Page 232 of Securing the Pucking Rebound

“Right, are we doing this, or what?” Dad asks, having found somewhere to park.

“We’re doing this,” Mom squeals excitedly before jumping out of the car.

We all follow, and after loading our arms with more food, we make our way inside.

The party is already in full swing, the bar is packed with locals enjoying the evening, and there are people everywhere enjoying plates of food. A little pride shoots through me to know that we made a lot of that today.

We lay out our additions, and Garrett and I immediately turn toward the bar. I do love these events, and I love watching Mom be a social butterfly, but I also need alcohol.

Calvin has been busy this afternoon, so we haven’t messaged much, and I miss him. As far as I know, they’re going to Kodie’s tonight and then he’s at Linc and Parker’s again tomorrow. I know he’ll enjoy himself with them, but it’s not the same as being together.

Garrett and I do a round of the hall, saying hello to people we haven’t seen since last Christmas, while I work my way through two glasses of prosecco. By the time we get to an empty table with plates full of food, we’re now officially allowed to eat it.

We fall into easy conversation about those we’ve spoken to tonight, debating whose sweaters are worse than ours. Spoiler: there aren’t any. If there were a prize for the worst sweater, we would have won it, hands down. But there are some equally hideous ones that need discussing.

Eventually, Garrett excuses himself for the bathroom, promising that he’ll return with more prosecco.

I sit back and watch everyone enjoying themselves. Mom and Dad are laughing with a couple I remember from last year. My eyes trail the younger kids as they run around, and I take note of the new ones who have appeared over the year. The youngest, currently sleeping in its mother’s arms, only looks days old. There are also a couple of the older members of the community who are no longer with us. I smile as I think of one elderly man from the last few years. He was the life and soul of the party. I don’t think there was a female in the room that he didn’t drag up to the dance floor for at least a song. He didn’t care if you were a toddler or older than him; he wanted a dance. He was sweet as hell—the kind of grandfather every little boy and girl wants.

Mom catches my eye from across the room, and she smiles and waves. I try to put just as much enthusiasm into my response, but I think it falls a little flat.

There are some people here our age, but they’re mostly chasing little kids around.

I watch as Garrett reappears and walks toward the bar for more drinks.

I’m about to pull my cell out to see if Calvin has responded to my last message when a shadow falls over me.

I frown when I see that Mom and Dad are still across the hall, and Garrett is standing at the bar.

Who is⁠—

I gasp as the man steps in front of me.

The first thing I see is the God-awful sweater, but that’s soon forgotten when I realize just who is standing before me, wearing the same ugly sweater as my family and me.

“Calvin?” I breathe, blinking up at him as if he’s a figment of my imagination.

A smirk twitches at his lips. “Hey, darlin’. Mind if I join you?”

I continue staring in disbelief.

Awareness prickles the back of my neck, and when I rip my eyes away from the man staring down at me, I find Mom, Dad, and Garrett grinning at us.

“You…You’re here,” I blurt.

His smile widens. “I am. Is that okay? I can go if⁠—”

“No,” I cry, jumping to my feet and throwing my arms around him. “No, you’re not allowed to go anywhere.”

“Okay, good, because I don’t put on sweaters like this for just anyone.”

Laughter bubbles out of me.

“How? What?”

“You can blame your brother.”

My eyes find Garrett over Calvin’s shoulder. He’s wearing a shit-eating grin that tells me I’m going to owe him big for this.