Page 5 of Merry Pucking Christmas

My body hardens, and I cough to try to unscramble my thoughts. It’s been a long time since I’ve been intimate with a woman, and honestly, I’m wondering why not.

It’s not like I actively go out looking for women. Lenna and I broke up over two years ago, and since then I haven’t really dated much. There’s been a few hookups here and there, but nothing permanent.

Honestly, with my schedule it’s hard to keep a relationship going strong. It’s why Lenna and I broke up.

“How’s school?” I ask, sliding down the wall to sit beside her on the ground.

She smiles. “Going good. I’m almost done.”

“That’s good, right?”

“Yeah, I guess. Honestly, it may sound funny, or silly, but I still don’t know what I want to do with my life.”

My eyes meet hers. “I think that’s normal at your age.”

“Not for you. Did you always know you wanted to play hockey?”

I nod. “Yeah. Ever since I was a kid when my father threw a pair of skates on me and taught me how to play.”

“See. You knew exactly what you wanted and you went for it. It’s why you’re so successful.” She slumps beside me. “I have no clue what I want.”

I smile at her. “You’re still young. You have plenty of time to figure it out.” My breath hitches in my throat as our eyes meet, and I swear she doesn’t feel so young. The air’s charged between us, and I smile.

“Yeah, I guess,” she finally says.

“I don’t think I’m really one to hand out life advice anyway.”

Her eyebrow arches. “Why’s that?”

I glance up at the ceiling, looking for the exact way I want to tell her what I’m trying to say, but before I can say anything the doors open wide.

“Excuse me, we’re going to start boarding now, and we figured you two would board first,” the flight attendant says.

I nod, getting to my feet quickly. I reach my hand down for Noelle, and when her tiny hand slips inside mine, it’s like a spark ignites deep within my system. “Sure thing,” I tell the flight attendant.

Together, we follow her down the bridgeway, and I head to my seat in first class.

Noelle stares at her ticket on her phone. “I’m all the way in the back,” she says with a small smile. “With the common folk.”

“Take my seat,” I tell her, not able to live with myself if I don’t offer Noelle all the comforts of first class. Her smile alone is deserving enough of the seat.

Chapter 3

Noelle

“I cannottake your seat,” I say, sounding horrified. “First, I’d never hear the end of it from my father. He’d say you need the leg room.” I glance down at his legs, but instead get caught up at the crotch of his jeans. I snap my eyes back up. “I’ll be back in coach.” I turn to head in that direction, and York stops me, grabbing on my arm.

“Wait. I can’t let you not have first class. You deserve it.”

I scoff, rather loudly. “I assure you. I don’t.”

“How about an upgrade,” a flight attendant says. Her bright blue eyes focus right on York. She’s tall, blonde, and beautiful in a bubbly-sort-of way. In an every-man-would-be-crazy-not-to-want-her way.

York smiles, barely noticing her as his smile is aimed at me. “Great. Noelle, you’re up here by me.”

I nod, not wanting to make a fuss as I can already see the first few passengers about to board. “If it’s not too much trouble.”

“It’s not,” York says, like he owns the airline. He grabs my carry on with one hand and secures it above our heads. “Sit,” he demands, and I do.

---