by Toni Aleo
Ian’s size definitely gave him an advantage when his team was on offense. His height and reach allowed him to catch more than Bryan could block. The only thing he could do was be ready to grab a flag and pull it off before he could gain any more yardage.
With each down, their competitive spirits grew. Bryan started to lunge for a flag and yank it more vigorously than required, and Ian started to throw his weight into his blocks. What was supposed to be a contactless sport was getting increasingly physical.
On a particular play, Leonard was scanning the field to see who was open to receive. Bryan used his hockey instinct to deke, feinting to the right so he could lose Ian and run left. Bryan was open for long enough to Leonard to get the pass off to him, and just as Bryan’s fingers were closing around the ball, Ian dove toward him and reached for the it. Bryan covered the ball, pulled it in against his body to protect it, and turned away from Ian. He didn’t care if he got deflagged; he only wanted to complete the pass.
But Ian had thrown himself too hard toward the ball, and he collided with Bryan full force. The hit knocked the ball loose, and Ian’s long wingspan allowed him to grab the ball and fall on it.
Carol gasped as both guys fell to the ground. Rebecca muttered, “Sugar honey iced tea,” under her breath. Georgiana’s immediate reaction was to stand and yell at her brother, “It’s flag football, Ian! No hitting!”
Meanwhile, Leo was celebrating. “Fumble! It’s our ball now!”
Ian and Bryan stood up and brushed themselves off. They were uninjured, but Bryan was pissed. “Dude, you totally ran me over.”
“Horse puckey, I was going for the ball. Totally legal.”
“You had possession,” Leo said. “And then you lost it. It’s a fumble, and Ian got it. It’s our ball now.”
“Because he literally knocked it out of my hands,” Bryan argued. “That’s not a fair play.”
Ian smirked. “You’re just mad you dropped the ball.”
“This is a friendly game,” Leonard said, his authoritative voice booming. “Another play like that, and you’re benched, son.”
Bryan was still angry, but he was glad to have Leonard on his side. He wouldn’t engage in nepotism, because he believed in fair and just rules. Meanwhile, Ian was too set on making sure he wouldn’t get upstaged. If that was the game that he wanted to play, then Bryan could meet him on his level.
Georgiana couldn’t believe that her brother would stoop so low for an innocent game of flag football between family. And even though Bryan wasn’t technically family, he wouldn’t be playing in the game if he weren’t someone very special to her. So the fact that he would plow into her boyfriend just to show off was insanely annoying.
Growing up with four brothers, she knew how boys could get. Testosterone poisoning led to constant competitiveness and always wanting to show each other up. It didn’t bother her as much when it was kept within the family—but once her boyfriend got tangled up in it, they’d gone too far.
And she knew that Carol wasn’t happy either. Georgiana could feel the anger emanating from her as she sat there, but she was keeping quiet. After all, what could Carol say? She was in hostile territory, the home of the enemy.
At least Bryan wasn’t seriously hurt. She couldn’t imagine how the coach or general manager would react if their top defenseman got hurt in a so-called friendly game of football. She didn’t want to imagine what they’d say to her if they found out it was during a game at her house.
She sat back down and stared straight ahead at the action in the yard. Georgiana didn’t want to chance looking to her right at Carol, in case that might invite conversation she didn’t want to take part in. Ian didn’t want to hurt Bryan, just prove that he was a better football player.
Perry’s team huddled, planning their strategy after the turnover. Bryan and her dad’s team tried to shake it off, but Georgiana could tell how much it had irritated Bryan. Bad calls always bothered him more than they should have, because they happened all the time in pro sports.
The lines formed, and Georgiana could feel the tension. She didn’t like it, but she watched the play unfold. Leo snapped the ball and ran forward, and Aidan did too. Ian, however, stayed behind the line of scrimmage. Perry tossed the ball back to him and then ran out to receive. It was a trick play.
Leonard stayed to guard the new quarterback, and Bryan followed his dad out—keeping an eye on Ian all the while. He was too distracted by Ian to see that his dad was open, but he saw Ian throw the ball in that direction.
Bryan went for the ball, determined to intercept to make up for the so-called fumble. Determined to make Ian look bad, to get back at him for his dirty play. Georgiana could recognize the fire in Bryan; he often had that look on his face on the ice.
He was so focused on the ball that he didn’t pay attention to his surroundings. He jumped and raised his arms to complete the interception, but when he landed and brought his arms down, his elbow slammed right into his father’s face, knocking his glasses to the ground.
Perry took a few steps back and brought his hands up to his nose. The first thing Georgiana saw was the blood.
Bryan didn’t even notice what had happened behind him. He took off running and went unchallenged, making it all the way into the end zone and beginning to celebrate before he turned and saw the commotion. His mother was on the field with his dad, and Georgiana was running toward them with a clean towel from the kitchen. Everyone else kept their distance, watching on from a half-circle as Perry was tended to.
“Dad?” Bryan’s face fell as he dropped the ball and ran toward his parents. “You okay?”
No one said anything. Georgiana held the towel up to Perry’s face and advised, “Tilt your head forward to help stop the bleeding.”
