Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 145731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
It feels wrong to date someone else while prepping Rowan. I’m not sure how to articulate why though. There’s nothing technically wrong with dating someone else while I work with Rowan on dating lessons.
Why does guilt settle into me at the thought of being set up?
And why does my stomach flip so much when I picture myself fake-dating Rowan?
I’m seriously annoying myself. Instead of answering my parents, I take a furtive bite of the seven-layer bar, and once I’ve chewed it for an eternity, trying to figure out what to say, I manage to get out: “That’s a Christmas surprise.”
21
JOKE DADDY
ROWAN
“Dad, why did the man bring his dog to the railroad station?” Mia calls out the question from the back seat, sounding entirely too pleased with herself.
We just took the second exit past downtown Evergreen Falls. This one will take us to our cabin nestled high in the hills. We’ll also pass the road to the Christmas train ride.
It’s another attraction of Evergreen Falls, a ride up the mountains to a scenic outpost, though I’m pretty sure it doubles as a lake train in the summer, a wine train in the spring, and a see-the-fall-leaves train in autumn—yes, there are leaves that change color even in Evergreen Falls.
I glance in the rearview mirror, where Mia sits next to Wanda in her dog bed, then turn my focus back to the road. “Why did the man bring his dog to the railroad station, Mia?”
“Because he wanted to ‘train’ him!”
I laugh lightly, offering her a smile in the mirror. “Good one. But how’s this? What did the Christmas train conductor say to the gingerbread man?”
She’s not the only one who can google jokes.
Mia’s brow furrows as she tilts her head in question. “You can’t catch me?”
“Nice try! But pretty sure he said, ‘You knead a ticket,’” I say, spelling out k-n-e-a-d.
“Ha. That’s good. Speaking of, I wonder what they called the Christmas train this year.” She taps her chin in thought. Every year, the themed ride changes name. Recent monikers have been North Pole Limited and the Christmas Comet. “We could go through downtown and check it out.”
My chest tightens. I try to avoid downtown—it’s like Christmas threw up there. My fail-safe method for avoiding it is owning a cabin on the outskirts of town.
But this kid, she keeps me on my toes. Then again, so does my hockey schedule. “The thing is, I should get settled in at the cabin, do a workout at the home gym. Daddy has games, you know.”
She sighs, and my heart twinges with guilt. “That’s okay. I can ask Grams when she arrives. Or my friends.”
The guilt digs deeper. Wraps its arms around me. My friends’ words from the Nutcracker Auction echo—you do have a hate list, and we’re all subjected to it every year. I flash back to the tree on Isla’s car. To Mia’s excitement in seeing it, her hope it was ours, her thrill in hanging one simple ornament on it. Maybe I should just say yes. Learn to tolerate the holidays a little better. If I can handle opposing teams on the ice, I can handle a little Christmas charm for my kid. I did it with the Advent calendar. I don’t have to grinch too hard here either. “Tell you what,” I begin, figuring we’ll grab a quick lunch, when my phone rings on the console. It’s Jason.
“Ooh, Agent Jason!” Mia calls out.
I tell the car to answer it, and seconds later, I say, “What’s up, Elf?”
“Elf?” he asks.
Mia cracks up in the back seat. “Ha, you are kind of a big elf, Jason.”
“I am not an elf.”
“You are. You’re full of holiday spirit, plus elves are cool,” Mia says.
Jason hums like he’s giving that some thought, then says, “I’m an elf then. And I just arrived with my kiddos and my wife, who’s gone off shopping. Which got me to thinking, Rowan. Of a little change of plans.” He clears his throat, and I brace myself.
“I’m going to hate this, aren’t I?”
“You hate everything, so yes.”
Mia snickers. “Especially changes of plans.”
“Not true,” I point out.
“Why don’t we start that PR focus early? I’m at Rudy’s Coffee Shop. We can grab a pic of you being all merry and bright and just-arrived in Evergreen Falls. The team will love it.”
“That sounds as painful as having my spleen removed.”
“I have anesthesia in the form of peppermint mocha,” he says, tempting me.
“Can I get hot cocoa there?” Mia asks.
“Yes, you can,” Jason says, answering for me. “Elves are forces of good.”
“I beg to differ,” I say, but with a disgruntled sigh, I give in, thinking of Everly’s words at the meeting: It would be great to get a couple of photos of you around town.
I should do this for the team. The team has done plenty for me.