The Christmas You Crash (Going Rogue #2)

Chapter 42

forty-two

RYDER

Lexi’s mom hates me.

It doesn’t matter that I brought her flowers and a bottle of wine, or that Lexi clings to my hand like I’m her lifeline. No matter how many times I make her daughter laugh, the tight scowl is ever present when I catch her looking my way. She hates me on principle and has since the moment I walked into her home.

I stupidly thought I could win her over with some smiles, my best manners, and by treating her daughter like a queen.

I was wrong.

“Sweetheart.” Kelly Cross grabs Lexi’s hand and gives it a squeeze across the table. “Did I tell you that Jeff’s nephew may stop by tonight?”

Jeff, Kelly’s boyfriend, shoots me an apologetic grimace from his seat. Despite the unfortunate way he and Lexi’s mom got together, the guy actually seems pretty decent. He clearly loves Kelly, and he’s obviously determined to do what he can to build a relationship with Lexi. Plus, despite swearing me to secrecy for obvious reasons, he admitted to being a huge Rogues fan and talked my ear off about our lineup and how we’ve been playing so far this season while the women were in the other room.

“Mom,” Lexi hisses, shooting daggers with her eyes. “I’m sure Jeff’s nephew is very nice, but I am here with my boyfriend .”

Kelly Cross waves a hand dismissively. “Oh, don’t get your panties in a bunch. I just want you to meet the man.”

“ Mother .”

I’d probably be more upset by the whole nephew thing if Lexi wasn’t so adorably disgruntled by it. Am I annoyed? Absolutely. Offended? Sure. But I know where I stand with the beautiful blonde beside me. And while I’d like her mom to accept me, all that really matters is that my girlfriend does.

“I’m looking forward to meeting him,” I say with an amused smile. “After all, if Jeff and your mom get married, he’ll be your cousin, Lexi. Weren’t you just saying the other day how nice it would be to have some cousins?”

Kelly Cross chokes on her wine.

Lexi snorts but quickly schools her features to play along. “Yeah, babe. I was.” She turns to her mom with a confused expression. “Sorry, Mom. I realize you’re just trying to introduce me to the guy. Obviously, you wouldn’t try to set me up with my cousin.” Lexi pulls a face. It’s the same expression I’ve seen new parents make when they have to change a particularly rank diaper or their kid has a blowout that spreads runny poop up their back.

“I… No, that’s not what I…” Lexi’s mom sputters helplessly. She looks at Jeff for backup, but the guy’s grinning into his wineglass. At least he’s on my side, even if he isn’t one of Lexi’s parents. I’ll take whatever wins I can in this situation.

Recovering, Kelly Cross levels me with a look that practically shrivels my balls. “So, Ryder, what are your intentions with my daughter?”

“Jesus, Mom. What is this, 1950?” Lexi shakes her head, her annoyance back in an instant.

“It’s a fair question. A mother has the right to make sure her daughter isn’t being taken advantage of.” Kelly sniffs.

“Well, ma’am, my intention is to be the best boyfriend I can be for Lexi. To support her and encourage her.” I want to tell Lexi’s mom that I want to love her daughter for as long as she’ll have me, but that would be stupid. Somehow, I doubt telling my girlfriend I love her for the first time in front of her mom is the way to go. But I think I do love Lexi. Being here and sitting through her mom’s third degree only makes me more certain that’s how I feel. If I didn’t, all I’d be able to think about right now is getting the hell out of Dodge. Instead, I grab my girl’s hand and meet her gaze so she hears and feels every bit of my truth. “Your daughter is special. I’ve never met anyone like her.”

Kelly narrows her eyes at me. She’s still not convinced. “And what do your parents think about this relationship? It’s a bit taboo to date your coach’s daughter, isn’t it?”

Lexi’s hand squeezes mine tight, and I see her spine straighten. She opens her mouth, but I beat her to it.

“Well, if my parents were alive, I’m absolutely certain they’d love your daughter.” There’s no malice or hurt in my voice, even though that familiar pang reverberates through my chest. The one that shakes me a little every time someone brings up my parents. I turn to look at Lexi. “My dad always loved strong women. He’d be proud of me for convincing one I’m worthy of her affection.”

Lexi’s eyes glitter with emotion as she holds my gaze. She doesn’t speak, but I don’t need her to. The words are written in the gentle, melancholic upturn of her lips, the soft set of her eyes, and the slight tilt of her head. I’ve begun sharing more about my parents in the past week or two. In some ways, the time I’ve spent on the road with the team has been a blessing. Sometimes it’s easier to open up about difficult subjects when you can’t see the other person’s face. And we’ve spent as much time as we can on the phone or video chatting.

“I’m sorry,” Lexi’s mom says softly. It’s the first time her words haven’t carried even the slightest bite of hostility. “I didn’t realize.”

“There’s nothing to apologize for,” I answer. And I mean it. Not about my parents and not about being defensive of her daughter. I’m just glad someone in Lexi’s life is.

“Do you have other family in Minneapolis?” Kelly asks. Gently, this time.

“Unfortunately not. It’s just me.”

Kelly’s face twists with sympathy. “That must be very hard.”

