Tangled with the Tight End (Evergreen Lake: Under the Mistletoe)

Chapter 36

thirty-six

GAbrIEL

Once Gino is bundled up, we take off toward the Mr. and Mrs. Claus cookie decoration stand. Our movements are slowed due to the crowded streets and Gino asking an endless stream of ‘what’s that’ for nearly everything he sees.

He holds her hand and points at a girl dressed like an elf. “What’s that?”

“That’s an elf. They help Santa by making presents for all the kids.” Her face is open and welcoming without a tinge of irritation.

“Oh.” He nods even though he only understands a portion of what she says. But he trusts her, so that’s enough for him. Watching them together fills a part of me that’s been empty for years. Maybe it’s always been empty. Empty and waiting for them to fill it.

They stroll ahead as I watch them. Norah will make a wonderful stepmother to Gino, and when we have our own children, she’ll continue to blossom and fill those cracks.

I shake my head. I can’t believe he told her he loved her before I did. I dropped the ball on that one. My biggest fumble to date.

After I catch up with them, I sweep Gino off his feet, setting him against me, and wrap my arm around Norah’s shoulders. She smiles and drops her head to my chest. “Let’s decorate some cookies.”

“Yes!” Gino giggles as I kiss the top of his head.

The wooden outdoor structure holds rows of picnic tables lined under the canopy. The space is bustling with customers–kids decorating cookies, parents cringing as trees are frosted red and yellow versus the preferred green and laughing children pouring leftover sugar glitter into their mouths.

Norah laughs as if she senses my apprehension and slips from my arm, grasping my hand and tugging me inside.

“Hello.” Mr. Claus waves and motions us to join her. “Come on in, the cookies are over there, and all the toppings are on the table with mini cups and spoons to scoop up what you need.”

“Yes.” Mrs. Claus grabs my forearm. I have no doubt that Norah knows who they both are, but I’ve not been around enough of the locals to identify them. “Let’s get you set up.”

The two of them are wearing the typical Christmas garb–red velvet costumes with faux white trim and ruddy red cheeks. That might not even be makeup. It’s hard to say with the biting cold outside.

We stop at the table with rows of Christmas cookies on long silver cookie sheets. Gino scrambles down and studies each one.

“What would you like, Gino?”

His head snaps back as he studies Mrs. Claus. His eyes narrow as if he’s trying to figure out if he knows her. He blinks and points to a tree. “I want that one.”

“Absolutely.” She beams. “Amazing choice.” The woman snatches up a napkin and collects the cookie he requested. The scent of cookies and frosting is muted outdoors compared to Lips & Hips.

After Gino collects his cookie, Mrs. Claus shows us the decorating items and moves on to the next customer. Norah helps Gino gather the supplies he wants such as green frosting, yellow sugar glitter, and blue icing, to complete his project.

I rotate my head from side to side, easing the tension from the long flight. Gino managed to fall asleep, but I was awake the entire time. Not that I’d skip this moment for anything.

Gino takes his items and rushes to a nearby table, squeezing into a spot between two other kids who’re licking the frosting off their masterpieces. The space is loud from all the chatter, but the laughter and overwhelming sense of joy is more than I expected.

I wrap my arms around Norah with her back to me and inhale her scent, letting it seep through me. “Thank you for bringing Gino here. It’s amazing.”

“You’re amazing.” She glances up from under her lashes. “Are you okay?”

“Yes.” I kiss her temple and sigh, “It was a long day.” I cup her cheek as dread settles in my gut. “I’ll have to return in a couple of days to start practicing with the team.” She spins around in my arms and bites her bottom lip. The same worry I’ve been feeling is mirrored on her face. I press my forehead against hers. “I know this isn’t the time and place….” One corner of her mouth arches upward. “But Gino beat me to it anyway, so I’ve already screwed everything up.”

“You’ve screwed up what?” Her brows are furrowed as she searches my face for an explanation.

I pull back and cradle her face. “I love you, Norah. I realize this is complicated with living in two different places, and my divorce isn’t finalized, but I need you to know that I want you in my future. Hell….” My voice is gruff as I swallow. “You are my future. You and Gino.” I shrug as I go on. “And any other children we might have together. When I return to work, nothing changes, we’re together. We just work in two different locations.”

Her eyes glisten under the lights as she wraps her arms around my neck. “I love you, too, and I love everything you said.” She sobers. “I’m not going to pretend I won’t be sad when you and Gino go back, but I’ll survive, and the reunions will be that much sweeter.”

I kiss her lips chastely so as not to offend anyone in the cookie decorating station. It’s soft, tender, and over too soon.

Gino chatters to the kids next to him, swipes his finger through the frosting, and sucks it off his fingertip. Here it comes. The sugar rush. But it doesn’t stop the smile from forming on my face.

Norah leans forward. “Why did you put blue on your tree?”

He spins around and looks at her like that’s a dumb question. “Because you have blue eyes.”

Lord, save me. My heart pangs in my chest. Could Baron bump up the divorce? I want to get rid of Sloane so I can ask Norah to marry me. The thought smashes into me like an avalanche. A few weeks ago, I was determined to live a single life once the divorce was finalized. Falling in love again? That was out of the question. Marriage? No fucking way.

Then, I ran into a spitfire of a woman who knocked me off my feet and changed my entire world. We were destined to meet. There’s no question that she’s the woman I’m meant to be with.

I need to call Baron. Tomorrow. I’ll call him tomorrow. Tonight is for the three of us.