Season's Schemings (Cyclones Christmas, #1)

by Katie Bailey

“Maddie.” Adam’s voice drips condescension. “Glad you could make it. Mom told us you were bringing a… SEBASTIAN SLATER?”

I’m gloriously thrilled to see my ex turn the pasty-white of the ghost of Christmas past as my gloriously handsome husband comes to stand next to me. Man. Seb looks good in that wool sweater.

“I told you. She said she was bringing a new friend,” Alicia hisses to Mom. “You didn’t tell me that friend was Thor!” Mom hisses back.

hahaha

A shocked silence falls over the room. I expect it’s the calm before the storm. And man, I’ve never been more excited for a storm.

But then, I remember that she started dating Adam while knowing he was in a long-term relationship, and I don’t feel so sorry for her anymore.

I have the urge to make her smile again. Because this guy hurt her and humiliated her, dammit. On national TV, no less. She might be my temporary wife, but nobody messes with the people who are important to me. Ever.

And I feel… like I’m on top of the world. Because I know that Seb doesn’t have a contract right now. Which means he is choosing me over snowboarding today.

And all I could think was how happy I was that I’d made her happy. That I’d be happy every day to make her happy like that.

“You deserve to be celebrated, Maddie. Deserve to be praised. Deserve to have all of those people look at you and talk to you with way more respect. And I’m pulling double duty as your husband to help you get everything you deserve.”

“You think I’m against you, but I’m not. I’m looking out for you. Adam’s eyes may have wandered, but he wouldn’t have left you if you’d kept your head down and appeased him. Sebastian, on the other hand? He’ll leave you when you don’t suit his fancy anymore.

I change my mind. maybe mom needs a smack. Adam too, but mom is on the list.

Jax turns and takes in the pair of us with disinterest. “Watch your step.” “You watch your step!” “Sick burn. Really got me there, Mads.”

“And I love being your husband, Maddie,” he replies simply. Casually. Like he didn’t just seamlessly weave a four-letter word into that sentence that makes my heart thump in double time.

“Well, Captain, it’s that… I think I might have accidentally fallen in love with my wife.”

And I realize I don’t need Seb to be here with me right now with all the right things to say. Because he’s already taught me how to stand up for myself.

“You absolute badass,” he cackles. “I wish I’d been there to see it.”

“I planned it right after Mal and Chantal crashed our sushi date.” He looks down at me. “I realized I’d never taken my wife on a proper date, and that needed fixing. Immediately.”

“I can’t exactly ask you to marry me, but I can ask you to date me. To let me keep getting to know the amazing person you are. I want to send you flirty texts and take you to nice dinners and surprise you with peonies and freesias and calla lilies, just because. I want to laugh with you and cuddle you and care for you and make love to you every night for as long as I live.”

aww

Choosing each other, every single day. I never considered myself to be much of a romantic, but let me tell you, that was the most damn romantic thing I ever heard.

After everyone finally calms down from acting like a bunch of fourteen-year-old hormonal man-children,

Hockey is just the icing on the cake, the extra. She’s the actual entire freaking recipe.

“You think I should throw a surprise TikTok wedding for my wife,” I repeat dumbly.

What I don’t expect him to say is, “I’m texting your husband. Who is quite pretty for a man, I guess.”

“Mads.” His voice is soft. “I love you, and I want you to have the romantic wedding you always dreamed of. Tonight seemed like the perfect time to do it… I want to ring in the new year with a celebration of falling in love with you. The guys keep telling me that it’s bad luck if you see me on our wedding day, but I don’t care. We don’t need luck. I already got luckier than I could’ve ever imagined when you became my wife, and now I want you to be my bride, too. So I hope you enjoy every moment of today, and I cannot wait to see you at the altar tonight.”

I love him.

The video ends, and I’m laugh-crying.

the videos are adorable

“I wish someone loved me the way that man loves you.”

Jax muttered “oh, she’s back” and sent one of the other bar staff to talk to her.

ahh...the quit list!