Epilogue
Eloise
I made a full recovery, and when Lila’s sister intervened and Lila herself agreed to get help at a mental health hospital, I decided not to press charges. I just want her to get well, both for us and herself.
After the doctor gave me the all-clear, we booked flights to Vegas on Conor’s three-day break.
As I stand on the other side of the door in the chapel, waiting for them to open so I can see Conor standing at the end of the aisle, none of the anxiety I experienced the first time I was in this situation lives inside me. The doors open, and I don’t have to look up to know Conor’s eyes are on me. As my gaze lifts, I see him in his ivory suit, his smile getting wider the closer I get.
My chest doesn’t feel tight with stress and trepidation. Instead, it’s filled with joy and excitement for our future. I reach the end of the aisle and pass my bouquet to the officiant’s wife.
“You look so beautiful,” Conor whispers.
“You look handsome too,” I whisper back.
He takes my hands and stares into my eyes.
The officiant goes through the classic set of vows and promises. We weren’t picky, we really just want to be married. Our hearts know the vows we hold inside them. I don’t need Conor to tell me. He’ll show me. Every day we’ll show one another our commitment to each other. When the officiant reaches the objection part, we both laugh, and the officiant’s eyebrows scrunch.
He barely gets to the “you may kiss your bride” part before Conor’s hands are on my cheeks and his mouth is on mine.
He announces us, and we walk out of the small ceremony room and right onto the street to flag down a taxi. We have things to do after all.
“We could’ve gone to city hall at this rate.” I climb into the taxi.
“Yeah, but a little vacation to get away is what we needed.”
We head back to the hotel and make love for hours before we come up for air and order some food. I don’t see us leaving this hotel room until we have to go to the airport, so I’m shocked when Conor gets out of bed to go shower.
“Are we going somewhere?” I ask.
“I have a surprise.” He peeks his head in the room. “We have an appointment in thirty minutes.”
“Conor, I have to shower too.”
“I know, I’m warming the water for you. We’re not going anywhere fancy.”
“Oh, okay.” I wonder what he has planned.
He stops me as I enter the bathroom, kissing me briefly. “My next day off, we’ll spend the entire day in bed so you can cross off spend a day in bed with a hottie from the list.”
“Oh my god, there are times I wish you’d never seen my list.” I open the shower door and step in.
He follows me. “You don’t mean that. You love that I saw that list. I think you secretly wanted me to see it.”
We wash up fast since we have to get going, although I wouldn’t have minded staying in for the night.
After I got out of the hospital, he put his list up on the fridge next to mine, so we both know what the other wants. I feel like we’re always trying to surprise one another to check something off.
We take the elevator down to the lobby and head out onto the Strip, the doorman getting us a taxi. Conor gives the cabbie the address, and I cuddle into his arm, lifting my hand and looking at my band and engagement ring.
“It’s beautiful.”
He kisses the top of my head. “Just like the woman who wears it.”
“There you go with your lines again.” I pat his stomach.
When the cab driver says we’re here, I look out the window to see a tattoo parlor. I tilt my head at him.
“You don’t have to, but I’m crossing it off my list,” he says.
“Oh, okay.”
We get out and go inside. Sure enough, he’s made two appointments—one for me and one for him. I haven’t even thought about what I would get a tattoo of, though.
Conor walks to the back with one of the guys.
“What are you getting?” I ask.
“You’ll see once I’m done.” He winks and sits in the chair, talking to the tattoo artist.
“You’re Eloise?” A woman approaches me. She’s got full sleeves filled with beautiful and intricate designs.
“I am. Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure,” she says.
“Can you do a star pattern along the inside of my wrist?”
“Easy peasy.” She walks us over to her station, away from Conor.
An hour or so later, I finish up, and he’s waiting for me in the waiting area.
“So, what did you get?” I’m excited to see.
He lifts his hand to show me a cursive letter E on his ring finger with a line that wraps around his finger.
“Seriously?”
He chuckles. “We’re the long game, you know that.”
“Jeez, I love it. I’m going to stare at your finger more than my ring now.”
“Well, time for your big reveal.” He lifts my hand and gently pulls back the bandage. “Stars. I love it.”
“I love you.” I walk into him, and he wraps his arms around me.
“I love you too.” He kisses the top of my head. “Another item to cross off.”
“Thanks for thinking of this.”
He takes my hand, guiding us out of the tattoo shop. We get back to our hotel, eat, and retire early since the minute we get back to Chicago, Conor has to get to the rink for his morning skate.
It was the best trip I’ve ever been on.
Conor
I hate to leave Eloise right after we land in Chicago, but I have no choice if I want to continue playing hockey. We have the Uber drop me off at the rink, and she continues on, meeting Jade and Kyleigh for breakfast somewhere. After today, our marriage will no longer be our little secret.
I kiss her goodbye and walk into the locker room.
I drop my bag and raise my hands. “I have an announcement to make. I’m a married man!” I show off my left hand.
“What the hell?” Rowan comes over to me.
“Beat you to it,” I say, then point at Henry. “Beat you too.”
“You got married?” Tweetie asks.
“And you didn’t invite us?” Henry scowls at me.
“Three-day trip to Vegas,” I say.
Coach Buford comes out of his office. “What’s going on out here?”
“Pinkie got married,” Alvin says.
He lifts his gaze for a moment. “Congratulations,” he deadpans. “The rest of you listen up. There’s been a development with this whole social media thing the league is pushing. Gill just got the axe, which I think we can all agree is a good thing for him and us.”
Everyone laughs. The guy just wasn’t meant for that job.
“Since there’s no one else waiting in the wings, and the season is already underway, and we’re one of the favorites to win the Cup, they’re sending in the boss. This Tedi Douglas is going to use us as an example to show others what’s possible, so get ready to put those hockey smiles on display, boys.” He walks back to his office without another word.
The three of us all look over at Tweetie, who doesn’t seem as surprised as the rest of us.
“Fuck off and go play Monopoly.” He stalks toward the bathroom.
Things are about to become very rocky around here.
Tedi is back!!! The story you’ve all been waiting for is next in The Nest series! Believe us, you don’t want to miss this Second chance, workplace romance.