Chapter 27

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Jordy

It’s been the worst Christmas Day since dinosaurs walked the earth.

I had been dreading it, and it was everything I knew it would be; boring and awkward.

My mother has made at least a dozen comments about Sienna and me getting back together. She’s clearly delirious because that is never going to happen.

Spending the day with Sienna and her parents as well as my own, without my sisters, has almost driven me to drink. Almost.

But I haven’t had a sip because I’m driving.

The sooner I leave, the faster I can drive home and maybe even call Lola.

Laughter floats down the hall from the drawing room—the one reserved for special occasions, like today.

I slipped away after dessert, retreating to the kitchen to catch up with Mr. and Mrs. Sommerville, my parents' head chef and housekeeper, who have been married for over thirty years and have worked for my family even longer. They don’t have children of their own, so I always bring them gifts at Christmas. In many ways, they helped raise me and my sisters. My parents were great, but always busy and not around much. The Sommervilles always were, and I love them like grandparents.

As I push open the drawing room door, I’m immediately greeted by a wave of cinnamon and orange—the fragrance stirs childhood memories of excited mornings spent with my sisters.

“Ah, there you are, Darling.” My mother beams at me. “Sienna and I were just talking about the Archer’s New Year’s Eve ball and what time you’ll be arriving after the game.”

“I’m not going this year.” I ping-pong my gaze back and forth between my mom and Sienna. “I’ve already made plans.”

“With whom?” My mom clutches her pearls.

“With none of your business,” I reply. Her spine straightens as if I offended her. “I’m a grown-ass man, Mom. I do not need to attend everything you and Dad do anymore. And neither do Lucia and Sofia.”

I drop into the leather lounge chair and cross my legs, laying my ankle on top of my knee. I’m staying for ten more minutes, then I’m putting this fucking dreadful day I’ve had to spend with my ex-girlfriend behind me.

“Are you not returning to LA for New Year, Sienna?” I ask.

Wearing a black dress, revealing, well, everything she has to offer, Sienna looks like I offended her now too. “As you know, I go to the Archer’s every year, Jordan. This year will be no different.”

“Right.” I have nothing to say to her. What I have come to realize is that Sienna is extremely boring. I struggled to find anything to talk to her about through dinner. If I’m being honest, I find her dress and red lipstick a bit of a turn off and found myself wishing I was sitting next to a certain petite blonde who looks edible in a hoody, track pants, and a pair of the latest sneakers. Lola is always beautiful.

I used to think Sienna was too, which she is, but I don’t find myself attracted to her anymore. Not even in the slightest, which is weird and fucking awesome, because it confirmed that I have moved on.

I did know this, of course I did, but today has given me clarity. I am completely over my ex.

“Sienna was telling me you didn’t buy her a Christmas present.” My mother smooths her hand over her perfectly slicked-back blonde hair that’s styled into a bun.

“Did you buy me one?” I ask deadpan, looking directly at Sienna. Is she trying to get me into trouble? That’s pathetic.

Sheepishly she replies, “No.”

“Which makes sense because we’re not together anymore.” I grin wide and watch my father do the same against the lip of his glass. The old fool knows Sienna and I are completely over and done with. My mother has yet to get the memo.

“Jordan.” My mother’s voice rises a few octaves. “Don’t be so rude.”

“I’m not being rude. I’m stating the facts. We split up months ago. I have an awesome hockey career ahead of me. Sienna is killing it in LA, doing the job she loves. We’ve both moved on.”

“I’m moving back to Canada,” Sienna blurts out.

As if she’s shot me with a Taser, I’m immobilized for a moment. “What?”

“They replaced me on the show.” She breathes in a shallow, quick breath.

“Why?” I feel bad for her. That was her dream job.

“Because they decided to go in a different direction.”

That makes no sense. She was perfect for the part. “Are you not staying in LA? Surely, you’ll be auditioning for other parts?”

“I don’t think acting is for me.”

“Well, I’m sorry to hear that, Sienna. I hope you find whatever makes you happy.”

“You made her happy,” Sienna’s mother, Sally, interjects.

Did I? “Are you sure about that?” The chill between us grows colder by the second. I can’t remember a time Sienna was ever satisfied. She returned every gift I ever gave her, and she much preferred the company of her parents than me.

“You did, Jordan,” Sienna speaks up, giving me puppy dog eyes that used to work on me, but no longer do.

Feeling awkward, I place my foot on the floor and push myself up, sitting straighter in my seat. This is a fucking ambush. “I’m sure you’ll find it again with someone who is meant for you.” I check the time on my new wristwatch and make an excuse to leave. “I have to go. I have plans.” I want to make a call. Desperately.

“You’re leaving already?” I stand up and Sienna mirrors me. Fumbling with her hands, she looks as if she’s about to cry.

“Yeah.” I don’t want to hurt her feelings, but when she left, I moved on. I thought she had to.

