Beyond: Beyond the Lights

Chapter 26

JAMES

It was a Saturday afternoon when I took Maria over to my parents' place. They'd been asking about Madi ever since they saw us at the game together, and I figured it was time to have a real conversation about her.

"So, this Madi," my dad started as we sat on the back porch, watching Maria play in the yard. "She seems... special."

"She is," I said, not even trying to hide the smile that came with the thought of her. "I'm serious about her, Dad."

My mom, who had been quiet up until that point, reached over and squeezed my hand. "We can see that, Jamie. And we're happy for you. But... are you sure you're ready for this? It's a big step, especially with Maria."

"I know," I said, nodding. "But Madi's already met Maria, and they get along so well. It just feels right, you know?"

My dad nodded, taking a sip of his drink. "We trust your judgment, son. Just make sure you're thinking with your heart and your head."

"I am," I assured them. "Madi's different. She makes me want to be better, for myself and for Maria."

My mom smiled, that warm, knowing smile she always has. "Then we're behind you, 100%. And we'd love to get to know her better."

"I'm sure she'd love that," I said, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. My parents' approval meant a lot, even if I didn't always show it.

The more time I spent with Madi, the more I realized how easy it was to fall into these moments of playful flirtation. Like the time we were cooking dinner together, and she playfully flicked flour at me, only for it to turn into a full-on food fight. We ended up laughing so hard, covered in flour and sauce, that we barely managed to get any actual cooking done.

Or the time we went out for a late-night drive, windows down, music blasting. We stopped at a lookout point, and as we stood there, looking out at the city lights, I couldn't help but pull her close, just to feel her warmth against me.

"You know," I whispered into her ear, "I don't think I'll ever get tired of this."

She turned her head to look at me, a teasing smile on her lips. "Tired of what?"

"Of you. Of us. Of this."

She reached up, pulling me down for a kiss that was both sweet and filled with promise. "Good," she murmured against my lips, "because I'm not going anywhere."

As the weeks turned into months, I realized just how much Madi had become a part of my life. And not just mine, but Maria's too. Every day, I found new reasons to fall for her, and every night, I went to bed feeling like the luckiest guy in the world. I wasn't just Jamie Attridge, football player and single dad—I was Jamie Attridge, Madi's boyfriend, and that was a title I wore with pride.

Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. There's something about the lights, the music, the warmth of being with family that just makes everything feel right. This year, though, was different—better, because Madi was part of it.

Our apartment was decked out in holiday decorations. Kian and I had gone all out, putting up lights, a tree, and more ornaments than I ever thought possible. Maria was in her element, helping Kian hang ornaments and adding her personal touch to the decorations. Madi had even brought over a few decorations from her place to add to the mix, making our home feel even cozier.

Mornings were a whirlwind of holiday excitement. Maria would wake me up early, eager to see what new decoration Kian had added overnight. On the mornings Madi stayed over, she'd join us for breakfast, her laughter blending with Maria's as they teased me about my love for Christmas.