I shrug. It is, but it’s also not something I can change. “I do all right, most of the time. You get used to it, after a while. But being a part of my team and getting to spend time with my teammates, I’ve begun to realize that family can be created. It’s not limited by blood. We can get second—hell, even third and fourth—chances at it.”

Jeff reaches over and squeezes Kelly’s hand. Surely, if anyone understands what I’m saying, it will be the woman who grabbed hold of a second chance for herself. Lexi’s mom studies me differently now.

“And I know Lexi and I haven’t been together all that long, but she’s begun to feel like family too.” Any fear I might have that I’ve just said too much washes away when Lexi’s expression grows even softer. “Spending Christmas with her was…” A lump forms in my throat. “Well, it was the best Christmas I’ve had in years.”

“Such a charmer, Handsome.”

“It’s true, Oscar.”

God, she’s beautiful.

Jeff chuckles, his brow rising. “Oscar?”

“She was a little grouchy at first when I crashed her quiet Christmas alone.” I give my girl a wink. “It was adorable.”

Jeff chortles. “She must like you a lot if she hasn’t strangled you for a nickname like that.”

“He’s adequate,” Lexi replies breezily. “He does have a really big?—”

I cough and plaster my hand to her mouth before she can finish that sentence. I don’t think the size of my dick is going to win me any points with her mom.

Lexi pries my hand away. “Heart.”

Jeff guffaws at that. Especially when Lexi gives me a cheeky wink after letting her gaze drop to my crotch momentarily.

This woman.

Lexi’s mom opens her mouth to say something, but before she can get the words out, the doorbell rings. She exchanges a slightly sheepish look with Jeff before rising from the table. “That’ll be Henry. Excuse me a moment.”

With a shake of his head, Jeff plucks the open bottle of wine off the table and offers Lexi and me a refill. We both accept. “Sorry ’bout this.”

“It’s okay,” Lexi says, resigned. “I wish I could say I’m surprised, but I’m not.”

Jeff’s voice takes on a tender note. “She worries about you, and her heart’s in the right place.”

“You really love her, don’t you?” Lexi asks. She watches as the older man across from us gets a goofy, lovesick look on his face.

“Hard not to,” is his reply.

It’s clear this is the moment Lexi accepts Jeff. Her face lights up as a genuine smile curves her lips. “I’m glad she has you.”

“I’m glad to have her.” Jeff hesitates for a moment, studying Lexi with a slight twist to his mouth that tells me he’s considering something. “Your mother didn’t want me to say anything, but you deserve to know. She and your father had been separated for almost six months by the time we met. She didn’t want to tell you and ruin your senior year of college.”

Lexi’s eyes widen, and she looks like she wants to ask a million questions, but Kelly walks into the dining room with Jeff’s nephew beside her, stopping this particular line of discussion. By the looks of him, he feels as awkward about this whole setup as Lexi does. But when he notices her hand in mine, I almost feel bad for the guy. Especially when his eyes widen as he takes Alexis in. I know exactly what he must be thinking. She’s beautiful. And he’d been dreading this meeting.

Now he’s probably wishing he’d agreed to it sooner.

“Sweetheart, this is Henry. Jeff’s nephew.” Kelly doesn’t look nearly as smug about this introduction as she probably would have before dinner. “Henry, this is my daughter Alexis and her…her boyfriend, Ryder.”

Henry shuffles his feet, looking between Lexi and me as Kelly talks. But when she says my name, his eyes widen, and he gives me his full attention. “Wait. Ryder? As in Ryder Hanson? The hockey player?”

“For the love,” Kelly mutters under her breath. The poor woman can’t seem to escape hockey.

I stand, finding my manners, and extend a hand. “Yeah, man. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Wow,” Henry says. “Same.” He glances between me and Lexi and nods. Like he’s decided it makes total sense for her to choose a hockey player over her mom’s boyfriend’s nephew. He’s not a bad-looking guy—not that Lexi seems to have noticed one way or another, which does great things for my ego—but my first impression is that he’s quiet and likely unsure of himself. And there’s no shame in that. But Lexi would eat a guy like this alive. She’s too full of spunk and fire. She needs someone who can give it right back to her when she’s feeling sassy and spirited.

I’d like to think I’m that someone.

“Hey,” Lexi says from her seat. She gives Henry a little wave and pastes an innocent look on her face. “I hear we may be cousins soon.”

The poor guy has no idea what to say to that. He sputters, looking between Jeff and Kelly. “Oh, uh, I didn’t know you proposed, Uncle Jeff. Congratulations.”

Jeff chuckles and shakes his head. “I haven’t, kid.” Jeff looks Kelly’s way. “Yet.”

Kelly blushes.

“Well, if everyone’s done with dinner, I suppose we should take this in the other room. Anyone want a beer?” Jeff pushes back from the table and claps a hand on his nephew’s shoulder.

“A beer would be great,” I say.

Henry’s gaze bounces between all of us before he shifts his weight and says, “I can’t really stay. I have some work I need to catch up on.”

To Kelly’s credit, she manages to hide any disappointment she may feel that her matchmaking attempt has failed spectacularly. “I’ll walk you out.”

I’ve broken down some of her walls, but I haven’t fully won her over yet.

But I will.

I’m not going anywhere. Both Cross women will understand that, eventually.

I can be patient.