"Pumpkin, are you talking about JasperÅkermanby any chance?" Dad finally asks.
"Yes, that's him."
My dad chuckles. "Well, I'll be damned. My darling daughter, who shows no interest in hockey, goes and meets one of the best forwards in the League. You know who his father is?"
“I actually spent Christmas with Jasper’s family, so I met Nils and his wife, Anne.”
"That’s so wonderful, Pumpkin. You sound happy. You need to tell us everything once you get back home. " Mom comments. "Your dad is just googling Jasper's photos, so he can show me what he looks like."
That makes me wonder if they come across his butt photos first. Oh well.
I hear the excitement in my dad's voice as he says, "My daughter spending the holidays with the Åkerman family is unreal. Nils Åkerman is a hockey legend, and Jasper is following in his footsteps. It's such a shame that he had that fight..."
"Dad, can we not talk about that?" I ask with a sigh.
"Sure. But just know that your new friend comes from a hockey dynasty," my dad says, sounding pleased. "And it means he's a damn good player himself. A real catch."
"He's also sweet, funny, and charming off the ice—more than just a hockey player," I say, defending Jasper against whatever expectation my dad might have.
"Well, then, he sounds remarkable. When do we get to meet him?" Mom interrupts.
I chuckle, feeling grateful for the support from my parents. "Soon, hopefully. We're trying to take things slow, but...I think he's someone I could really see a future with."
My dad clears his throat. "Just make sure he's treating you right, okay? No matter that he's one of the players in the team I support. I don't want to have to fly out to New York and have a talk with him."
I roll my eyes, but I know he means well. "Don't worry, Dad. I'll be careful. It won't be Tucker 2.0."
"That's all we want to hear. We better let you continue your New Year's Eve with Jasper," Dad says with a surprised laugh. "I can't believe I just said that."
As I hang up with my parents, I can't help but feel loved. No matter what, they'll be there for me, even if we aren't as close as we used to be. I walk back to where Jasper’s seated and he looks up, a stunning smile spreading across his handsome face.
"Everything okay with your parents?" he asks, blue eyes twinkling.
"Yeah, everything's great," I reply, settling down next to him on the couch. "My parents are excited to meet you. Especially my dad."
Jasper's smile widens. "I'm excited to meet them too. Although I have to admit, the idea of meeting your dad, who's also a fan of my team, is a little daunting."
I laugh at that. "Don't worry, just be yourself, and they'll like you, just like I do."
Jasper leans over and presses a soft kiss to my lips, tasting like hot chocolate and peppermint. "I like them already because they raised a daughter like you," he whispers before pulling me closer to him.
As the fire crackles in front of us, we sit there in comfortable silence, enjoying the last minutes of the year.
* * *
The air is thick with excited chatter and laughter as we stand in the center of the Ice Hotel’s yard, surrounded by fellow guests after dinner. Looking around us, I see many happy faces waiting for the clock to strike midnight.
Glancing Jasper’s way, I smile as I notice he’s looking at me. “Any New Year’s resolutions?”
“I don’t believe in those,” he admits. “But if I had to say something, I would promise to call my parents and sisters more often.”
“That’s a good goal to have.”
“How about you?”
I clear my throat before answering. “I don’t know.”
”There must be something.”
