Holding On Tight — Susan Scott Shelley

Featuring Vince and Joseph from Skating On Chance.

​Joseph Parelli gave up everything familiar when he moved to Buffalo, New York to be with his boyfriend, Vince Forsberg. He isn't settling in as well or as fast as he'd hoped, and there are still ties that pull him back to his former city. Ties that cause arguments between him and his better half. But as the holiday season grows closer, Joseph is determined not to let anything get in the way of having a perfect Christmas with Vince.

Vince Forsberg knows he should be happy. He has everything he ever wanted: A career playing hockey, a great group of friends, and best of all, the love of his life, Joseph, by his side. But he worries that the rough patch Joseph is facing in Buffalo might be enough to make him move back to New Jersey. Permanently. And Vince can't let that happen. He needs to make sure their first holiday together is perfect enough to show Joseph that life in Buffalo with Vince is where he belongs.

The pressure is overwhelming, and with every holiday mishap, “perfect” slips further away. Can they save Christmas, or will their first holiday together be their last?

This story was previously published in the Hockey Holidays anthology and has since been expanded.