Page 81 of Mistletoe Face Off
“I'll come with you,” my mom says.
“But you've already got your dinner.” I eye her plate.
“I forgot cranberry sauce,” she says, even though there is quite clearly some cranberry sauce on her turkey slices.
Together, the three of them make their way toward the food, leaving Holly and me alone. Well, as alone as you can be in a room filled with your teammates and their people.
“I think she wants us to be alone,” Holly says.
“Is that so?” I slip my arms around her waist and grin down at her.
“You know we need to kiss now?” she says, looking up at a sprig of mistletoe, hanging from the ceiling.
“I know I need to kiss you, mistletoe or no mistletoe,” I reply, smiling down at her beautiful face. I lean down and brush a PG kiss against her lips—we are surrounded by people, after all—but our moment is interrupted by Coach calling for everyone’s attention.
“This could be it, Harry,” Holly says, and instantly, my heart rate kicks up a notch as we turn to face him.
“That was a hard won victory out there for the team tonight, and you're all about to get a well-deserved rest for a few days over Christmas. But before you go, I wanted to make an announcement. Me and the coaching team have been assessing a couple of players to determine who should succeed Dan when he retires at the end of the season.”
Holly slips her hand into mine and gives it a squeeze.
“The coaching team and the players have all voted, and the results are in, folks.”
I catch Lorcan’s eye. He's got his usual smarmy smirk on his face, and I force myself to smile at him in what I hope is a collegial way.
“Come on, Coach. Who's the new captain?” Chase asks when Coach says nothing else.
“Yeah, Coach, spit it out,” Casey echoes. “Is it Lorcan or Harrison?”
“They really are like a comedy duo those two,” Holly says with a shake of her head.
But my mind is focused on Coach. This is it. This is the moment I find out whether I measure up. Whether what I've been doing on the ice for the team has been noticed. Whether my stint as playing Santa at the team events and all those staged arguments with Holly have played its small part in the decision making.
Coach continues, “I'm glad to announce that our new captain for next season will be… Harrison Clarke.”
I blink at him in disbelief. Did he really just say my name? I'm going to be the next team captain? Not Lorcan? Me?
“You did it, Harry! I am so proud of you,” Holly says as I pull her against me in a hug.
Happiness bursts out of me, and I punch the air. “Yes!”
Suddenly, we're swamped by my teammates, my mom and Cindy, and even little Macy, all congratulating me, slapping me on the back, shaking my hand, telling me I’ll make a great captain.
“Speech!” Casey demands, and I hold my hands up to get everyone’s attention.
“I don't have a whole lot to say other than thank you for having faith in me. All of you. From Coach Newton and the staff, right through everyone on the team. I don't take this honor lightly, and I'm going to prove to you that you were right in choosing me.”
The room erupts into applause, and I grin from ear to ear. I've got the captaincy, something I've dreamed about, and more than that, I've got a woman I love, a woman who gives me the strength I need every day.
I'm not sure life gets much better than this.
“Congratulations, Harrison,” Lorcan grinds out as he shakes my hand. But it’s decent of him to say it, and I won’t begrudge him.
“Thanks, man. I know you wanted it, too.”
“It was probably the Santa suit that did it,” he says, and I have to agree with him, but not for the reason he thinks.
If it wasn't for me dressing up as Santa I might never have had the chance to talk so openly with Holly that time. For that I will be forever grateful to that Santa suit, the prosthetic nose and all.