Chapter 23
CHAPTER 23
EVIE
Confession? I didn’t really plan on doing anything for Juno’s first Halloween. I bought her a very cute Dalmatian puppy sleeper with a hood and floppy dog ears, and I had every intention of putting it on her to take pictures, but I didn’t think I’d take her trick or treating. It’s not like she’s going to eat any of the candy.
But as soon as I get to the Summit, I have zero regrets about our decision to come. Because the Appies are dressed up as firefighters.
Sexy firefighters, I might add. Tight black t-shirts, suspenders, firefighter pants and helmets. And what fire squad doesn’t need a Dalmatian puppy? The photo opportunities alone will be worth the effort it took to get Juno ready.
Later, according to the info Alec already gave me, there will be a costume parade down on the ice, but for right now, everyone is gathered in the wide hallway that circles the arena. The space is full of games and snacks and lots of really cute kids holding their parents’ hands as they “trick-or-treat” their way around booths set up by Harvest Hollow businesses.
“Oh my gosh!” Parker says as she crosses the concourse to where I’m standing near the door, Juno propped on my hip. “Did you do this on purpose? You brought us a Dalmatian!”
“It was totally by accident,” I say. “Alec didn’t tell me what the team’s costumes would be.”
Parker pulls her phone out and snaps a photo of Juno. “Seriously. This is the cutest ever. Are you going to let me put her picture on Instagram? Please say yes.”
“You absolutely can,” I say, but I’m only half paying attention to our conversation because I just spotted my sexy firefighter, and he’s walking right toward me.
“Hey,” Alec says as he reaches us. He leans down and presses a lingering kiss to my lips. “I’m glad you’re here,” he says, his gaze fixed on mine. A heady rush of pleasure fills my body, pushing out to my fingertips and down to my toes. I’m still not used to this. I still can’t believe that Alec Sheridan wants to kiss me hello.
He holds out his hands, eyebrows raised as he looks at Juno. “May I?” When I nod, he steals her out of my arms and lifts her in the air. “Hey, Junebug.” He smiles a wide, genuine smile. Juno smiles right back—how could she possibly not?—and Parker lifts her phone to take a photo.
“Her costume is perfect,” Alec says. “Can I take her over to say hi to the guys?”
“Of course you can,” I say, my heart practically bursting out of my chest.
He holds Juno close to his chest as he walks across the concourse to where Nathan, Felix, and a few other Appies are standing. I’m not used to this, either. To Alec showing Juno off to his friends. Wanting to hold her, hang out with her.
“Um, was that just a very casual, very public hello kiss?” Parker asks, eyes gleaming.
I grin. There has been a lot of kissing over the past week in a lot of different locations. Alec’s house. My new house, which he and his teammates helped me move into after the game last weekend. My car. His car. But that actually was the first time we’ve ever kissed in public.
“I love this for you,” Parker says. “And for Alec too. But from one Appies girlfriend to another, stay off the internet. Alec has a big following. People will probably have opinions about you, but they’re only opinions, and they will usually be based on stuff that isn’t true. You just have to ignore it.”
I haven’t given a lot of thought to Alec’s public life, outside of the one Riley-themed rabbit hole Megan and I dove down, mostly because, with Juno, we haven’t really spent any time together in public. We mostly just hang out at my place because then Juno can go to bed without needing a sitter. But that won’t always be the case.
“How do you avoid it?” I say. “Isn’t it your job to follow everything?”
She shrugs like it’s no big deal. “Yeah, but I’ve learned which comment sections to avoid.”
Across the concourse, Alec laughs, looking perfectly comfortable with Juno in his arms. Honestly, with her dark hair, she looks like she could be his. When people find out we’re dating, they’ll probably assume she is.
Unsurprisingly, that thought doesn’t bother me in the slightest. But I do wonder if it would bother him.
I look up to see Alec snuggling Juno close, her head dropping onto his shoulder. Hmm. I could be wrong, but I’m guessing it wouldn’t bother Alec either.
“For real, could the man look any more like a dad right now?” Parker says dryly, and I shoot her another grin.
“He’s genuinely so good with her,” I say. “It’s been really nice having someone around to help.”
She holds up her phone. “Okay, be honest. Is this too much of a thirst trap for me to post on the Appies profile?”
