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“We can fix that. We can go to the store, and—”
“Just stop, Hunter. It’s over.” Quinn pushes her hands into the couch and rises to her feet.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going to bed. I’m sad, tired, and just want to sleep.”
Watching as Quinn disappears into our bedroom, frustration seeps in, knowing I can’t fix this for her, can’t make her dream come true. Running a hand through my hair, I pace our living room. Money may not buy happiness, but it sure as hell can help me give her a special Christmas, even if we can’t spend it with our families.
Operation Save Quinn’s Christmas is in full effect.
CHAPTER2
QUINN
Sinking into bed, I pull the covers high up around my neck.
Grateful Hunter didn’t follow me, I allow the tears I’ve been fighting back to flow. Not only is this our first Christmas together as a couple, but it’s also the first time I would be celebrating Christmas with a real family. Well, more than just Mason. As much as I hate that I’m acting like a petulant child, upset because she didn’t get her way, I can’t seem to help it.
Mason and I, we never had much growing up. I remember all the years of Christmases Mason and I spent alone. Hungry. Sad. Still, through the worst of times, we always had each other. Even if it was just the two of us huddled in front of a television, praying Santa didn’t forget us. Side note—he always did.
It was the one constant that never changed. Not when Mason got signed by the Red Devils. Not when we—he—had money. We never celebrated Christmas, not really. We stuck to what we knew—our tradition of crappy television and crappy food. The magic of the holiday season never existed for us, so it never felt as though we were missing out on anything.
Until now.
Until Hunter.
He changed everything, him and his childlike holiday spirit. So, reluctant as I was, when he mentioned going to his parents’ home in Aspen for the holiday, I got swept up in the idea, in all of it.
Now, it’s gone.
No chance of celebrating a traditional Christmas. No spending the holiday with Mason.
Every ounce of Christmas spirit I felt drains out of me as I tug the covers further over my head.
* * *
Hunter’s voice rings out through the bedroom, “Rise and shine, gorgeous.”
“Go away,” I grumble from beneath the covers.
“No can do,” he says as he yanks the covers off me.
“Hunter,” I scold him.
“Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and if we want to salvage the holiday, you have to get your sexy ass out of bed.”
The curtains that had been drawn are now wide open, sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows and blinding me.
“I appreciate the effort, but I’d rather just skip the holiday if you don’t mind,” I say, shielding my eyes with my arm. I can feel his hands on my ankles as he pulls me to the edge of the bed.
“Actually, I do mind. This is our first Christmas together. No way in hell am I missing out on that.”
“Ugh, fine,” I grumble as I sit up. As soon as I do, Hunter’s hands are on my shoulders, pushing me back down. “You just said that I need to get ready.”
“You do, but first… I need to put you in a good mood.”
“And how do you intend to do that?”
