Dad Bod Under the Mistletoe (Dad Bod Christmas #2)

9. Cassie

nine

Cassie

I t’s surreal to watch my dad and Mack walking side by side through the makeshift marketplace, passing vendors readying to greet attendees with pretzels, handmade goods, and hot drinks.

It’s not jarring because they clearly get along, laughing and joking, but because Mack resembles a broad shouldered, big-boned, sexy-as-all-hell elf in a red, sporty long sleeve top, holiday hat, and white elfin collar. I can’t tear my gaze off of him.

He’s resplendent. The smile on his face contagious as he greets everyone he passes.

Not even a full week as a member of the front office staff, and already Mack’s integrated himself into this organization so easily, so quickly. He’s already integral to the broader Scorpions family.

It’s all too easy to see him doing the same in my own life. Installing himself as a fixture in my day-to-day, imagining him as someone to come home to, someone to snuggle up to, someone to dream with under a blanket of stars.

At first, I struggled with thinking about whether that possible future could actually become my reality. If I could risk giving Mack my heart and entrust him with the very thing I’ve guarded all my life.

For so long, I’d played up my wild child reputation, doubling down on offering up my body without offering my heart because no one seemed to actually want that from me. But Mack’s the first person I’ve ever met that made me want to lower my walls, made me want to risk more than just my body. He's the first person outside of my family to make me feel safe.

And he’s definitely the first person to tell me I’m not too much.

My heart races, a dull thud of it echoes in my ears as I realize that’s exactly what I want.

Someone who doesn’t wearily tolerate my muchness but embraces it. Celebrates it. Doesn’t try to change it or tell me I’m getting carried away, but instead, looks for ways to make every crazy dream and zany idea happen right alongside me.

And here he is, dressed up like an elf, complete with matching shorts that stop just below his knee, and his legs exposed. One sports a striped knee-high sock while the metal of the other gleams in the morning light, catching the sun as he moves with ease and confidence. But my eyes fall to the hockey bag slung over his shoulder and the unattached, modified prosthetic he balances across it with one hand.

“Thought you said he wasn’t skating in the showcase?” Naya asks.

“He said he couldn’t skate. Maybe he changed his mind.” I track his movement across the lot, yearning and warmth spreading through me. My feelings only intensify when I see him turn to wave my father in the direction of another staff member.

On his back, in place of his name is ELF, and underneath that, the number 2.

The shirt is a perfect match for the one I’m wearing.

Under her breath, I can hear my sister counting down. “Three… two…”

But before I hear her whisper one , my feet are moving, carrying me through the rows of vendors, past Willow who’s officially opened up the festive event, and weaving through families who’ve been granted early access.

My green elf boots jingle with every quickened step I take. The snow machine sends a spray of fake snow through the air and the opening strains of Mariah Carey’s chart-topping holiday hit come filtering through the sound system.

“Hi,” I breathe out as I reach him by the entrance to the outdoor rink. “What are you doing?”

“Hey, princess.” His smile is warm and inviting. Fake snow drifts down and settles in his dark hair, dusting his shoulders. “I’m just dropping off my bag, then I’ll be working alongside you at Santa’s grotto.”

“No, I mean, what’s all this? Are you skating in the showcase?”

“Oh, yeah. Like you said, it’s for a good community cause, right?” Mack says, eyes flicking to the families that pass us. “Those kids in the children’s hospital are facing some pretty big challenges. When I was at my lowest points, I remember how much it meant to me to see someone like me make it to the other side. To see them happy, healthy, and living their lives. It inspired me. Maybe I’ll inspire someone.”

“You will,” I say, my throat thickening with emotion. “You already do. You inspire me. ”

His brown eyes crinkle in the corners as he smiles. “I’m not going to lie. I’m scared to step out there and fall flat on my face, but I have to try. Just like I had to try to come back for you, princess.”

“I’m glad you came back for me, Mack.” I take a deep breath, and let it go in a long stream. “Because I never would’ve come for you. I’m too stubborn and I believed you didn’t want me.”

“I already told you. You’re not too anything. You’re perfect. And now you know I want you.” He sets his bag down and steps up to me, his big hands settling on my shoulders and sliding down to take my hands. “I’m sorry I wasn’t brave enough to give you what you wanted all those years ago, Cassie, but I’m not going anywhere. I’ll spend the rest of my life giving you everything you desire, if you only let me.”

“I believe you.” I run my hand along his bearded cheek and smile as the snow falls around us. “I love you, Mack.”

Then I point above our heads, at the mistletoe dangling over the rink’s entrance. Mack laughs, drawing me close against his big, cuddly body and dipping his head to mine.

“I fucking love you, princess. You’ll forever be my number one.”

Mack’s kiss is sweet, consuming. My heart cracks open, swelling with love that overflows as I wrap my arms around his neck and cling to him. He lifts me into his arms, and I deepen the kiss, trying to infuse it with all my feelings as I cradle his face between my fingers as the snow falls around us.

When he sets me down on my toes and the kiss ends, the sound of a loudly clearing throat makes me jump away guiltily.

“Why the hell is it every time I go away for a road trip, I come back to find some hockey player hanging off one of my sisters?” My brother, Diego, demands, shaking his head ruefully.

“Hopefully the same hockey player for the same sister, huh?” quips Elias Pahlsson as Naya springs up and greets her husband with a kiss. Diego shoots him a withering look as Naya stifles her laugh.

“Big D,” Mack says, reaching over to slap hands with Diego in greeting. “Welcome back. Glad you could make it.”

“What are you all doing here? You told me you were still stranded in Minnesota!” My eyes widen when I see members of the whole Scorpions team wandering around the market, mingling with the families and donning their Santa hats. "You said you weren't going to make it."

Diego shrugs. "I lied."

Dominic Davies, our newly retired netminder, pops up from the rear and drops all his gear by the boards. “What’s up, Cass? Why didn’t we ever get outdoor rinks here when I was playing?”

“What? How?” I splutter, choosing to ignore his question. “Explain, please.”

“It’s all this guy’s doing.” My brother slings an arm around Mack’s shoulders and slaps a hand on his chest hard enough to make the big guy flinch. “He called in favors, apparently insisted on trying to make a Christmas miracle happen.”

I turn to him. “You did this?”

“I did my job,” he qualifies, inclining his head in Dominic’s direction. “I brought in alumni. But yeah, maybe I called in a few favors with my old team to see if we could get the rest of the guys here in time, too.”

“Did you know?” I ask Naya.

She nods. “I didn’t want to get your hopes up in case they didn’t make it, especially because you and Mack had gone through such lengths to get the prospects and former players to fill-in. But it’s already all over our social channels and Willow’s saying it looks like we’ll top last year’s donations.”

“It’s a Christmas miracle,” I murmur, flinging myself back into Mack’s arms and squeezing him tight.

He tips my face up and steals another quick kiss from my lips.

“You’re my Christmas miracle.”

My smile widens and I reach up to cup his cheek. “You’re mine.”

Later, when Mack steps onto the ice with his custom prosthetic to resounding cheers, my heart is so full as he invites me to skate alongside him. Hand in hand, we make the loop together, leading a full legacy of Scorpions players onto the ice.

The peace and joy shining on the faces of the children and families as we pass is priceless.

But the smile plastered on Mack’s face is the one that brings happy tears to my eyes.