She shows me the picture she took of Alec holding Juno up in the air. It’s a profile shot, revealing a delicious view of Alec’s biceps, the fabric of his black t-shirt stretched tightly across the muscle. But the best part of the photo is the look on Alec’s face as he smiles up at Juno. It’s genuine and warm, and that, even more than the biceps, is what makes heat pool in my belly. Few things are quite so sexy as a good man trying to be a good father. Of course, Alec isn’t a father yet, but potential matters, and he’s brimming with it.
“You really think I’m the right person to ask?” I say. “When it comes to Alec, everything is a thirst trap.”
Summer joins us just in time to hear my comment. “Everything?” she questions. “Because let me tell you, I’ve been in the locker room after practice, and those boys are rank.”
“True,” Parker says. “Nothing smells like hockey smells.” She shows the photo of Alec and Juno to Summer. “What do you think? Can I post this?”
Summer studies the photo. “Oh my gosh, is she a Dalmatian? That’s the cutest.” She hands the phone back to Parker. “But I still wouldn’t post it. Not after what happened with Nathan last season. That’s an ovary-exploding photo if ever there was one. If it goes viral, it’ll be attention for him, but also attention for Juno and Evie. You should send it to Evie, though.” She looks at me and grins. “It should absolutely be the wallpaper on your phone.”
Parker nods. “Okay, good. That’s what my instincts were telling me. That just means I have to get a photo of Juno with the entire team. The Dalmatian/firefighter thing is too cute not to.”
“What happened with Nathan last season?” I ask before the conversation can move on.
“Just a few adoring fans who got a little too adoring,” Parker says. “Summer had to pretend to be Nathan’s girlfriend to create a buffer.”
“Shut up,” I say. “Is that how you ended up getting together?”
“What can I say?” Summer says, pulling her dark hair over her shoulder. “We’re a walking romance trope.”
Our conversation ends abruptly when Alec returns with Juno, but he makes no move to give her back. Instead, he tilts his head toward the growing party behind us. “Want to walk around a little?”
I say goodbye to my friends and follow Alec into the crowd of people moving their way through the Summit concourse. More than a few people take notice of Juno in Alec’s arms, their gazes quickly darting to me, but Alec is an expert at ignoring them, and since he doesn’t look like he’s wanting to engage, most people just let us walk on by. Eventually, a few fans stop us and ask for selfies, so Alec gives Juno back to me and spends a few minutes chatting and taking photos. It’s fun watching him in action, seeing how charming and genuine he is as he interacts with fans.
We make our way around the arena, talking, laughing, eating a few of the apple cider donuts Harvest Hollow is apparently famous for. When we’ve almost made a full circle around the Summit, we run into Malik and Ruth.
“Well, hello there,” Ruth says as she reaches up to give me a hug. She looks at Juno. “Aren’t you the cutest little Dalmatian I’ve ever seen.” She holds out her hands, and I happily hand Juno over.
Alec talks to Malik for another minute or so, but when he glances over and sees Juno in Ruth’s arms, his gaze narrows the slightest bit, his expression turning shrewd.
“Hey, Ruth, do you mind keeping her for us? Just for a few minutes?”
“You can take more than a few,” Ruth says. She points to a line of padded benches against the wall. “I’ll be right here enjoying my favorite baby girl.”
Alec grips my hand and tugs me toward a shadowy hallway that leads to an access door for a concessions area. There’s a small recess at the end of the hall, and he pulls us inside so we’re completely hidden from view.
He spins me so my back is flat against the wall, his eyes flashing with hunger before he leans down and delivers a bone-melting kiss. He moves with intention and confidence and barely banked passion, and he completely steals my breath.
I lift my hands, hooking them around his suspenders and pull him even closer. His lips part as he deepens the kiss, his palms moving up to my face, cradling my cheeks like I’m something precious, like he’s holding something truly valuable in his hands. His thumbs brush across my cheek, featherlight and soft, then his teeth graze across my bottom lip, lightly nipping until I suck in a breath.
He finally breaks the kiss, but he keeps his face close, his forehead pressed against mine.
“I’ve been wanting to do that all night,” Alec says, his voice low and raspy.
