Eventually, the couples wandered off to mingle, and Avery excused herself to check on the caterers.

“How are you, Big E?” Ice asked when we had a rare moment alone. To my surprise, his blue eyes were warm and inviting.

“I’m doing okay. I’m spending the day tomorrow with the kids and Caro.”

“How’s that going with Caro?” He seemed genuinely interested.

“I don’t know. I don’t think either of us can figure out what we want—friends, physical, or an actual relationship.”

Ice chucked. “Been there. Honestly, love will bite you in the ass before you even realize what’s happening. I sure as fuck wasn’t looking for the love of my life when I met Avery, but I didn’t have the strength to resist.”

“I don’t either.”

He nodded sagely and rubbed his chin. He was sporting a beard this season though he kept it trimmed short. “You can’t stop love, buddy. If you’re in love with someone, no amount of resistance will work, and just the dumb-ass, moony expression on your face when you talk about her tells me all I need to know.”

Moony was a word I’d never expected to hear from Ice’s lips. “You think I look like that?”

“Fuck yeah. It’s obvious to everyone but you. That’s the way it is with guys who think they’re in control when they’re not.”

“Everyone?” I was horrified. I didn’t want my heart on my sleeve when I hadn’t even acknowledged my emotions in my most private of thoughts.

“What’s the worst thing that could happen if you and she give it a try?”

“I don’t know. We might break up.”

“Is that worse than not trying, never knowing, and always regretting?”

I shrugged.

“It’s like not taking a shot when the game is on the line because you might miss and be blamed for losing the game. What do you do? Do you take the shot anyway, or do you play it safe and pass the puck?”

“I take the shot.”

Ice smacked me on the back so hard I stumbled forward a step. “Take the shot, rookie. Take the shot.”

He winked at me and strolled off.

~~Caroline~~

This year the holidays were bittersweet.

I didn’t have good memories of Christmas until I’d married Mark. His family celebrated in a big way, maybe too over the top, but the kids loved Christmas at their grandma and grandpa’s house. The decorations were lavish and plentiful. Not even Scrooge would be able to resist getting festive once he walked into their house.

That first year, Fran had helped me decorate for the holidays. Growing up, my family’s feeble attempts to decorate had ended at a scrawny fake tree with mostly broken lights and a few decorations, which would’ve been fine if the spirit of Christmas had resonated throughout our family. It hadn’t. The holidays were an excuse for my dad to drink even more and my mother to flirt shamelessly at Christmas parties and drink her fair share.