“No, tilt backward,” Rebecca said.
“No, forward,” Georgiana corrected. She’d seen enough of the Comets deal with nosebleeds to know how to handle it.
“I think it’s broken,” Carol said, peering closely at Perry’s face. His nose was crooked, and he already had black eyes forming. “We should get this looked at.”
“I can drive you to the nearest hospital,” Georgiana said, taking charge of the situation. She came to life in times of need, ready to seize control to manage and solve the problem.
“Oh, shit,” Bryan muttered, finally realizing what had happened. And it was all his fault. “I’ll do it, I’ll drive.”
Carol nodded, and she helped to guide Perry toward the kitchen door. Bryan picked up his dad’s glasses from the ground and followed behind.
Georgiana trailed them, desperate to help but not knowing how. “I’ll come with you—”
“No, it’s okay,” Bryan said, giving her a quick squeeze. “It’s my family, my fault. I’ll take care of it. You should stay here, with your family.”
“But . . . .” The whole point of the holiday was to bring their families together, and the whole thing had been ruined. Nothing had gone as planned, and the day had turned into one giant disaster. Dinner was awkward, the “friendly” family football game had gone down in flames, and she hadn’t bonded with Carol at all. In fact, she was sure Carol hated her and her family after Perry got clobbered. The burning sensation of tears stung her eyes again. Had she ever cried so much before?
“It’s okay, Georgiana,” Bryan said, kissing her forehead. “This shouldn’t ruin your plans. We’ll be right back.”
She gave up. “Okay.”
It was an accident. Of course it was. Bryan would have never done anything like that, to anyone in the game, but tempers had flared. He and Ian were athletes, raised playing a game, and they had trouble keeping that in check. It was unfortunate, and it shouldn’t have happened—but it had.
Georgiana followed the Comstocks outside, watching as Perry and Carol got into the backseat of Bryan’s car, while he slid into the driver’s seat. “I’ll keep you updated,” he called out, before the car pulled out from in front of the house and sped off down the street.
Her mother was there, too, and she put her hands on Georgiana’s shoulders. “Don’t worry, honey. They’ll fix him up just fine, and they’ll be back before you know it.”
But what if his parents had had enough? Maybe they wouldn’t want to come back. And then Christmas really would be totally ruined.
The tears dried up, and her temper flared. She spun on around on her heel and headed straight for Ian. “What is wrong with you? I’m fixin’ to revoke your birth certificate!”
“Whoa,” he said, putting his hands up in the air. “What’re you coming after me for?”
“Now, honey,” Rebecca started, trying to defuse the situation.
“You just had to be a show-off, didn’t you? Had to be the big man and win a stupid backyard football game?” Georgiana pushed Ian, but he didn’t budge. “This is all your fault!”
“Calm down, Georgie, I didn’t do anything.”
She shook her head. “If you believe that, there’s a tree stump in a swamp in Louisiana with a higher IQ than you,” she said, brushing past him to go back inside.
Chapter Five
Georgiana couldn’t sit still. After the debacle in the backyard, her mom had suggested that they start the present exchange early—so as to put everyone back into a proper, happy Christmas spirit. And Georgiana let her mother take command of the festivities, no longer interested in participating. It was even hard for her to watch the kids tear off the wrapping paper of their gifts and squeal with delight, and Georgiana loved to spoil her nieces and nephews.
Her mind was with the Comstocks. Bryan had messaged her to let her know that they were waiting for the swelling to go down before they could set his dad’s nose, so he wasn’t sure when they’d get back. He made her promise to keep the party going until they were discharged.
They opened their presents, ate pie and drank eggnog and warm mulled cider—just milk for the kids—and watched Elf before Georgiana figured it was time to end the night. She hadn’t heard from Bryan for hours, and there wasn’t a point in keeping the kids out all hours of the night on Christmas Eve. Not when their parents would have such a hard time getting them to sleep so Santa could drop off their presents.
Everyone was gathering their coats and things when the door opened, and Bryan reappeared with his parents. Perry looked like hell, with a splint across the bridge of his nose and bruising around his face.
Bryan immediately started to apologize. “I’m sorry it took us so long to get back. We had to stop for pain meds and decongestants, per doctor’s orders.” He held up the Walgreens bag as proof. Then he looked around the room. “You’re all leaving?”
“It’s getting late,” she told him, defeated. It was almost ten o’clock. “They need to get going.”
“But what about gifts?” he asked.
“We already did all that. Their cars are all loaded up. Don’t worry,” she reassured him. “I let them know you helped me pick out their gifts.”
“Hockey sticks.” Leo shook his head. “More like weapons of mass destruction.”
Georgiana looked at Perry with sad eyes. “How are you feeling?”
He shrugged and offered a smile. “Well enough. The pain pills help.”
At least Perry seemed in decent spirits. Better than Carol, who looked like she was ready to pack up and go home. “Why don’t we get you settled in for the night? I’m sure you’ll feel even better tomorrow.”
“Georgiana, wait!” Bryan put his hands up in the air, trying to get everyone to stop. “Can I just get everyone’s attention for a minute, please?”
