Page 100 of Offside for Christmas
17
COLE
That evening, the entire Eagles team had descended on O'Brien's Pub in what Mac declared was "mandatory celebration mode."
The bar was decked out for Christmas—garland wrapped around the bar top, lights strung across the ceiling, a tree in the corner that looked like it might topple over at any moment but somehow never did. Christmas music played from the jukebox, and the smell of pub food and beer filled the air.
Mac was already three beers in and standing on a chair when Cole and Ellie arrived.
"THERE HE IS!" Mac shouted, nearly falling off the chair. Luke steadied him. "The hero of Chicago! The man who said no to $1.2 million! Cole Hansen, everyone!"
The bar erupted in cheers.
Cole felt his face heat. "Mac, get down before you break something."
"Not until I make a toast!" Mac raised his beer. "To Cole! For finally pulling his head out of his ass and realizing that some things are more important than money!"
"To Cole!" the team chorused.
"And to Ellie!" Luke added, grinning. "For putting up with him when he was being an idiot!"
"To Ellie!" More cheers.
Ellie was laughing, her face pink with embarrassment. "I didn't do anything—"
Cole pulled her close, kissing the top of her head. "You did everything."
Mac got to them first after climbing down, pulling Cole into a bone-crushing hug. "You beautiful idiot! You came back."
"Couldn't stay away," Cole said, grinning.
"Damn right you couldn't." Mac released him and immediately hugged Ellie. "And you—stop pushing away good things, okay? My heart can't take it."
Sophie was next, her eyes still red from crying. "That was the most romantic thing I've ever seen. The whole neighborhood is talking about it. You two are legend status now."
Coach Davis clasped Cole's shoulder. "Good to have you back, son. We've got paperwork to sign tomorrow—making you stay to play with us. And I've got another proposition for you. A little bird told me you're good with kids, and I saw it myself at the winter festival. How'd you feel about helping coach our youth program?"
"Yeah, I’d like that—but tomorrow's December 26th," Cole pointed out.
"And? Hockey doesn't take holidays. Neither does opportunity. So what do you say?"
The team crowded around—all of them welcoming Cole back like he'd been gone for years instead of a day. Someone put a beer in his hand. Someone else started another toast that devolved into friendly chirping about the dramatic reunion.
Later, when the party had broken into smaller conversations and Ellie was talking with Sophie across the bar, Mac cornered Cole near the dartboard.
"So. You and Ellie. Disgustingly happy."
"That's the goal."
Mac took a long pull of his beer, looking uncharacteristically serious. "How did you know? Like, know for sure she was the one?"
"Where's this coming from?"
"Just curious. Hypothetically."
Cole studied his friend. "This is about the librarian, isn't it?"
Mac nearly choked on his beer. "How did you—did Luke tell you?"
