by Toni Aleo
“What did you do?” Avery asked him with wide eyes, already suspicious.
“Nothing.” He didn’t know why she was making such a big deal out of this. He had the financial means to help out and he did. “I just wanted these kids to have a nice Christmas. That’s all. You told me about not collecting enough money, and because you already pointed out that I have so much money just laying around, I used it to make sure the kids had a wonderful Christmas.”
Avery tilted her head and smiled. Her cheeks turned a deep pink “Wow. And I hope you know I didn’t mean all that stuff I said about your money.”
“I know, don’t worry about that. I’m more concerned about why you’ve been avoiding me since Saturday night?”
“I haven’t been – ugh. Okay. Maybe a little.” Avery lowered her eyes to the floor.
“Hey,” Kyler tipped her chin up to look at him. “I’m sorry I left without waking you. That was a bonehead move.”
Suddenly, she changed the subject. It was as if she didn’t know what to say in response. “Kyler, I hope you don’t mind me asking, but why is it so important to you to help the orphanage? Don’t get me wrong. I mean, it’s wonderful what you did for them. They’re going to love it.”
He looked around at all the kids. They were laughing and dancing, they were having the time of their lives. Kyler rarely shared his story with anyone, but this felt right. “Because I lost both of my parents by the time I was seventeen. I was for all intents and purposes, an orphan. I was almost eighteen, so I didn’t get any help from the state. I was playing in the juniors, and I had to work as much as I could to help pay my way. Someone saw me playing and learned about my story. I still don’t know who they were, but they donated enough money to get me through the year. After that, I was lucky, and got picked up by a professional hockey team. But I never forgot how hard it was to be on my own, and I never forgot that stranger who helped me out. If I can help these kids never feel completely alone, I will. Even if it costs me every last penny.”
“Wait, what? You don’t have any family? I didn’t know. I’m so sorry.” Avery’s face went pale.
“No, don’t be. I’m used to it now. I technically have an uncle, he’s in Boston. But I never really saw him growing up. We aren’t that close.”
“How long have you been…”
“Alone? A little over five years. My mom got sick, and it wasn’t long before she was gone. After that, I lost my dad within two months. I swear he died from a broken heart.” Kyler saw the sadness in her eyes. He hated when people looked at him with pity. “I don’t really talk about this, okay? So, I’d appreciate it if you kept it to yourself.”
“Oh, Kyler. Sure. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to drudge that all up.” Avery’s eyes dropped to the ground.
“Avery, please don’t apologize. I won’t say that it’s been easy, but I persevered. And now I have my career.”
Christmas music played, creating a warm and festive environment on this cold, blustery December day. Before they could discuss his family situation more, Chrissy stepped into the front of the room by the decorated and lighted Christmas tree.
She spoke loudly. “Hi kids. May I please have your attention.”
A hush fell over the children as they quickly filed up to where Chrissy stood, and planted themselves on the floor.
Kyler could barely contain his excitement as he saw a few of the kids point to where the tree stood. He had orchestrated this part, and watching it unfold was almost more exhilarating than planning it.
“Kids, first, I’d like you all to give a big round of applause for our new friend Kyler Wilson, and the ladies at the Pink Ribbon Cupcakery. With their help, this has been the best Christmas Eve party ever, right?” Chrissy asked.
The kids erupted in applause and cheers.
Kyler smiled and waved.
“Okay, okay.” Chrissy motioned for the children to quiet down again. “Our party isn’t over yet. It appears that we have a surprise guest, and he is anxious to see you all.”
Chrissy directed her attention to the Christmas tree, where Santa Claus walked out from behind it, calling out his signature “Ho! Ho! Ho!”. He carried a large red sack over his shoulder that had bells on it that jingled when he walked, and an elf trailed behind him, pulling a wagon filled with gifts.
“Wait, our gifts are under the tree. There weren’t enough to fill that wagon too. Did you–” Avery nudged Kyler as she asked.
“I may have found out that each of the kids had a wish list for Christmas.” There were so many kids, no way could the orphanage buy everybody things that they wanted.
“Wait, did you buy all those gifts?” The joy and excitement that lit up her face gave him a warm feeling in his chest.
Kyler didn’t answer over the cheering from the kids. Santa sat down in a chair by the Christmas tree and called out each child’s name one by one, handing them each a gift from his wagon, and one from under the tree.
“Kyler,” Chrissy’s voice pulled him away from watching the kids. “I just wanted to let you know that we’re all set for tomorrow. And to thank you again.”
“It really was my pleasure. I can’t wait to start making my visits a regular thing. Do they like to play street hockey?”
Chrissy nodded, her smile bright and her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “You really are an angel. Thank you again. Merry Christmas and enjoy the rest of the party.”
“Merry Christmas.”
Avery tugged on his arm, pulling him towards her. “Are you going to tell me what you did? What’s going on tomorrow?”
Kyler smirked at her impatience. Avery was practically stomping her feet with insistence that he tell her what he had done. “I don’t like to gloat.”
