

He wasn’t lying when he said the Landry-boyfriend experience would be different. Over the past few weeks, he’s become this perfect blend of charming and alluring—his jokes make me giggle uncontrollably, yet there’s an undeniable heat behind his playful banter. He knows what to say during our late-night calls, and his attentiveness makes me feel seen without suffocating me.

I can’t wait to see him, even though I’m splitting this Christmas break between Merrimack and Texas. I still get ten uninterrupted days with him, and it’s been all I can think about.

For the past few weeks, our interaction has been limited to brief phone calls squeezed between classes, study sessions, and hockey practice. Landry doesn’t have a personal telephone line, and since I share a phone with my roommate, privacy has been a luxury we can’t afford.

One thing I know for sure is that the man has the patience of a saint. First, I made him wait months on end before moving our relationship past friendship, and now he’s waiting for the physical part of our romance. He’s been calm and reassuring, reminding me that nothing needs to be rushed.

If anything, it’s me who wants to move faster. I think he’s being careful with my heart because of my past, and I also think some little twisted part of him is enjoying the slow torture he’s putting me through.

We didn’t get a chance to spend much quality time together over Thanksgiving break. I was home for four days, and we weren’t able to steal many moments alone after that first night, so things have remained PG-17 in that department.

Not that it matters—I could kiss him all day and never complain. Damn, that man can kiss. His lips on mine make my heart race, and my stomach flutter. He knocks my socks clean off.

Of course, I’m still nervous about what could happen if things don’t work out. It would crush me. But I’m doing my best to stop from overthinking it. I don’t want to ruin anything before it even starts. It doesn’t escape me that every relationship you have fails except for one. THE one. Landry could be that person for me. I wouldn’t jeopardize our friendship if I didn’t think so.

For now, we’re keeping our relationship a secret from our friends. It’s so new, and it’s been a blissful escape to have each other and not have to deal with outside opinions or expectations. But I know we’ll have to come clean, and I’m not ready to face their questions and opinions just yet.

“I can’t wait to see you, either,” I say. “My grandparents are spending time with some friends on Christmas Eve. I was hoping you could come over.”

“Try and stop me,” he replies.

I fidget on the edge of the couch, my leg bouncing as I try to calm my racing heart. The thought of Landry coming over has me on edge, and I can’t sit still. I check the clock for the tenth time in as many minutes, take a deep breath, and force myself to focus on something else. It doesn’t work.

When my grandparents left, I jumped into action, lighting candles around the living room, making sure they were evenly spaced and the scents were complimentary—vanilla and lavender. I quickly changed into my favorite bra and matching underwear set, hoping Landry would like it.

Now, my stomach churns with nerves as I pace back and forth in my living room, waiting for the knock on my front door. This is Landry we’re talking about—the same guy I’ve been hanging out with since not long after I moved here. But the dynamics have changed, and there’s more at stake now. The knock on the front door pulls me out of my thoughts and back into my nervous reality.

I take deep breaths and smooth down my hair before heading to answer it. As soon as I open the door, my eyes widen at the sight before me. Landry stands on my front porch wearing a red sweater, jeans, and a ridiculous Santa hat, balancing several gifts in his arms. His big grin warms me from head to toe, and all my nerves disappear in an instant.

“Merry Christmas, Wildflower!” he exclaims as he enters the room. He places the elaborately wrapped gifts under the twinkling tree before turning to me. Without hesitation, I leap into his arms, and he effortlessly catches me. My arms wrap around his neck as my legs encircle his waist, and for a moment, nothing else exists outside our embrace. “Happy to see me, Baby?” he whispers in my ear with a chuckle.

“Merry Christmas!” I reply and press my lips to his in a much-awaited kiss. A hint of peppermint lingers on his lips as we break apart, and I inhale the refreshing scent of a forest after rain on his neck. His eyes, a mix of rich brown and warm shades of yellow, twinkle with happiness as they meet mine. “I’ve missed you,” I say, holding onto him tightly. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

His eyes roam around the room, taking in every detail of the festive decorations and lights, and a genuine smile spreads across his face as he turns to me. “It’s beautiful,” he says with wonder in his voice. “Thank you for doing this.”

“I want everything to be perfect for our first Christmas together,” I say, feeling a flutter in my stomach at the potential behind that statement. “I want it to be a special one.”

“We’re together. It will be,” he says firmly. “Do you want to open your gifts? There’s one from Paisley.”

I lean in closer, my eyes scanning his expression. “How is she doing right now?” I ask.

“She’s making slow progress,” he replies with a small smile. His family has been eagerly hoping for a breakthrough, but so far, her traumatic mutism has persisted. “The doctors are still confident that she’ll speak again when she’s ready. They said it could happen suddenly.”

“I have faith that it will,” I reassure him, feeling it in every fiber of my being. Paisley has always been curious and outgoing, and one day, she will use her voice to express it. “Maybe she can come over again and visit the animals,” I suggest.

He nods, and his eyes light up. “She would love that,” he says with a smile. “Have your grandparents added any new animals to the farm?”

“They have!” I exclaim. “They got an emu!”

“So they’re taking in dinosaurs now?” he jokes. Landry likes to give me a hard time about the animals my grandparents adopt, but deep down, he has so much respect for what they do.

“She’s so sweet,” I tell him. “She’s quite the show-off.”

“What’s her name?” he asks.

I shift and try not to release the giggle that threatens to break free.

“What is it?” he asks again.

“Cher,” I blurt out before bursting into laughter.

Landry can’t help his reaction. He doubles over in laughter. “Just when I think this family can’t get any better, you exceed my expectations.”

