Epilogue

Harley

I’m on the subway on my way home from work.  Working on Wall Street is like a dream. The days are long and can be stressful, and it’s been a big change for me to be in a learning position after years of being comfortably knowledgeable about my job, but I fucking love it all. I’ve been meeting with clients, along with my mentor, working on  financial projections, learning to prepare offers and pitchbooks, which are the sales books we create to draw in new clients.

I’ve learned that in this role it’s not just technical skills that get the job done, it’s also interpersonal skills, and I’ve discovered an aptitude for dealing effectively with clients, even the picky, cranky ones.

Just as I’m getting off the train, my phone pings with a call. I have my earbuds in listening to music, and I see the call is from Christina. My new friend here in New York. She’s introduced me to some of her other friends, too, and I went with them to Broadway play one night, a couple of drinks outings, and to the Museum of Modern Art.

“Hey,” I say. “What’s up?”

“I had a shitty day. I need a drink. Want to meet up?”

It’s Friday night and Nils doesn’t have a game. We talked about maybe just hanging out at my place, ordering pizza, watching hockey.

“Yeah, I have time.”

“Oh good! Where are you?”

“Actually close to home. At the subway station at Astor Place.”

“Okay. Let’s meet at Johnnie Fox’s.”

“Sounds good.”

I swear there’s an Irish pub on every block in New York City, but Johnnie Fox’s is getting to be a regular hangout.

I start walking along Eighth Street toward my new apartment but take a turn at Second Avenue. I found my apartment not too far from Aunt Nora and Nils’ building. It’s walking distance, anyway. Nils and I have been basically splitting our time between places, getting to know each other better, going on dates, hanging out with his teammates, who are a fun group.

 The air feels like spring—the breeze gentler and less sharp, the sun warmer, wildflowers popping up in the parks and buds on the trees. I tip my face up, enjoying the softness of the air, the clear blue sky above me, the scent of Vietnamese food drifting from a little restaurant.

Life is good.

I still wonder sometimes if I made the right decision, but at moments like these, satisfied from my day at work, enjoying my neighborhood, meeting a new friend, then going home to the man I’ve definitely fallen all the way in love with…I know I did.

I push into Johnnie Fox’s, blinking at the darkness inside. This place isn’t much different from every other Irish pub, but since we come here a lot we’ve gotten to know some of the bartenders. I immediately spot Katy behind the bar and as I weave my way through small table, she spots me too and waves her dishcloth.

“Hello, beautiful!” she calls. “How are you?”

“I’m good. Happy it’s Friday.” I smile at her.

“What can I get you? Light or dark?’

She’s referring to the ales the pub proffers and I grin. “Light, please.”

She pulls me a glass and slides it across the scarred wooden bar. “On your tab?”

“Sure. I’m meeting Christina here.” I look around.

The walls of the pub are literally covered with framed old photographs and newspaper clippings. The dark wood ceiling and floor keep the lighting dim and the vibe is laid back and full of history. Every table is full, but I don’t see Christina.

“Oh, she’s here,” Katy says. “She’s at the back.”

“Oh. Okay. Thanks.”

I pick up my glass and head that way. A guy sitting at a table catches my eye and smiles. “Hi.”

“Hi.” I smile back.

He puts out a hand to stop me. “I just have to tell you…your beauty makes me appreciate being able to see.”

I burst out laughing. He’s cute, sitting with some friends. But I’m taken. I mean, I’ve taken someone. In other words, I’m not interested. “Why, thank you. You’re cute, too, honey.” I pat his shoulder and move on, hearing a disappointed sigh behind me.

It was cheesy but still flattering.

When I enter the back part of the bar, still smiling, I look around for Christina. But then I’m knocked nearly backward as a whole bunch of people yell, “Surprise!”

My beer slops onto my hand, my other hand slaps my chest, and I actually stagger a step back. I blink a few times. Then I literally look over my shoulder to see if someone else is there, someone these people are trying to surprise.

There’s no one else there.

And moving toward me is Nils.

It’s like he’s got a spotlight on him, making his golden hair gleam and his eyes glow. His smile incandescent.

“Wh-what’s going on?” I ask, my mouth hanging open.

“Happy birthday.”

“My birthday is tomorrow.”

“I know. But we have a game tomorrow night. So I planned a little party tonight.”

We’d planned to go out for a birthday dinner on Sunday night. I had no idea this was happening!