“So, don’t gloat. Just tell me. Please? And whatever you’re planning to do here in the future, I’d love to help in any way that I can.”
Kyler wasn’t expecting that. He looked over at the kids. Some of them were opening their gifts already. Wrapping paper was flying everywhere and everyone wore a smile. Looking back at Avery, he noticed what was hanging above them.
“Look,” he pointed to the ceiling. “Mistletoe.”
Avery’s face turned dark pink. “Oh, um, it’s just a silly–”
Before she could answer, Kyler lightly cupped her cheek in his hand, and softly kissed her lips. She tasted like vanilla icing. She didn’t pull away, and he couldn’t get enough.
Avery ran her finger over her bottom lip, but her eyes stayed on him. Up until this very moment, Kyler was undecided whether this was a poor decision. Kissing her is something he couldn’t stop thinking about since Saturday night. The alcohol may have aided in them ending up in bed together, but tonight they were both sober.
The way she softly kissed him back, her mouth moving with his, and her lips parting and inviting his tongue in, there was no resistance in her kiss.
His choice to kiss her was a good one. “It might be a silly tradition, but I think it’s my favorite.” He ran his knuckle down her cheek, and her breathing caught.
She pulled away and her face reddened. “Kyler, I…”
After a kiss like that, Kyler would have thought her toes would be curling. But instead, she was antsy, almost nervous.
“Avery, say something. I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t been thinking about you every day since you left my hotel room a year ago. The other night was not a mistake, it was fate. Because, Avery, I’m convinced now more than ever that we were meant to reconnect. Maybe we were even meant to meet at the bar that night.” His words were from the heart, but she didn’t look like she was comprehending them. “Avery?”
Her eyes darted nervously around the room. “I have to go. I’m sorry.” She barely even said the words before she hurried out of the building.
Kyler ran after her, but before he could even get down the front steps, she was gone.
Chapter Nine
Avery
New Year’s Eve
The Pink Ribbon Cup
cakery was full of people, and upbeat music blared over the speakers. Avery manned the cupcake station. She didn’t really have to stand here and wait to refill the cupcake platters, she just chose to. It was easier than mingling, and it would not only keep her away from the alcohol, but she could avoid an accidental run in with Kyler.
Becca invited him, and Avery didn’t doubt that he’d be here.
Ever since their night together, her body had been aching for him. He was as good in bed as he was at kissing. She couldn’t even begin to think about his hands…he was so good with those big, strong hands. No wonder they say some hockey players have ‘good hands’. It’s not just on the ice, apparently.
People danced, wearing festive Happy New Year hats and glasses. Champagne was flowing, and they were serving their special Champagne Dreams cupcakes. It might not be New York’s Times Square, but folks in Pittsburgh still knew how to party.
Too bad she wasn’t up for a party. She was still sick to her stomach about running out on Kyler after their kiss under the mistletoe. She didn’t even know why she did it. Running in to him tonight was the last thing she needed. She had to get out of here. Becca would never know she was gone. Turning to make her escape, she was stopped in her tracks by Kyler’s voice.
“Avery, can I talk to you?”
How did she miss him come in? “Gee, I have to man the cupcake table.” She looked down at the full trays.
“No, you don’t. Avery, the plates are full. And if there happens to be a mad rush on cupcakes, Becca can refill them. Will you come with me? Please?” Kyler didn’t have the usual cocky smirk on his face, just a small smile that seemed sincere. “I think we need to talk.”
It was taking all Avery had to stand here and not go with him, so letting go and agreeing wasn’t difficult. “Fine. But if the party runs out of cupcakes, it’s on you.”
Kyler nodded his head with a small chuckle. “Deal.” He held out his hand to her and waited for her to take it.
Avery had no reason not to. She reluctantly slid her hand in his. Kyler led he towards the door, grabbing his coat, and handing it to her. “It’s pretty cold out there.”
The party hummed so loudly that she could barely hear the chime over the door as they walked outside. The winter wind was brisk, but his coat shielded her from the cold.
“Aren’t you cold? I can go get my own jacket.” She moved to slip his coat off and hand it to him, but Kyler stopped her.
“No. I’m fine.” Kyler stared at her a moment. “Why did you leave that night?”
“What? Last New Year’s Eve?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t know. Why are you asking me now?” Avery nervously shuffled her feet and dropped her gaze to meet them.
“Because you ran out on me again on Christmas Eve. What’s going on in that brain of yours? Did I do something wrong?” Kyler tilted her chin up to look at him. “And before you answer that, I’m sorry I left without saying goodbye. It was a bonehead move. Is that why you ran away from me at the party?”
“Kyler,” Avery sighed. “Last New Year’s Eve, I was embarrassed.”
“Why? We were both adults. We were lonely and chose to find comfort in one another. There was nothing wrong with what we did.”
“I’m just not that kind of girl. I don’t do that sort of thing. That wouldn’t have even happened if we hadn’t been drinking that night.”
“You don’t think so? I’m sure the alcohol helped, but we were each alone, at a bar, on New Year’s Eve. I was drawn to you the second I saw you, and everything else we did just felt right.” Kyler gazed into her eyes and explained.
