Chapter 25

The doorto my apartment shuts with a thud, and Bronny looks up from his textbook, smirking at me. "Oh, look who's home. I was beginning to think you moved out but didn't tell us," he jokes, and I stick my tongue out at him.

"Ha, ha, very funny," I reply dryly.

Bronny chuckles. "I'm just teasing you, man. How are things going with the professor?"

A lovesick smile spreads across my face, and I shrug, dropping my bag by the door and walking toward the living room. Ian and I have been dating for about two and a half months now, and honestly, things couldn't be going better. He treats me like I'm a treasure that needs to be protected at all costs. It's everything I ever could have hoped for in a relationship.

"Things are going amazing," I reply, noticing how dreamy my voice sounds. "Sorry I've been a little MIA."

Bronny waves me off. "Don't apologize. You're busy as fuck with hockey, and when you're free, you want to spend time with your man."

"That doesn't give me an excuse to bail on my friends. We should plan a games night sometime soon," I suggest.

"Sounds like fun. Just let me know when, and I'll try to make sure I'm free."

"Free for what?" Rio asks, exiting his room with wet hair.

"A games night," I tell him, and he grins.

"Oh, that sounds fun. We haven't had one of those in a while. Are you going to invite your hot professor boyfriend?"

"Would that be weird?" I ask Bronny since Ian is still technically his teacher, at least for a couple more weeks.

"I guess it depends when the games night is. I'd prefer it to be after the semester ends so he isn't my professor anymore."

"I could make that work. Maybe we could host it over Christmas break. We should also invite Monster and Sasha," I add.

"Sounds like a plan," Rio agrees. "Are you coming here after your game tonight or staying at Ian's?"

"Do you mind if I stay at Ian's?" I ask, feeling bad that I've been ditching my friends a lot over the past couple of weeks.

Rio waves me off. "Not at all, especially now that we have plans to hang out soon."

A big smile spreads across my face at how understanding my friends are. I'm glad they're in my life.

Two weeks later.

To sayI'm happy the first semester is over would be an understatement. The past couple of weeks have been insanely busy for Ian and me, but we're finally over final exams and have a week off together. One I've been cherishing every minute of. In fact, I've been so lost in spending time together, I kind of forgot today is Christmas Eve.

Thankfully, I bought Ian's present over a month ago.

Ian, however, did not forget and wished me a Merry Christmas Eve first thing this morning. After breakfast, I figured out Ian had something up his sleeve. Unfortunately, he's refusing to give up information about the plan, like normal.

All I've been told is we're going on an adventure. The clothes he picked out for me are extra warm, which has me guessing that we're going somewhere cold. Since I love surprises, I've been a ball of excitement the entire time I dressed myself.

"I'm ready," I call out, exiting the bedroom and making my way to the living room where Ian is waiting.

"Almost ready," he corrects, then heads to the closet to pull out my winter coat, mitts, and beanie.

"Is the adventure outside?" I guess.

Ian nods. "Yes, but that's all I'm telling you, so stop trying to spoil the surprise."

I purse my lips at him, faking a glare. After three months of dating, Ian knows me very well and isn't shocked when my attitude makes an appearance. Although, I wouldn't really call it an attitude but more of a playful side.

"Come on, trouble. We have places we need to go," he states, and I hurry to put on my outside gear.

Once we're dressed all warm and cozy, we head to Ian's car, and he drives us downtown, which I'm kind of surprised about until my eyes land on the festivities.

"Are we going tobogganing?" I ask with wide eyes.

"Yup, plus there's hot cocoa and a snow angel competition," he informs me, and I squirm in my seat from the excitement bubbling inside my stomach.

"Best Christmas Eve ever!" I yell, making Ian laugh.

"We haven't even gotten to the best part yet," he tells me, and I stare at him like he's crazy.

How would it be possible to make today any better than it already is?

There is a knock on my window while I'm staring at Ian, trying to read his mind, which I'm failing horribly at. When I turn to see who it is, I suck in a deep, shaky breath, and my heart races.

"Coach Appleton?" I whisper with a shaky voice.

"Surprise, baby," Ian says quietly in my ear. "Now open the door and give the man a hug."

I do as I'm told, moving at the speed of a cheetah, almost hitting Coach with my door in the process.

"What are you doing here?" I ask, hugging him tightly.

"Your boyfriend invited me," he explains.

I wasn't aware it was possible to fall for Ian any more than I already have, but here we are. I'm shocked he did something so special like this for me. I haven't said the words yet, but I love him. Maybe I'll find the strength to say those words to him soon.

I let go of Coach Appleton and pull Ian into my arms.

"Thank you," I whisper into his ear.

"No need to thank me, baby. You told me how important Calvin was to you, and I wanted to make our first Christmas together extra special."

I wrinkle my nose at Coach's real name.

"I don't have to call you Calvin, do I?" I ask him. "It feels weird."

He laughs and shakes his head. "Coach works fine, just like I'll probably still call you Coop and not Ben."

I nod with a giant grin. "Ian is the only person here who calls me Ben."

"Did you want me to call you Coop?" Ian asks, but I wrinkle my nose again.

"No, it doesn't sound right coming from you."

Both Ian and Coach laugh as we head toward the festivities the town has put on.

Christmas hasn't always been my favorite holiday, but Ian might change that like he's changed a lot of things in my life. We've only been dating for three months, but I kind of don't see a future without him in it.

We spendthe majority of the day outside, enjoying all the festivities the town has to offer before heading back to Ian's place for some pizza. Apparently, tomorrow, he's going to make a full-blown Christmas meal for the three of us, and I can't wait.

I bet it's going to be the most delicious food ever, and I offered to help, but Ian insisted I should spend the time hanging out with Coach. Though, he's most likely just trying to save Christmas and to do that, it's best to keep me out of the kitchen.

After we're done with dinner, Coach heads back to his hotel, leaving me alone with the man who makes me happier than I've ever been.

"Thank you for everything," I whisper as we cuddle on the couch.

"You deserve it, baby," he assures me.

I move in his arms so we're face to face. "I love you," I tell him, staring into his gorgeous blue eyes. Before he repeats the words, I already know he feels the same way.

"I love you too," he replies, pressing his lips to mine.

"Best Christmas Eve ever," I whisper, earning me a chuckle.

"And the day isn't even over yet," he says, waggling his brows.

"Oooh, Christmas sex," I cheer, racing to the bedroom.

Ian's laughter echoes off the walls as he follows at a much slower pace.

Never in a million years did I think I would find a man like Ian.

I hope he stays in my life forever.