12/24

[eatmoreprotein]

Sometimes it's really hard to believe that I'm approaching a whole year here in Darrow. I still don't really feel like I've settled in all that well, but I felt like that at home a lot of the time too. I miss hockey in the way that I assume someone might miss a limb that was viciously ripped away from their body, to be dramatic. But hockey was like that for me. It was a part of me, in my blood and in my bones, and sometimes I'm surprised to find that I've lived through losing it.

I might not have if it weren't for Bittle. He's the only thing that's kept me sane and sober throughout the whole ordeal. He's sort of my everything now, taking up the empty space that hockey left behind. He is what I'm passionate about now, what keeps me going through the tough days.

And he's the reason that I put all of this together. I wanted Christmas to be really special, and I know how stressed out he is lately. I want him to relax, and that why I rented out a room at Kagura for the week between Christmas and New Year's. It put a pretty sizable dent in my meager savings account, but it'll be worth it. I'm getting more and more used to not having an endless income. I'm better at budgeting and looking for deals, and I even get sort of excited about clipping coupons. So while the first few months were very hard, it's getting easier and I'm happy that my first sizable purchase will be something for me and Bittle to enjoy together.

I packed a bag for him and arranged for someone to take care of Elvis and the dogs, and talked to Derek and Blue to make sure they wouldn't be needing Bittle for the week. I brought everything up here, including our skates, and texted Bittle to ask him to meet me up here for some Christmas Eve cocoa in hopes of surprising him.

But the biggest surprise in store, it seems, was for me.

After checking in and dropping our luggage off in the room, I decided to take a quick stroll around the lodge while waiting for Bits to join me. There's a cafe up ahead, and I head for it in hopes of a good cup of coffee when suddenly I'm stopped in my tracks. It's like an invisible wall has gone up all around me, and anxiety wells up in my throat. I've never experienced anything like this, and it's terrifying. I don't know what to do.

"Ooh look, a new victim," someone says, and I look up to see two girls leaving the cafe. "And he's a cute one!"

"What's going on?" I ask, feeling my fingers start to tremble where they're pressed against my sides.

"The mistletoe got you, babe," one of the girls says, looking delighted. "But I'd be happy to free you."

She winks and puckers her shiny lips at me, and I feel panic clawing at my insides as I shake my head, not wanting them to come any closer.

"Um, no thanks," I breathe out. "I'll just--- stay here."

Comments

[puckandpie]

To say I'd been shocked when Jack not only told me his plans, but also passed on that he'd also already cleared everything with Derek and Blue as far as work and got someone to look after the animals, is an understatement. I mean, I suppose I'm not too surprised at the efficiency and thoughtfulness given that it's Jack, but it's about the last thing in the world I ever expected.

And, if I'm honest, I'm so so looking forward to this little time away from everything. A full week with Jack with nothing else to worry about sounds like absolutely Heaven.

I'm not quite expecting the feeling that hit when I step through the big front doors with the rest of our bags, though. Some of the memories of the last time I was here are a little mortifying. Not all of them, of course, but they all carry a sort of bittersweetness about them now. Hopefully this trip will bring nothing but good memories, though.

But it does look like it's going to start with a familiar sight.

"Oh goodness," I mutter to myself, cringing a the small swarm of woman already surrounding poor Jack, who's currently stuck beneath the enchanted mistletoe. His eyes are comically wide and a little panicked and I quickly dart forward, hoping to head it off before it becomes a full on attack.

"Jack!" I wave to get his attention, which also gets the attention of the taller one of the girls. I can't really say I'm a possessive sort of guy, but I also don't appreciate the way she looks at me then. Or the way she looks at Jack. My eyes narrow as I step closer, carefully setting down the bags before I cross my arms over my chest. "These ladies botherin' you, sweetheart?"