“Come on, guys, pick it up,” I instructed the kids, wanting them to quicken their speeds down the slope. I was being harsher than usual, and I reminded myself to reel it in.

“Mr. Finn, I’m tired,” Little Lyla, as we called her, whined when she slowed her space.

“Then go all the way down and rest, alright?” I snapped, gruffer than I intended. She gave me sad puppy eyes and slid past me. Guilt hit me right in the face, but it didn’t fix my poor attitude.

“What is your problem?” I heard Alea shout from the back of the group.

“Nothing, Alea. Finish your drills so we can be done.”

She looked taken aback because even when she was at her worst, I never snapped at Alea. She knew she was my favorite.

When drills were done, I briefly told the kids bye and went to tear down flags and finish packing up for the day.

“Did your girlfriend break up with you?” Alea crossed her arms and lowered her eyebrows with a curled lip.

“No, Alea. I just have to go.”

She shrugged. “It’s a shame. I liked her.”

That caught my attention, and I paused. “What? No, you didn’t. You hated Olive.”

She shook her head. “No, I really did like her, I just thought she took up too much of your time. Time you should’ve spent training me.”

I let out a small laugh, the first since letting Olive go. “Well, you’ve got all my attention now, kid. I’ll see you after the holidays, alright? Maybe we’ll work on those jumps.” Alea nodded excitedly and took off toward her mom, who waved my way.

I got home that afternoon, exhausted from lack of sleep and running kids around all day. I collapsed on my couch and reached for the remote, but when I turned the TV on the first thing that popped up was It’s a Wonderful Life. I rolled my eyes and hit next.

Christmas Vacation.

Elf.

How The Grinch Stole Christmas.

Ugh. Fine. I turned the TV off and instead turned my gaze to my large windows and the cityscape below. Families walked by with their kids and couples held hands. It was sickening. I couldn’t help but wonder if Olive was looking down from their house too.

A knock at the door had me jolting upright. I yelled, “Come in!” because I was too tired to get up. I put my trust in my recent luck that it wasn’t an ax murderer.

“It’s Coop!” He yelled from the front door, and I made no effort to get up.

“In the living room!” I shouted back. The door shut, and his loud boots smacked against my hardwood floors as he made his way to me.