I blink a few more times, then look around. I see Christina, her smile huge. I see Aunt Nora and Russell, also beaming. And a bunch of Nils’ teammates—Easton and Lilly, Cookie and Emerie, Igor and Nadia, Josh and Sara, Hunter and Kate. Also some of the single guys—Logan, Jay and Evan.

I turn back to Nils. My heart is still banging in a rapid rhythm. “I can’t believe you did this.”

“Christina helped.”

She walks up to us. “I did. Happy birthday.” She hugs me.

“So your shitty day was just a ruse?”

She laughs. “No, I really did have a shitty day. It’s better now, though. Come on. Come say hi to everyone.”

I laughingly greet people, thank them for coming, exchange hugs. Another drink is slipped into my hand as I mingle. Then I’m with Aunt Nora and Russell. My aunt’s hug is a little tighter than the others. “Happy birthday, sweet girl.”

“Thank you so much.”

Russell hugs me, too.

I’m so glad they’re together.

“I’m so proud of the challenges you’ve taken on,” Aunt Nora says, sounding uncharacteristically emotional. “This last year has been a lot of change for you.”

“That’s true.” It hasn’t been easy. “Luckily I have people in my life to support me.” I smile at her. “Thank you.”

Blinking, Aunt Nora says, “I need to use the ladies’ room. Excuse me.”

I turn to Russell, holding a glass of what appears to be whiskey, and he smile. “She still doesn’t like showing emotion.”

“I know.” I sigh. “It’s fine in front of us. I get that she doesn’t want to cry in a board meeting, but it’s okay with family.”

“She’s getting there.”

His warm, affectionate tone reassures me that he’s got this.

“I know Nora isn’t always motherly,” he says. “But she does love you.”

“I know.”

“And I hope that maybe you’ll see me as a father figure.” His expression is solemn but kind. “Not to replace your father,” he adds hastily. “Just an old guy looking out for you.”

I smile at him. “Thank you. You and Nora have both done so much for me.”

They’ve helped me navigate the New York real estate market, finding an apartment that was decent, reasonably affordable, and not too far from Aunt Nora and Nils. They helped me find a lawyer to deal with legal issues around selling the house and have given me advice about my new job. He does feel like a father figure and the more I get to know him, the more I like him.

“I’m glad that you and Nora worked things out,” I say, taking a quick sip of my drink to soothe the thickness in my throat.

“Me too.”

“I thought you would be able to forgive her.” I study his face.

“I have to admit, I was definitely thrown for a loop when she told me what had happened.” He rubs his forehead. “Went through a lot of emotions, including that I was pissed as hell.”

“I understand. You have every right to be angry.”

He nods slowly. “I wish she had told me the truth back then. She took a decision away from me that I should have made.”

I dip my head in acknowledgment of that.

“Twenty years,” he says dropping his gaze to the amber liquid in his glass. “Twenty years of that secret. Twenty years of guilt. Regret. Heartache.”

I press my lips together, my chest tightening.

“But…love is stronger than all that.” One corner of his mouth lifts. “Love conquers all…right?”

My smile trembles on my lips. “Yes. I believe that. I knew love would win.”

Our eyes meet. “And for you, too.”

Emotion expands in my chest like an air mattress with a built-in pump. “Yes. I tried to learn from what happened with you. I knew I’d regret not giving things a chance between Nils and me.”

“He’s crazy about you.”

My smile stretches wider. “I’m pretty crazy about him, too.”

Nils

I watch my girl mingle with our friends, and her aunt and Russell. I think we really managed to surprise her. She hasn’t stopped smiling, once over the shock, and she’s accepting hugs and birthday wishes and chatting with everyone.

I’m so proud of her.

And so goddamn lucky.

Katy, one of the bartenders, shows up with a tray of shots. She, too, gives Harley a birthday hug. Other servers bring out platters of food for everyone to share—all kinds of pub grub, including sliders, onion rings, wings, and fries. I snag an onion ring and move over to talk to Nora and Russell while Harley chats with the WAGs.

“Thanks for coming,” I say to them.

“Of course! It’s Harley’s birthday and I love a good surprise,” Nora says. “She’s such a sweetheart. I know she’s been stressed.”

I nod. Harley may have been positive about her big life change, but I know it was still difficult on her. There were tears on her last day of work at the bank, when she had to say goodbye to all her co-workers. She got a little emotional moving out of her house. And leaving Carson.

Then there was the stress of her new job—the training, the learning curve, which she says will take a long time, the frustration of not knowing everything like she did in Carson. The stress of finding an apartment that was decent and affordable and then moving in, taking care of the million things that needed to be done to accomplish that.