Avery didn’t know why, but she blurted out, “It’s not like men don’t come in here and ask me out every day!”
“I never said they didn’t. Do you go out with any of them?” Kyler appeared amused at her awkwardness.
“Well, no.”
“Why not?” Kyler countered.
“Um, well, because, they aren’t my type. Look, it took me almost the whole year to get over the hurt and pain that Jack caused me. I had my eye on our future, finally getting my happily ever after, and I was blind to what was happening around me. And on top of it all, to do it during the holiday season… I would’ve been surprised if I wasn’t out drinking on New Year’s Eve. I just needed to forget, for just a little while.”
And that’s where Kyler came in. He showed up when she needed someone the most, swept her off her feet, and helped her to forget her troubles for just a few hours.
She wasn’t ready to jump into another relationship. And yet she could see herself with this man. Every time he was near her, she couldn’t help but be drawn to him. That’s why she ran. Embarrassment, fear, and to avoid the humiliation that she went through with Jack. She refused to go through that again.
“You can’t tell me you haven’t been dating all year?”
“I get bunnies hitting on me all the time. But they aren’t what I want.”
“Why? You’re young and single.”
Kyler shrugged. “Not my type.” He added, obviously mocking her.
“Kyler, I just don’t know what I’m doing. I’m not emotionally stable enough to be in a relationship so soon.”
“Wait – are you saying that you don’t want to be with me?” Kyler asked. “Is that why you ran after our kiss?”
“No! I mean no, I do want to be with you. But I think we need to slow things down. We jumped into bed last year not knowing a thing about one another. And then we did it again. We skipped all the getting to know each other part.”
“So, you don’t want to have sex then?” Kyler asked slowly.
It was as if he was questioning the words as they were coming out of his mouth. He pulled her close to his chest and ran his knuckle along her cheek. His breath was hot on her face.
Having him so close made her pulse race, and her heart beat hard against her chest. She couldn’t resist him that first night, and there was no way she could now. “Who am I kidding? Of course, we’re still going to have sex.”
“Oh, good.” Kyler let out a small laugh, but it was soft, like a whisper. His lips covered hers. The warmth of his lips a stark contrast to the ice-cold bite to the air. “Avery, I can’t get you out of my mind. Maybe that first night was a drunken one-night stand, but don’t you ever wonder if we were meant to wind up at that bar together?”
“I don’t know.”
“Because the other night, when we wound up in the same situation, that was the only place in the world that I wanted to be.”
“But I just don’t know if I’m ready–”
“Do you really believe that? Or are you just scared?”
“I’m scared.”
“I care about you, Avery. I may not have known it a year ago, but I know it now. I know you’ve been hurt, and the wound is still fresh. But, I swear to you, Avery, I won’t hurt you.”
Kyler cupped her jaw in his large hands. Her teeth began to chatter. “You’re freezing. We should go back inside.”
“Wait. Listen.” In the bakery, the party guests were clanging glasses and starting the countdown. “It’s almost midnight.”
Kyler kept his gaze on her, not interested in the party that was going on inside. “There’s only one person I want to ring in the New Year with.”
His warm lips brushed against hers. Kyler was right about everything. All these months she had been putting up walls to keep anyone from hurting her. But what she forgot was those walls also kept love from getting in. And he had been in front of her from the start.
“We’re a little late to take things slow, but I swear I won’t hurt you.”
“You already said that.”
“I know, and it’s worth repeating until you believe me.”
“I’ve been thinking about you since that first night too.”
“How about we don’t repeat last year’s mistake?”
“Which part?” Avery let out a little laugh. “The drinking, the one-night stand, or the wicked
hangover the next day?”
“I was thinking more along the line of each being alone when the clock struck midnight. Being alone on New Year’s Eve is no fun.” He ran his knuckle along her cheek, sending chills through her body, but they weren’t from the cold.
“No, it’s really not.”
Kyler leaned in and softly kissed her. She wanted to kiss him, but there was more she needed to say. Avery put her hands on his chest, and pulled away, just enough so she could speak. But Kyler apparently didn’t like that idea and continued to kiss the sides of her mouth as she spoke.
“I just want us to get to know each other. Tell me about your life outside the rink. Do you prefer potato chips or ice cream? What toppings you like on your pizza. Do you even like pizza? Where do you live? Do you have any pets?”
“Do we really need to talk about all of that now?” He asked in between kisses.
“Not right this minute. But I want to get to know everything about you and your world. I want to see your apartment, maybe even come to a game.”
“Ooh, I think I’d like the way you look in my apartment. Especially in my jersey, and nothing else.”
“Stop messing around, I’m being serious. I want to go on a date or two and do all the things we missed before we jumped into bed.”
“I’m serious too. Look, we made it until midnight, but I really think we should go to your loft now. I have a few crazy ideas of how we can ring in the new year. Maybe we can talk about those dates after another night of carnal activities?”
“As long as you make me breakfast in the morning.”
“Deal. And if you want, we can go out to dinner tomorrow? Then I’ll show you my place?”