She wanted to get straight to bed, to go to sleep and pretend the entire day had never happened, but she figured she’d might as well oblige him since he’d been gone all evening—even if was the very last thing she wanted to do. “Okay, Bryan. What is it?”
“I wanted to do this while everyone was here. While we’re surrounded by our loved ones. Because then we can share this with everyone.”
She was confused. “Share what?”
Bryan reached into his pants pocket and bent a knee. He was on one knee. With a black, velvet box in his hands. He opened the box, and a sparkle flashed, revealing a diamond ring.
Georgiana took a step back. What was happening? She knew what was happening. He was proposing. But now? Like this? In front of everyone?
“Today we brought our families together. And today, I’d like to unite them forever. Georgiana, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
She was stunned. She’d planned so much, so far in advance, for the day to be as magical as possible. And everything she’d hoped for had blown up in her face. This had been the worst day ever. And this is how he wanted to end it? By proposing marriage?
What a fucking disaster.
Georgiana couldn’t believe it.
She was so angry at him. How could he ask her that when his parents weren’t getting along with her family? And his dad had just come back from the ER with a broken nose. Everyone else was tired and ready to leave.
This was not the time and place.
“No.”
She couldn’t believe the word once it passed her lips, but she meant it. Accepting didn’t feel right, not when they seemed less compatible than ever. His mother didn’t like her, he and her brother had just gotten into it that afternoon, and his father had felt the wrath of their competitiveness. How could they get along as a couple if their families couldn’t get along, at least for the sake of their relationship?
“And I can’t believe you’d ask me that after everything that happened today.” Georgiana stormed out of the room, through the kitchen, and out into the yard. It was dark outside, and the heat of the day had evaporated away. Dark and cold, just the way she felt inside.
It hurt. The weight of the entire day had crashed into her, and she finally knew what it felt like to get crosschecked. And it sucked even more because it happened at Christmas, her favorite time of the year.
She loved Bryan so much; things were so good when it had just been the two of them. And it had been fine when she’d introduced him to her family. But bringing them both together like this changed everything.
And there was the problem. They couldn’t go back to a time before this moment, when everything was fine. So how were they supposed to move forward after all this? Could they?
Bryan was paralyzed. He couldn’t move or breathe or think.
Georgiana had told him no.
How could she turn him down? They were perfect together. They’d hit it off from day one, they were meant to be, and she’d just rejected him.
Everyone else was just as shocked; they all stood around, no one saying a thing. Bryan refused to look up at anyone, for fear of what their expressions might be. He knew that Georgiana loved him and wanted to be with him, so why did she say no? He had to find out.
Rebecca had started to follow her daughter, but Bryan waved her off. “I should be the one.”
“You sure, honey?” she asked. “I don’t mind—”
“No, I need to talk to her.”
“Okay, we’ll leave you guys alone,” she said, hugging him before directing the rest of her brood toward the door. The four brothers all wished him luck on their way out, until it was just Bryan and his parents.
Carol added, “We’ll, uh, be upstairs, I guess.”
Bryan nodded. “Everything’s going to be okay.” But he wasn’t sure if he was reassuring them or himself. He followed the path Georgiana had taken a minute before and found her sitting on the bench on the back deck. “Georg—”
“Bryan, please, don’t.” Her voice was quiet and shaky.
“Don’t what?” he asked, approaching slowly. “Don’t tell you I love you? Don’t tell you that I want to spend the rest of my life with you?”
“Don’t act like today didn’t happen. Like your mom wasn’t miserable all day. Like you didn’t just spend hours in the ER because you and Ian went overboard over a game, and your dad got caught in the crossfire.”
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“So?”
“‘So?’ Is that seriously all you can say right now?”
“No, I’m saying that it doesn’t matter.”
“What? How can you say that? This was a disaster!”
Bryan sat next to her on the bench and took her hands in his. “It was not a disaster. Sure, it didn’t go as smoothly as planned, and you said you didn’t want to marry me in front of everyone. That sucks, but it’s not the end of the world.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to marry you, but—” Her voice faded away. Her next words were choked. “I love you, Bryan. I want to be with you forever. But how can that happen when our families can’t get along?”
“Georgiana, this was the first time they met. I’d say it went pretty well. It takes time for people to get to know each other. The only thing they have in common right now is us. My parents are great, I love them, but they don’t like change. They didn’t want to come down. They wanted me to come home, like every other year. But when I told them how important it was for them to meet you, that I wanted Nana’s ring, they booked their flights.”
She seemed shocked. “Your mother gave you your Nana’s ring? Without having met me first?”
He nodded. “Of course. Nana wanted me to have it.”
“But before knowing getting to know me? Before deciding if she approved of me? Your mom’s so . . . opinionated. I can’t believe she’d do that!”
Bryan laughed. “That goes to show, you don’t really know my mom either. Yeah, she’s opinionated, but she’s also my mom. An opinionated lady who raised a son to think for himself, and even if she doesn’t agree with my decisions, she’ll always have my back. If she’d’ve had her way, I wouldn’t be playing hockey at all, and I’d never have been sent to Dallas and I wouldn’t have met you. So I’d say, so far, my decisions have worked out pretty well for me.”