I’ve helped as much as I can, but my schedule’s been crazy, too, with our travel and practices and we’re about to head into the playoffs. This is when it all comes to a head—all the hard work, all the literal blood and sweat and tears. I’m so glad the WAGs have moved in and taken her into the fold.

I watch her interacting with them like she’s known them forever.

“So.” I turn back to Nora. “Harley says you two are going to Tokyo next month.”

“Business trip for me,” Russell says. “But we’re going to take some extra time and have a vacation, too.”

“Have you been there before?”

“I have. Nora hasn’t.” Russell gives her an affectionate smile.

These two have worked things out over the last few months. And I’m glad. I like them both and they deserve to be happy, especially after the challenges they’ve faced and how long they spent apart. Which made me especially fucking glad that Harley wanted to move to New York.

Harley appears at my side and slides her arm into mine, hugging it. “Hi.”

“Hi. Did you get food? Need another drink?”

“I had a couple of chicken wings. I want to try that hummus, though.”

“I’ll go grab you…what? Another beer?”

“Glass of wine,” she says. “Thank you.”

“Can I get you guys anything?” I look at Nora and Russell.

“I’d love another Sauvignon Blanc,” she says. Then she wrinkles her nose. “Not the best I’ve ever had, but it’ll do.”

I laugh. She knows she’s a wine snob.

“I’m good,” Russell says.

When I come back with drinks, others are urging Harley to open her gifts. I told people no gifts, but nobody listened.

She exclaims over scented lotions and potions and a set of lip glosses. She opens an essential oil diffuser and a really cool stemless wine glass chiller from Nora. When she’s done, she looks around at everyone. “Thank you all so, so much. This was really unexpected and so much fun. It’s made my first birthday in New York so special.” She looks at me and her eyes shine with love. “And thank you to Nils and Christina for planning this.”

“Where’s your gift, Axe?” LoCo calls. “I didn’t see her open anything from you.”

“That’s for later.” I give an exaggerated wink and everyone laughs.

“Oooh I can’t wait,” Harley says to more laughter.

And I do give her my gift later. Even though her birthday’s not until tomorrow. It’s nearly midnight when we get to her place, anyway.

We sit on the couch in her apartment. The pre-war building was recently renovated, and her place is all clean and white, with light oak floors, high ceilings, and big windows. Instead of moving her things, she elected to buy new furniture here and the living room has enough space for a sectional upholstered in a soft moss green fabric, a couple of funky chairs, a modern-looking coffee table, and lamps with big round shades. With all her pictures on the walls and all her plants and books, it’s comfortable and stylish.

“Happy birthday.” I hand over the small wrapped box.

“Thank you.” She smiles softly and gently opens the paper. She lifts off the lid of the box and gazes at what’s inside. “Oh. It’s beautiful.” Carefully, she picks up the pendant from the box and holds it up.

A delicate gold and diamond butterfly hangs from the gold chain, sparkling in the lamp light.

“Do you like it?” My voice is weirdly husky.

“I love it.” She meets my eyes and hers shimmer. “It’s absolutely perfect.” She turns her gaze back to it. “It’s so pretty. And it means so much.”

“Good.” We smile into each other’s eyes. And don’t move. “I love you so much, Harley.”

Her mouth curves sweetly. “I love you, too.”

We lean in at the same time, our heads turning in perfect unity, mouths meeting in a kiss that sends heat shooting through my veins. Our mouths move together, our tongues slide, and we’re pouring all our feelings into it.

When we finally draw apart for breath, I say, “I’m sorry I can’t spend your birthday with you tomorrow.”

“That’s okay! I’m going to have a fun day. Aunt Nora is taking me shopping. She says I need a New York business wardrobe.” She makes an excited face.

“Nora loves shopping.”

“She does! And I’m meeting Carly and Emerie and Nadia for a bite to eat before the game. I’ll be there to cheer you on.”

We’re in the playoffs, but we’re playing for home ice advantage tomorrow, so we want that win. “I love it when you’re there to cheer me on.”

“I’ll always be there to cheer you on. At games and in life.”

My heart swells up huge. “Same for me baby. I will cheer you on every step of the way, in every way, forever.”

Have you read about all these people— Carly and Nate, Emerie and Owen, Easton and Lilly, Josh and Sara, Hunter and Kate….they all have their own stories in the Bears Hockey series! Also Lola and Brandon — they weren’t at this party because they might be having a baby! And who’s next…watch for Logan’s story, Light ‘em UP coming in August 2024!