Her Christmas Wish
Laila Jones has spent eight years building a quiet, beautiful life for herself and her daughter, Malaya. After her high school boyfriend caved to his racist grandfather and chose football and family approval over her and their unborn baby, Laila left Ohio, moved south, and raised Malaya on her own.
Now Malaya is eight, there’s a daddy–daughter dance coming up, and her one Christmas wish is simple—and heartbreaking: she wants to meet her dad.
Going home for the holidays was hard enough. Running into Jordan Hall, now the golden-boy quarterback of the Cincinnati Bengals, is worse. He’s famous, gorgeous, and acting like he has the right to look at her with regret. Laila is ready to avoid him, yell at him, or both.
What she doesn’t know is that after his grandfather’s death, Jordan discovered every letter she ever sent—proof that she kept their baby, begged him to come, and raised their daughter without him. The truth wrecks him, and this Christmas, he’s determined to fight for the family he should have had all along.
But Laila isn’t interested in being anyone’s redemption arc. Especially not while his nasty fiancée is calling her a liar to the press and the internet is tearing her apart.
As secrets unravel and emotions explode in front of cameras, Laila and Jordan have to decide what matters more: anger, pride, and old wounds…or the little girl who still believes Christmas wishes can come true.
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Chapter: Second Chances, Slow StepsMalaya finished her stocking like it was a timed sport, then climbed to her knees and announced, "Okay. Presents."Jordan chuckled, pretending to stretch like he needed to warm up for the challenge. "Let's do it."Gift after gift, Malaya talked through every single one like she had to make sure Jordan understood each fully—where it would go in her room, what she would do with it, how she would show Uncle Bas the stickers as soon as they got back home.Judy had made her a crochet blanket—red and gold with little snowflakes stitched into the edges—and Malaya wrapped it around her shoulders like a cape, declaring herself "Captain Cozy." Jake and Jenny had gotten her a pile of toys that made her eyes shine, plus a sparkly notebook labeled SECRET THOUGHTS, which Malaya immediately declared off-limits to adults.And Jordan… Jordan had gone big.When Malaya tore into the last wrapped box and found the limited edition Ms. Marvel comic—still in its protective sleeve—her mouth dropped open."No
Last Updated: 2026-02-01
Chapter: Merry MorningLaila swallowed, staring at him. "I don't know...But I do know that we aren't enemies. And I know that I want you in her life. It doesn't mean I don't… care."Jordan let out a breath, slow and shaky. "I can live with that," he said, even though it sounded like a lie he was forcing himself to believe. "If that's what it takes to keep her… to keep you both in my life."Laila's eyes flicked to Malaya again. "Then that's what it takes," she said.The fort creaked softly as Malaya shifted, a sleepy sigh leaving her lips."Momma?"Laila blinked, the softness in that little voice cutting straight through the knot in her chest. Malaya pushed herself upright inside the fort, curls everywhere, cheeks pink from sleep, clutching her unicorn to her chest like it had guarded her dreams all night.Laila's whole face changed. Whatever she'd been carrying—fear, caution, old hurt—shifted instantly into something gentler. "Hey, Lil Nugget," she whispered, smoothing Malaya's hair back and pressing a kis
Last Updated: 2026-01-31
Chapter: For LayaLaila stared at him for a long moment, the quiet stretching between them like a held breath. The soft hum of the heater and the muted glow of the Christmas lights suddenly felt too loud, too present, as if the room itself were waiting for her answer. The blanket fort around them, once warm and safe, now felt fragile—like it might collapse under the weight of everything left unsaid.“Okay…” she said finally, her voice careful and measured, the way it always became when she was afraid of what the truth might bring. “Well… did you love her? Or do you?”Jordan didn’t hesitate. He shook his head slowly, decisively. “No,” he said, the word firm but not unkind. “I dated her because she was there—because it was easy, familiar, and because I didn’t want to be alone.” He exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. “But when it comes to real relationships… the ones that actually matter…”He reached up gently, brushing a strand of hair away from Laila’s face, his touch reverent rather than possessive.
Last Updated: 2026-01-30
Chapter: Christmas Morning TruthsJordan awoke with a smile already pulling at his lips, the kind that came from a place deeper than habit or fleeting happiness. For a long moment, he didn’t move. He just lay there, staring at the ceiling, listening to the quiet hum of the heater and the distant, muted sounds of the city beginning to wake outside the hotel windows. Somewhere far below, a car horn blared, and someone laughed, but up here—inside this room—everything felt suspended in time.His gaze slowly shifted to the two people beside him, and his breath caught. Laila was still asleep, one arm tucked under her pillow, her curls fanned across the blanket. Malaya lay curled between them, tangled in blankets, stuffed animals, and the mismatched pillows from the fort they’d built the night before. Her thumb was tucked near her mouth, her unicorn plush pressed close to her chest, her face relaxed in a way that only came with complete safety.The sight hit him square in the chest—warm, overwhelming, and terrifying all at o
Last Updated: 2026-01-29
Chapter: Just Tonight“Laila, I know we can’t go back,” he replied quietly, his thumb brushing her cheek in a slow, grounding motion. It was as if his thumb was trying to anchor her to the present moment before it slipped away from them. His touch was careful, reverent—nothing like the reckless confidence he’d once had at seventeen. “But we can choose what happens next. We can decide what we do with what we have now. I’m not asking to rewrite history. I’m asking to be here.”His nearness unraveled her in a way she hadn’t been prepared for. The warmth of him, the familiarity of his presence, the way he still fit so easily into her space—it all cracked something open inside her that she’d spent years reinforcing and locking down. It felt dangerous, standing this close to him again, feeling how natural it still was. His lips brushed hers once more—tentative and restrained, as if he were asking permission rather than taking it this time. When she didn’t pull away, the kiss deepened, slow and deliberate, carefu
Last Updated: 2026-01-28
Chapter: The Life We Dreamed OfAs Snow Day played softly on the television, Malaya lay curled between them, warm and content, her small body tucked securely under layers of blankets, pillows, and mismatched throws that made up their carefully engineered blanket fort. She slept deeply, the kind of sleep only children manage on Christmas—utterly unburdened, safe, and full of quiet joy. One hand was fisted in Jordan’s hoodie as if she might lose him if she let go, while the other rested against Laila’s arm, small fingers splayed trustingly against her skin.The glow from the screen cast gentle shadows across the ceiling, flickering snowflakes, and animated characters dancing over the fabric walls of the fort. The air smelled faintly of popcorn and hot cocoa, and for a moment—just one perfect, fragile moment—the world felt perfectly still.Jordan turned his head slightly, studying the scene as if afraid it might disappear if he blinked too hard. His voice came out barely above a whisper. “This is perfect.”Laila follow
Last Updated: 2026-01-28
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