I swallow, but I’m not capable of words just yet. Instead, I let out a strangled sort of “Mmm,” and Alec chuckles.
“You okay?” he asks, his tone a little too cocky. Like he knows he just unraveled me and he’s proud of himself for doing it.
Well. Two can play at this game.
I grab his elbows and spin him around so now he’s against the wall, then I push up on my toes and brush my nose along the curve of his neck. I breathe in his woodsy, delicious scent as I press a slow line of kisses up the side of his jaw. When I finally reach his mouth, I kiss him again, except this time, I’m in control.
He yields willingly, letting me set the pace, the position, the pressure. His hands grip my waist, his fingers pressing into my skin with gentle pressure while I explore his mouth with mine. When I finally pull back, he’s the one who’s left breathless.
I lift an eyebrow and give him a playful smirk. “Are you okay?”
He grins. “Never been better.”
He wraps his arms around me, and I settle into his chest, reveling in the solid safety of his embrace.
The first night he kissed me, Alec told me that nothing about our relationship has ever felt normal. It’s only been a week since then, but it still feels true. We haven’t even been on an actual date, but we’re seeing each other as frequently as possible, getting to know each other through snatches of time and stolen moments. Kisses while we watch a movie at my place after Juno goes to bed. Late night text conversations when I can’t sleep and he’s on the road, traveling to or from a game. But it still feels like we’re progressing, learning about what we like and don’t like, growing more comfortable, more familiar with each other.
“So, I have a question for you,” Alec says.
“Okay.”
His tongue darts out to lick his lips, my gaze tracing the movement before I force my eyes back to his. “I know it’s kinda fast, but we have known each other a really long time. And I just think…I would really like to call you my girlfriend.” A hint of vulnerability passes over his expression. “Is that okay with you?”
I can’t keep a cheesy grin from breaking out across my face. “I think that’s a wonderful idea.”
He leans down and presses a quick kiss to my lips. “Really?”
“Really.”
“Okay. It’s official, then.” He grins, looking boyish and totally adorable. “Are you going to tell Megan, or should I?”
I reach up and pat him on the chest. “Honey, I’ve talked to your sister every night this week.”
He nods. “So you’re saying she knows?”
“She knows.”
“But she doesn’t know it’s official,” he says. “Let me be the one to tell her that.” He pulls out his phone. “Here. Come here.” He hooks a hand around my neck and tugs me up for one more kiss, using his free hand to take a selfie. The results are a little shadowy, since we’re standing in a mostly dark corridor, but it’s clear enough to see that it’s me and Alec, and we’re definitely kissing.
He sends the photo to his sister, reading out loud as he types, “Meet my girlfriend…”
“Cute. I love it.”
“There. Sent,” he says, pocketing his phone, but it’s already buzzing with what I’m sure is Megan’s response. He pulls it back out and looks at the screen, then smiles and holds it up for me.
Megan’s message has no words, just a long row of heart eyes and celebration emojis.
“All right,” Alec says, reaching for my hand. “Let’s go get Juno.”
Ruth is sitting right where she said she’d be, but she’s no longer holding Juno. When she sees us coming, she points across the concourse. “The tall one has her,” she says.
We look to see Nathan standing near the opposite wall, Juno fast asleep in his arms.
“He looks like a pro,” Alec says, admiration in his tone.
“Want me to take her back?” I ask Nathan as soon as we approach, and the grumpy glare he gives me is answer enough. I raise my hands in an exaggerated gesture. “ Fine! You can keep her.”
He does keep her, and it’s a good thing because now I need to pee. I squeeze my boyfriend’s hand— boyfriend!— and tell him I’ll be right back, then I dart off to the bathroom.
I check my own phone on my way back, sure that Megan texted me too, and find a message just as enthusiastic as the one she sent Alec. All the heart eyes. All the fireworks. Followed by one more message with actual words.
Megan
I have never been so happy for either of you. Truly. Best news ever.
When I find Alec and Nathan exactly where I left them, Juno still sleeping peacefully, I cross the concourse and sit down next to Ruth. We chat about her kids and their plans to visit for the holidays and joke about trash pick-up on our street and how hard it is to predict when the truck will actually come through.
