Page 80 of Eight Days of Christmas
Their attention moved to the still-dark, large pine tree situated in the middle of town, awaiting the Mayor’s move. But Leo couldn’t help staring at Isabella while she watched the lighting of the tree. From the corner of his eye, a white, gleaming blur appeared in an instant. At the same moment, Isabella’s eyes widened and glistened. Her soft lips curved at the corners, pulling into a sweet, genuine smile.
Her head swiveled in his direction, and she caught him staring at her once again. She eyed him seductively, and his heart pounded against his chest unforgiving.
He gave her a devilish grin. The sound of the crowd cheering and clapping broke their spell and they both joined in the celebration.
The live band began with an upbeat version of “Colorado Christmas,” so they stuck around for some dancing before ditching the festival for beer hockey. When the band led into a soft rendition of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” Leo watched as his friends coupled off. He felt the itching underneath his skin, the spring underneath his feet propelling him forward, and the magnet drawing him closer to Isabella. While she chewed on her lower lip, he advanced, taking a risk, and set an open palm out to her.
“What do you say? Wanna dance?”
She smiled. “I was wondering if you were ever gonna ask.”
Holding her close, Leo nuzzled his face into her neck and inhaled her intoxicating scent. Tonight, he caught floral with a hint of citrus on her skin. He closed his eyes and slowly spun her around, her soft body still pressed against his.
When the song ended, he didn’t want to release her. But when he gazed down at her, he caught Ricky in his periphery.
Ricky cleared his throat. “What do you say we get out of here?”
“I’m ready,” Joey replied.
Leo released Isabella, his chin and smiling. “C’mon.”
He led the way, pushing Joey’s wheelchair to the parking lot. Landon, Norah, and Kelsey followed close behind. Ricky grabbed the sled he’d thrown in the back of his truck and set it on the snow. The guys each took a side of Joey’s wheelchair, lifting and resting it on the sled, adjusting his brakes into position. They pulled the hockey bags from the back of the truck, and each took turns pulling the sled through the snowy trail from the parking lot to the outdoor ice rink. With the glowing lights from town and the live music streaming from the band, the old shiny rink never looked more inviting.
After Leo and Ricky moved Joey’s wheelchair to the ice, the rest of them sat on the bleachers chugging beer while they laced their skates. Leo’s chest thrummed with the excitement of getting out on the ice and slapping the puck around. Not only because it was one of his most treasured pastimes with his boys, but because Isabella was there, too. He couldn’t let go of the desire to recreate the memories they shared in some desperate hope it would be enough for her to choose him.
Isabella sat on the bleachers next to him, hugging her arms to her chest.
“You sure you don’t want to go back to the house and grab your skates?” he asked her.
“Nah, you know me. I’d rather keep my feet out of skates as much as possible.” She snorted.
He handed her a beer. “To help keep you warm then.”
Norah plopped down next to Isabella. “I’m sitting out too. We’ll huddle together.”
“Better make it a threesome,” Landon said, chuckling and sitting on Norah’s other side.
“Fine, you wuss,” Leo teased his brother.
Kelsey climbed down the bleachers carefully, pressing a hand to her round belly. “Let’s get this going. I’m freezing for two.” She shuffled onto the ice, carrying a couple empty beer cans in her arms.
“Be careful, babe. I’ll help you.” Ricky collected the rest of the empty cans and skated to one side of the rink. He lined the empty cans on the ice and pulled several hockey pucks from his pockets. He cupped his hands around his mouth and called, “Alright, I lined up the cans so I’m going first.”
“Go, baby!” Kelsey hollered.
Ricky dropped the pucks about halfway from where the cans were lined up, skated around the rink a few times, and then started swinging his hockey stick, the pucks coming in contact with five out of the six beer cans.
Kelsey cheered from the sidelines.
Ricky skated toward them, skidding to an abrupt stop and spraying ice in Leo’s face. “Beat that.”
Leo narrowed his eyes. “You got it.” He repositioned the cans and gathered the pucks, taking a few slap shots to move the pucks back toward the middle of the rink. After lining them up, he sucked in a deep breath and ignored Ricky and Joey’s smack talking. He swung his stick repeatedly, sending the pucks sliding against the ice and slamming into the cans with a crash each time. Flashing a conceited grin over his shoulder at Ricky, he handed his stick to Joey. “Six. Think you can measure up?”
Joey snatched the stick. “Always.”
“Alright. We’ll see.” Leo pushed Joey’s wheelchair to the middle of the ice while Ricky lined up the cans and delivered the pucks to Joey.
A pinch of guilt twisted in Leo’s gut for giving his all. But the one thing Joey had made all of them promise after his accident was that they could never go easy on him. He didn’t want them to give him special treatment because of the chair. His attitude made Leo respect him more than he ever did before the accident.
