21. Sawyer

CHAPTER 21

SAWYER

Tucker

We going Christmas shopping this week or what?

Tank

But there's so many PEOPLE out there.

Max

I'm with Tank. What happened to good ole online shopping and avoiding all the people cracked out on peppermint mocha and the need to touch every damn thing in a store while Christmas music plays so loud you can't hear yourself think.

Tank

Right? What's with that? It's like they're trying to brainwash you with cheerful nutcracker music so you end up buying way more than you actually need to.

Tucker

Oh my fucking God Scrooge and Scrooge Junior. Lighten the hell up. Do I HAVE to remind you we're shopping for your families just so you'll stop your whining?

Me

And this happens ANNUALLY?

Tucker

Yes, and it gets worse every year.

Me

Wait, you guys always shop together for Christmas? How sweet.

Max

There's strength in numbers.

Tank

Someone's always got your back.

Me

Little scared of this energy, but I'm down. Maybe you guys can help me figure out what to buy Leah.

Tucker

That's the spirit! Christmas tree emoji Santa emoji grinning emoji gift emoji

Max

Someone sedate Cindy Lou Who please.

Tucker

I always knew I'd be the one to make your heart grow three sizes hand heart emoji

Tank

crying laughing emoji

Me

skull emoji

I have to admit, as someone who's been kind of a loner outside of playing hockey, it's nice to have guys that include me in the ordinary shit in life.

Such as Christmas shopping.

Have I ever been Christmas shopping with a group of dudes before? No.

Am I positive it's going to be one of the most entertaining trips to the mall I've ever made? I would bet my entire career on it.

I book it to my last stop before hockey practice, knowing damn well Coach is going to be up our asses, yet again, about not getting lazy just because it's the week of Christmas. That's never affected the way I play, but I guess he wouldn't know that on a personal level yet since this is my first year on his team. I'm nothing if not determined to make this my best season yet.

"Oh my god, you weren't kidding. There's so many people out today." My brow lifts to my hairline as the four of us walk into the mall. The guys told me they'd meet me here after practice today, and even though I'm so beat I feel like I could pass out any minute, I'm glad I came. Because I would never miss a chance to see Max and Tank dealing with the Christmas rush at the mall a week before Christmas.

"I fucking told you," Tank groans, turning himself sideways to dodge a shopper that would have run into him otherwise. He gives Tucker a warning look and Tucker must be able to read his expression because he rolls his eyes and speaks next.

"That lady was probably seventy-four years old, brother. She probably didn't even see you."

"We were in her direct line of sight, Tucker. She shouldn't be allowed to drive if she can't see a brick wall four inches in front of her."

"Maybe she has a driver." Max shrugs, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets.

"Whose side are you on?" Tank leans forward to ask him, making me chuckle.

"Okay, so any idea where we're stopping first?" I clap my hands together, swiftly changing the topic of conversation before the two of them end up turning around to leave.

Tucker takes off to look for a second pair of work shoes for Taylor, and what is supposedly the world's softest blanket, while Max stops in front of a store with a full window of coffee mugs. Tank and I hit the LEGO store first to grab a couple of sets for Hendrix, then he manages to find a onesie for Poe that says my dad's tattoos are badder than yours. The way this man's face lit up at baby apparel was downright heartwarming. When he dipped into Victoria's Secret I opted for the store across from it to look at candles.

"Good choice, I don't need you knowing what kind of lingerie my wife wears." Tank slaps the side of my arm and walks so confidently into that store I can't help but laugh.

I look around for a while but after smelling a candle that was supposed to be cucumber scented, but smelled like straight up wet feet, I left.

"No luck, brother?" Tucker claps me on the shoulder as I'm rubbing a hand down my face in frustration, and I shake my head.

"Why is it so fucking hard to shop for women?"

"It's not really." Tucker shrugs and I give him an expectant glance.

"Please, enlighten me."

