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Lots of drinks.
Maddox gets someone to deliver from Sam’s restaurant, Nonna’s, and we decorate my first big Christmas tree in my first place with my husband. Easton corners me in the kitchen while Callen and Evie argue whether the tree needs ribbon or popcorn strands. He lifts me onto the counter, and I wrap my legs around his waist.
“Did you notice nobody knocked before they came in, princess? Not even Callen or Maddox.” His nose runs up my neck, and my head drops back against the cabinet behind me.
“Better get used to it, hockey boy. They don’t knock. If you want privacy, you better lock the door.”
“Don’t bother,” Maddox tells us as he walks into the kitchen and grabs two beers out of the fridge. He opens them both, then hands one to Easton. “I’ve got keys to the whole building.”
“Wait.” I push Easton away and hop down. “I own the building, and I don’t have keys to everything. Why do you... how do you?”
“I have my ways, trouble. Hear you’re meeting with Dad tomorrow.”
“You know everything too, madman?”
“Wouldn’t you like to find out.” He turns and walks away, and Easton looks at me funny.
“Glad he’s on our side,” he tells me.
“You have no idea.” I lace my fingers with his and tug him behind me. “Come on, everybody. Stand in front of the tree with us. Who has the longest arms?”
“What kind of kinky shit are you guys into?” Callen asks.
I smack him and hiss when my hand hurts instead of his chest. “Asshole. I want a selfie with all of us. If the rags are going to gossip and guess, let’s at least give them a good pic for a change.”
Brynlee takes my phone from my hand. “It’s called a timer, Linds. Give me a second.”
She sets the phone up on a shelf and runs back over to us, and we all squeeze together.
“Everyone sayFuck the press.”
A round ofFuck the press!gets called out as we all laugh, and I post it on my own social-media account for the first time in weeks.
First Christmas with my hot hockey-god husband and my family. #FoundFamily
That ought to shut them all up.
OMFG, peeps. Check out baby Kingston’s most recent post linked below. Look at all the gorgeousness in one shot. I spy with my little eye... two pro athletes, a dancer, a cheerleader, and our favorite Olympian among this group of incredibly attractive social elites. This reporter would love to be the cream inside any of their cookies. Could it be that Hazey is finally debuting in society with this snap? #Hazey
#KroydonKronicles
EASTON
Fitz always has the team meet for a nine a.m. skate the day of a game. We hit the ice light for half an hour, then have to be back at the Battleground Arena two hours before puck drop. Max Kingston gutted this place while I was in high school. It had been falling apart before he bought it. Always on the list of worst arenas to play in. But now... Now it rivals any new arena in the country.
We’re moving slow this morning, but we don’t typically move at anything close to even half speed before games. Today is a little different for me though, because tonight, we play the Vipers. Nobody wants to go up against his former teammates, but especially not while it’s still so fresh.
“You got anything to add, Hayes?” Fitz asks after he calls us off the ice for the morning.
“Yeah. We’ve all watched the tape. You know these guys are good. You’re better. You’re more seasoned. They brought in a lot of new guys this year to try and stay under the salary cap and still keep their center happy. But they know me. They know my game. They know how I move. I’ve trained with them for ten years. I’m gonna try not to be predictable for them, but I could use your help tonight.” Nobody wants to look like they need help from their teammates, but I need to make sure they’re thinking this way if we’re gonna win.
Jace nods and looks around at the team. “You hear that, guys? Our goalie is laying it on the line. Are we gonna let him down?”
Boone throws an arm around me. “Fuck no, we’re not.”
“Fuck no, we’re not,” Jace echoes. Guess we’ve come to an understanding after all.
He follows me out of the locker room after practice. “Hey, Easton. Wait up.”
