Page 34 of A Shot at Love
It didn’t matter right now anyway, what mattered was neither of them would have to spend a holiday so deeply rooted in family on their own.
“Thanks man,” Frankie said to the delivery person as she accepted the paper bag filled with their dinner. “Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.”
It was kind of funny, not spending Christmas with Cam because somehow, as it turned out, not only did he and Frankie share the same floor of the building…their homes shared a wall.
She had actually laughed when Frankie told her what number her condo was because she and her brother were still close without even being in the same country.
But Frankie’s space was warmer, more lived in since the trip they’d taken to IKEA. There were lamps that bathed the living space in warm golden light, lush plants sitting on twin bookcases with their strands of leaves cascading down, a coffee table featuring a stack of books about sports, leadership, and even food.
And in the corner of the room, there was even a small fake Christmas tree standing about four feet tall, covered in a string of bright multicoloured lights and an array of ornaments.
Something about knowing Frankie had planned to be alone for the holiday but still set up the tree tugged at Jules' heartstrings and made her feel like the woman standing at the kitchen island and plating their meal had spent more than a few holidays on her own.
“Do you want anything specific to drink?” Frankie asked and Jules tore her gaze away from the mesmerizing glow of the Christmas lights and looked at her.
“Hmm? sorry?”
Frankie laughed and opened her fridge. “Drinks, with dinner. Do you have a preference? I’ve got pop, sparkling water, wine…”
Well, it was Christmas after all, why not indulge.
”I’ll have a glass of wine if you’ll have one with me?”
“You drive a hard bargain but I like the way you think.”
Jules pushed herself up off the couch so she could join Frankie by the kitchen island bar stools but was promptly waived off as Frankie came to her instead. She set two plates of food down on the coffee table then went back for the wine.
“It’s Christmas,” she said, “we deserve to be comfortable while we eat and I like being near the tree.”
When they finally sat down with their food and their drinks, Jules felt like she was living inside of a dream because she was really here, with Frankie, sharing a meal on Christmas Eve.
Until today, the last time she'd even seen Frankie was on her TV while watching the Harbour’s last game before the short holiday break.
The game had been a 4-3 overtime loss in Colorado and the Harbour had battled hard to tie the game in the third period after being down 3-0, sending the game into overtime only for the home team to score fifteen seconds into the five minutes of 3-on-3 action.
It was a devastating blow after coming so close and they’d had three power play opportunities but simply couldn’t convert during the game, something Jules knew would have the so-called hockey fans turned keyboard warriors rushing to their online platforms to rip Frankie to shreds. They’d blame the loss on her as if she wasn’t surrounded by an entire coaching staff and roster of experienced players who all had their own part to play.
Luckily Frankie didn’t seem to be bothered by the online abuse that was hurled at her from every direction tonight and Jules studied her as they ate, her body relaxed as she enjoyed forkfuls of rich flavoured noodles and sipped on her wine.
“Miami, huh?” She questioned, eying Jules over the rim of her wine glass. “What on earth compelled him to go there…”
“Oh, I don’t know, maybe the fact that he’d get to see Mackenzie sipping a cocktail in a bikini on the beach?”
“Is your brother dating someone?” Frankie set her glass down atop a coaster on the coffee table and stuck her fork into a piece of sesame chicken. “I had no idea, not that I pay much attention to the personal lives of my athletes. I don’t exactly spend a ton of time in their locker room.”
“God, no,” Jules said with a laugh, her own mouth full of food. She took a sip of her own wine and swallowed before giving her head a shake. “My brother does not date. He…keeps himself busy.”
“And right now he’s keeping himself busy with – ”
“A five foot eight brunette hairstylist from New Brunswick named Mackenzie who DM’d him on Instagram? Correct.”
Jules didn’t always agree with her brother’s decisions but she wasn’t his mother. His choices were his own to make and that also meant his regrets and his flings gone wrong were his and his alone as well.
“He’s never been in any kind of committed relationship,” Jules continued, leaning back against the couch cushions, and pulling her legs up under her. “But I hope he settles down one day, meets a girl that’ll stick around, someone whoactually cares about him as a person even if he can be the most annoying human being in the world sometimes.”
“Hey, you never know.” Frankie smiled and put her plate on the coffee table and settled back on the couch just as Jules had.
Her hair was in a neater bun now than it had been earlier in the fitness centre and she was wearing joggers with a long sleeve waffle knit shirt. She looked gorgeous, just like this, Jules thought, and she felt privileged to be around her in such a laid back, relaxed state. It was safe to assume that very few people got to see her like this.
