I never planned to give Austin Graham, the tight end for the Vegas Aces and the father of my little girl, a second chance this holiday season. After all, he messed up. Big time.

But the shimmering decorations on the Christmas tree cast him in a totally new light—especially when I get home from a disastrous blind date and find him on my couch with our sweet baby asleep on his chest.

He’s not the villain he so easily plays, but coming in second to everyone his entire life has pushed him to act like a Grinch. I’m getting swept up watching him with our daughter, seeing his eyes twinkle in the Christmas lights, and feeling his hands caressing my skin.

Now I need to figure out whether it’s worth risking both my heart and my little girl’s to show this second down scrooge that he comes in first with us.