“You meant to say ‘weirder,’ not ‘better,’” I snort with laughter.

“I wasn’t the one who said it… but. Wait! Did you just snort?” Landry teases.

It occurs to me how much Landry and I laugh when we’re together. We make everything lighter in the world, and there’s no feeling like it.

“Should we open presents?” he asks to deflect from implying we are weird...

“Sure.” Landry’s about to grab a present when my excitement wins out, and I level him in the stomach with a big box wrapped in Rudolph wrapping paper and a giant red bow. The force of the blow causes him to let out an “oomph.”

“Okay. I guess I’ll go first,” he says. I sit on the couch as he begins carefully unwrapping the present. I bite my thumbnail nervously and shift my feet from side to side. Why is he doing this so slowly? Finally, I’ve had enough. I grab the present and begin tearing it apart like a rabid animal.

“I’ll just help you with this,” I say, as pieces of Rudolph’s mutilated paper body fly in different directions.

Once I’ve removed the bow and eviscerated the paper, I place the box gently back on his lap. “Here you go,” I say.

“I hope I like this gift, or can at least fake it, so you don’t do to me what you did to that wrapping paper,” he jokes.

He opens the box and stares at the gift in his lap. “No way!” He shouts. “Are you kidding me?”

“Do you like it?” I ask, my hands steepled in front of my face in silent prayer.

“I love it!” He exclaims, setting it to the side and pulling me onto his lap in a tight embrace.

I bury my face in his neck and laugh. Pulling back, I meet his gaze with a mischievous smile. “I called your mom and made sure it was something you wanted.”

“Wildflower, I love it. But it’s expensive. How did you afford that?”

“I’m hooking on the side,” I say with a tilt of my lips.

“Well, keep at it because this is awesome!”

I giggle and climb off his lap to grab another box. “There’s something else in your stocking,” I say.

“This is too much,” He says. “I feel like such an ass because I didn’t get you anything this nice.”

“If I’m totally honest, these gifts are from all of us, not just me. My grandparents wanted to get you something. And you should know I don’t care about material things,” I say. “But Cher also chipped in, so that you know.”

“Well, I would hope so. She’s loaded.” He jokes.

He pulls the Sega Genesis console out of the box and stares at it with a wide smile on his face. “This is going to make studying infinitely more difficult, but it’s so worth it.”

“The other one is in your stocking,” I repeat with barely controlled glee.

“You are killing me here.”

“Shut up and open it,” I command.

“Mortal Kombat! Yes! I can’t wait to play this.”

“So you like it?” I ask.

“I love it. It means so much that you all put so much thought into getting me a gift like this. I would’ve been fine with a Christmas kiss, but this is so, so cool.”

I clap my hands together wildly and jump up and down. I’m so excited he likes his gifts. I’m one of those people who would rather give a gift than receive one, and seeing him this happy makes my entire Christmas.

Landry scratches the back of my neck while looking down at the two gifts he brought—one from Pais and one from him. He grabs the smaller of the two. “This one is from Paisley,” he says.

I sit on the couch like a queen on the throne, awaiting my present. He sets it on my lap, and I stare at it for a minute, trying to memorize this moment.

“Open it!” he says.

I push the tissue paper to the side, revealing a rich walnut frame. Inside is a watercolor painting from Paisley. She’s captured the day they visited the farm. Landry and I stand with our backs to the viewer, our hands brushing one another’s. The barn is centered in the foreground. Paisley and Cocky are the center of the painting. She is lovingly petting the crazy rooster. She’s managed to make him look welcoming—content, even. And her face is alight with the glow of the best smile I’ve ever seen.

I trace the cold glass frame with my fingers as my eyes nearly overflow with tears.

“This is amazing,” I say, barely above a whisper. “She’s so talented.”

Landry throws his arm around me. “It’s true. She spends the majority of her time doing art projects, whether that be drawing, painting, or sculpting.”

“She’s outdone herself with this. Paisley managed to capture the fun and beauty of the day so well. I think I’d like to keep this here,” I say thoughtfully. “We can keep it on the mantle. Papa and Nana will love it, and since I’m destined to come back here someday, I can take it then.”

“Of course. But I feel stupid about it now. It’s not anything like what you got me.”

I place my hand on Landry’s cheek and smile as the rough stubble tickles my palm. “It’s not a contest,” I offer. “Like you said, I’d be happy with a Christmas kiss.”

He leans over and dips his head, placing his lips firmly against mine. My mouth parts, allowing him to probe my mouth with his tongue before he sucks on my lower lip and places his lips against mine softly.

“That was perfect,” I say. “Now, where’s my present?”

Landry shakes his head and chuckles before setting the box on my lap.

“This is a stupid idea,” he mumbles. “I should’ve gone to Macy’s, like my mom suggested.”

“Stop it!” I say sharply. “Anything from you will always be perfect.”

Landry plasters on a fake smile as I unwrap it and lift the lid, revealing the contents of the box.

“Landry,” I say, lifting the jersey from the box. “Is this your Mavericks jersey?”

“It is,” he confirms. “It’s my extra jersey. No one has ever worn my jersey before, except my mom when I was, like ten. I thought you could have it while you’re away at school. Maybe remind you of me,” he says sheepishly.

I look up from the gift, the tears back in my eyes, and then launch myself in his direction. We fly off the couch and he catches me before gently lying us on the floor. He hovers above me, looking at me expectantly.

“This is the sweetest, most thoughtful gift I’ve ever received. It means so much to me because it means so much to you. I will cherish it forever.”

Landry kisses me and then pulls back with a mischievous smile on his face. “Wanna make out until your grandparents get home?”

“It’s like you can read my mind.”