Page 49 of The Santa Rules
“I see an incredibly selfless woman who would do anything for the people she cares about.”
She shrugs, her grip tightening on mine. “You needed help. I like to help.”
“But who helps you?” I ask. Her eyes drop to the ice, and I worry I’ve struck a nerve. She’s still skating backwards, pulling my clumsy ass along, so I continue. “It feels like I should be doing more. You do so much.”
“You act like you’re doing nothing. You’re building an entire North Pole in the gym.”
“It’s not enough, not considering the entire list of activities you’ve planned for us. I want to help take some of the load off you.”
“I’d like you to put your load inside me.”
My chest vibrates with laughter. It’s a struggle to compose myself, and I look over at the kids for a distraction. I can’t stop smiling at Avery as she squeals and bosses Isaac around.
Bella squeezes my hand. “That’s why I do it, for moments like that. Look at her face. It’s not a burden when you’re having fun. She’s worth it, and you both deserve to be happy.”
Fighting back the guilt, I nod my head. “She is worth it,” I say, my eyes finally meeting hers. “But so are you. You give so much to those around you and yet you’re so hard on yourself. You didn’t have to help me, but you did anyway, and I appreciate that, but I want to step up my game. I may not have all The Santa Rules figured out yet, but I can do more.”
Her responding smile warms my heart.
We spend another thirty minutes out on the ice before Avery’s teeth start chattering. We take off our skates as Isaac runs to the truck to get the thermos. Each of us have a cup of hot chocolate, and as I drink mine, my mind wanders back to my movie night with Bella.
“Your ears are red, and I can’t figure out if it’s the cold or if you’re having dirty thoughts,” Bella whispers to me. I pull her against me, running my hand up and down her arm to warm her up.
“I’m just thinking about other places I’d like to lick hot chocolate off you,” I say, as my eyes drift down to her cocoa.
“You better not be thinking about putting that anywhere else.”
My brow quirks in confusion.
“I would prefer to not get a UTI, thank you, and if you put that anywhere near my lady parts, that’s for sure what’ll happen. That stuff is just for nipples or book boyfriends, nothing else.” Her laugh is infectious as I pull her closer.
“Um, Hardy?” she rasps against my ear.
“Yeah?”
“Is that your phone in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?”
“Not my phone,” I say, pulling the carrot from my pocket.
“Oh my God, was that in there the whole time?” Her voice is teasing as she eyes the vegetable.
“I shoved it in my pocket when I pulled the skates from the truck bed.”
“Can we build a snowman?” Avery asks, running over and snatching the carrot out of my hand.
In unison, everyone looks at me for approval. “I guess we’re making a snowman.”
An unspoken understanding passes between the three of us as we take turns helping Avery make each giant snowball. Time passes surprisingly quickly, and before I know it, we’ve got a finished snowman with rocks for a mouth and eyes, sticks for arms, and a carrot for the nose. We snap dozens of pictures at Avery’s request and pile back into the car, carefully making our way down the mountain so we can get home in time for my little girl’s bedtime.
When we pull into the driveway, it hits me that I don’t want Bella or Isaac to leave. They’ve folded so naturally into our lives. Now, I just need to talk to Avery, when she’s not so sleepy, and figure out how to ease her mind about us dating. IfBella can manage work, raising a kid, and seeing me, surely, I can figure out how to do it too.
CHAPTER 16
BELLA
I’m locked in and laser-focused on my lesson plans when an unexpected visitor interrupts me the next day.
“We need to talk,” Amber’s nasal voice calls out from the door of my classroom. I make a sweeping gesture with my hand to invite her in.