“But it’s Christmas,” my mother wails.

“And the Kansas Chiefs are playing the Houston Texans in an hour.” Which I would like to watch. That’s not a lie.

With displeasure painted across her face, Sienna looks unhappy. “You’re ditching me to watch a football game?”

“I’m not ditching you , Sienna,” I correct her. “I’m leaving to go home and watch a football game because it’s my day off.” And I would rather watch paint dry than spend another minute with you and our mothers trying to play Cupid. Fuck that.

Mad at me, I can feel heat radiating off my mother from across the room.

“I’ll see you out, son.” My father rises from his chair, placing his whiskey glass on the coaster as I make my way over to my mom.

Refusing to make eye contact with me, jaw twitching, she looks like she’s about to have a seizure. Leaning down to kiss her goodbye, I whisper in her ear, “Stop doing whatever this is. Sienna and I are over. I met someone.”

Well, I haven’t.

But I have.

Not really.

Not at all.

Her loud humpf makes me want to laugh because I've pissed her off and there’s not a single fucking thing she can do about it now with Sienna and her parent’s watching.

Awkwardly, I wave goodbye to Sienna along with Sally and Travis, Sienna’s long-suffering father who never says a word, ever, and leave the drawing room which my father has already vacated.

Standing in the hall, hands in the pockets of his dress pants, my dad still looks as young as the day he met my mom and it’s more than obvious where I get my height from.

“Mom’s annoyed with me.”

He swipes his hands through the air. “You let me deal with her, and when is she ever not annoyed?” His sly grin makes me smile.

“True.”

“I’m sorry she invited Sienna and her family today. I did tell her it was the wrong thing to do.”

“It wasn’t the best day.”

“I agree. We’ll have a better Christmas next year, I promise.” Letting out a sigh, he leans in and keeps his voice low. “You’re a lucky bastard getting to leave to watch the game.”

“I could smuggle you out of here,” I suggest with a chuckle.

“Your mother will only track me down and drag me back.”

I nod, agreeing with him. “True.”

“Got a date?” He widens his mischief-filled eyes.

“Maybe.”

“That’s my boy.” He grabs my shoulder. “Go and have fun.”

“It’s just a phone call.”

“It’s never just a phone call.”

He’s right, it’s not. Big or small, every interaction with Lola feels special.

My dad pulls me into his arms for a hug and slaps me on the back a few times. “Good luck for the next game. We’re both coming.”

“Really?” I’m surprised and pleased as hell if they are.

“Of course. We’ll go to the Archer’s New Year party after. I’m not missing your last game of the year.”

“Lucia and Sofia will be there too,” I inform him. They texted me earlier, confirming their attendance because I needed final numbers for tickets. Reserving tickets for Mom and Dad was wishful thinking but I’m excited they will all be there. He releases me from his tight bear hug.

“You’ll have the whole family there cheering you on.” He shoves his hands in his pockets again. “And I bought us all foam hands with your number on.”

He doesn’t need to tell me he’s had them specially made. We don’t sell them with my number on. “Thanks, Dad.”

“I’m so proud of you, Jordan.”

I know he is. He tells me that all the time.

“I’m painting again.” I share my revelation with him. I’ve painted four new canvases in the last couple of days. It’s wild how fast my ideas are pouring out of me.

“Our very own Picasso. He was a hopeless romantic and notorious lover, you know?”

“I do know that.”

He asks, “And is this phone call date of yours the inspiration behind the new burst of creativity?”

“Might be.”

“When you’re ready, you know we will welcome her with open arms.”

“Thanks, Dad, but I don’t think?—”

“Hey, no son of mine ever said don’t, won’t, or can’t. You’re a champ, Jordan. When you want something, you go for it.”

I chuckle, running my hand over my jaw. “Thanks, Dad. And thank you for my watch.” I pull up my sleeve and flash him my Christmas present he and Mom gave me.

“Your grandfather would have wanted you to have that. Take care of it.”

Worth millions, my grandfather’s limited-edition Omega Speedmaster will be getting locked inside my safe and only worn on special occasions. “It’s in safe hands.”

“Right, shoo, go have fun.” My dad spins round and points in the direction of the drawing room. “I’m off to sink at least another five whiskeys to get me through tonight.”

I throw my head back, laughing. “I would apologize, but it’s technically mom’s fault for inviting my ex-girlfriend and her family.”

“I might threaten her with halting the build on the yacht if she pulls another stunt like this one again.”

“See you in a few days.”

Running down the front steps, I head over to my truck and jump inside quicker than a grasshopper.

My shoulders relax and I exhale deeply, relieved to be out of the house that felt suffocating.

Driving carefully down my parents’ long driveway towards the main road, I glance in the rearview mirror one last time and catch sight of Sienna’s figure standing on the front steps of my childhood home.

It feels like I’m finally closing the chapter on my past, and all I can think about is what I want my future to look like. And with who.