"Women are viewed as such complex creatures, and don't get me wrong, some of them are. There are high maintenance and very particular women out there that you'd never be able to shop properly for. But you and I both know; Leah is not one of those women. Is she?" I think his words over and catch him raising a brow at me.

"Nah. She's not." I let out a sigh, trying to think of everything I know about her. What she likes and doesn't like and rack my brain for some idea of what to get her. When I glance to the left the answer practically slaps me in the face.

The bookstore .

Leah is the biggest bookworm I've ever known. She reads anything she can get her hands on, from fantasy, to autobiographies, and every funny, dirty, thrilling thing in between. Surely something will pop out at me in there.

"No luck yet?" Max asks as he reappears beside us.

"I think I'm getting an idea."

"Good deal. Glenda said to tell you hi." He nods to Tucker and Tucker's eyes grow wide.

"You saw Glenda? And you were pleasant enough for her to feel confident you would relay a message to me?" Max rolls his eyes as Tucker lays into him.

"Who the fuck is Glenda?" I ask, watching Tank snicker as he walks up behind Max.

"She's the jewelry store lady," Max growls. "It's a long story. What are you getting Leah?" He dismisses the conversation and I nod to the bookstore before the four of us walk in together.

The amount of mouths hanging open and lingering glances are not lost on me. Tucker stops in front of an end cap and points to a sign that reads Hockey Romance and barks out a laugh.

"Dude, look, they have a section about you." I roll my eyes and we each pick up a book and thumb through them.

"Oh, shit," Tucker says, rearing his head back and slamming the book shut. "I didn't know they made books dirty like that." He sits the book back down and rubs his hands on his shirt like it he touched something he shouldn't have, and I can't hold back my laugh.

"Yeah, well I'm not too keen on the idea that I get her a sexy book about the sport I play for Christmas. Seems a bit forward, doesn't it?" I glance up and see Max and Tank both staring very hard at a book that I can't see the title of. Whatever it is, they're completely engrossed by it.

I think hard about the book I heard her telling the girls about while we were at the dinner the other night and vaguely remember the name of the author.

I look around for what feels like an eternity but when I have no luck, I grab my phone and search the author's name and find all her books online. I sit on one of the chairs at the bookstore coffee shop, looking through the entire list of books by this woman and when I finally see one that I think— hope —she'll love, I order it and finally stand to rejoin the guys. They're going to have to get over the fact that I cheated and ordered one of her gifts online because this is the only thing that I feel even slightly confident she'll like.

"I think I'm gonna grab her a mug and then we can bounce," I announce and the guys regroup around me. They all share a worried glance and I let out a laugh.

"Don't worry, I have a plan. I'm not getting her just a mug." Tank whistles and pats me on the back.

"I thought for a second Max was going to lose his spot as the worst shopper." Max rolls his eyes at the comment.

"I got my wife and my daughter matching bracelets as well as the matching slippers and pajamas as requested. I think you're projecting. I'm an excellent shopper."

"So domesticated," Tucker jokes.

"Where the hell did you hear that term?" Tucker scoffs, but when Max raises a brow demanding an answer his face falls.

"Leah. She said I was domesticated when I was baking the other night," Tucker mumbles. I laugh so loud I feel like I'm about to get shushed by an angry librarian.

That's my girl.

"So that was her polite way of saying you're whipped." Tank smirks and now all of us were smiling.

"Hi, did you guys need any help with anything?" a girl in a bookstore apron and glasses asks, looking up at us.

"No ma'am. Thank you though, we were just heading out." I smile at her, and she nods while still staring at us with an endearing smile on her face. She doesn't move though; she just stands there staring at us. I glance over at Tank, and he shrugs.

"You okay there, Becky?" I glance down at her name tag and her mouth pops open, her cheeks turning rosy before she glances down and blows out a puff of air.

"So great… okay, buh bye now." Then she races off in the other direction.

Weird .

I grab Leah a mug that has a worm wearing glasses and reading a book and call it quits. This book better get here in time, or I'm screwed.