I don’t take Juno back until it’s time for the costume parade, when Alec and Nathan both have to head down to the ice to help supervise.
I sit inside the arena with Summer and Parker and watch as the athletes carefully shepherd skaters of all skill levels around the ice. Princesses and hockey players parade through the arena, along with astronauts and ghosts and fifty other costumes I can’t identify—and twenty-two well-muscled firefighters.
Honestly, the addition of their hockey skates only sharpens the appeal.
The stands are by no means full, but scattered groups of parents and onlookers sit all over. Behind us, a group of dads are talking loudly enough that when they mention Alec’s name, I immediately perk up.
“He oughta just quit,” one guy says. “He’s older than half the guys out here anyway, and he’s not half as fast as he used to be. What’s he trying to prove?”
“You’re claiming you’re faster?” another guy answers, and they all chuckle.
“Nah, but I’m not getting paid to play,” the original guy says. “I’m just saying. The Williamson twins are better. Mark my words. They’ll drop him down to third line before the end of the year.”
The conversation goes on, eventually shifting to other players on the team, but I can’t fully quell the pulsing discomfort their comments triggered. They don’t know anything about Alec. Not really. They don’t know how much he’s hurting, how hard he’s fighting to keep playing, to be what his team needs him to be.
“Ignore it,” Parker says softly. “They just like to hear themselves talk.”
Behind us, one of the guys mentions Nathan’s name.
“Actually, let’s go sit somewhere closer,” Summer says, standing up. Parker and I exchange a quick glance, but Summer’s tone was just commanding enough that we don’t question before we stand and follow behind her. As we file out of the row, Summer glares at the men, silencing them with what I imagine is her very tough courtroom face.
Actually, I’m not even sure Summer does the kind of law that requires courtrooms. But if she did, she’d use that face, and it would be very intimidating.
It clearly was to the men, because they’re all completely silent until we’re several rows away and out of earshot.
“Think they realized who you are?” Parker asks.
“I don’t care if they didn’t,” Summer says. “They deserved a withering look either way.”
Our new location is much better for observing the costume parade, which is now fully in swing. “Well, this is probably the cutest thing I’ve ever seen,” I say as I settle into my new seat.
“Cuter than my boyfriend snuggling your baby to sleep?” Summer says. “Because that definitely wins for me.”
“Did I tell you about the time Alec sang Juno to sleep in the middle of the night— shirtless ?”
“Oh geez,” Summer says. “Did you immediately marry him?”
I laugh. “I thought about it.” I tap a spot on my chest. “He has an Appies tattoo right here. The team logo.”
“Really?” Parker asks. “I didn’t know that.”
“Sexy,” Summer says. “I love a good tattoo.” She’s quiet for a beat before she laughs and says, “Poor Apples.”
Thinking about Theo draws my eye back to the ice. The twins are with Alec, the three of them hovering around a pair of girls, who can’t be more than seven or eight, wearing twin Appies hockey uniforms. The girls are not great skaters, but every time one of the guys tries to help, they get their hand swatted away. Finally, Theo runs off the ice and returns with a hockey stick. He crouches down in front of the girls and shows them how to hold onto the stick, then he slowly skates backward, pulling them forward around the rink.
Alec watches him for a second, then he looks into the stands, finding my gaze in the crowd. He smiles, and I know exactly what he’s thinking.
It’s not like one conversation fixed everything for Theo. I know Alec isn’t naive enough to think it did. But this still feels like progress. Right now, at least for this moment, it feels like Theo is going to be okay.
I return Alec’s smile and lift Juno’s arm up in a pretend wave. He winks and waves back before turning his attention to the kids, and I find myself thinking about how recent it was that I wasn’t okay. There was so much stress and sadness and disappointment in the months leading up to and immediately after Juno’s birth. Of course, there was joy too. But I was mostly just surviving. Getting through one day at a time. Learning how to be a mom and a single parent.
But then I came to Harvest Hollow, and things started to change. Happiness snuck up on me. I’ve found friends, a job I love, a man who kisses me like his singular purpose in life is to melt me into the floor but who also looks at my daughter like she’s worth his time and effort. Like she matters too.
I’m not just okay. I’m more than okay.
I’m really, truly happy.
I just have to hope that this time, the happiness lasts.