Page 157 of Some Like It Hot

I shrug. “A lady doesn’t kiss and tell.”

Luna snorts. “Thank God we don’t know any ladies.”

I giggle. Turns out, we’d been on our way to that very storage room before the party really kicked off, but Blake and I had been waylaid by his mom, dad, and sister arriving and we hadn’t had another chance to slip away yet. We, of course, have our choice of big beds only a few minutes away from the upscale bistro in downtown Chicago where we reserved the party room tonight, but sneaking around and playing as if we don’t is always fun.

I find my men. They are all together across the room, drinks in hand, laughing with Owen Phillips, Michael Hughes, Crew McNeill, and Jack Hayes.

I love seeing how easily Aiden and Simon have been incorporated into Blake’s group of friends. Blake has a small inner circle, but it’s full of great people.

Though, looking around the room right now, you wouldn’t know his circle was small. The room is packed with people wanting to celebrate his retirement with him.

I think the entire Racketeers team is here, including Wade, the mascot, and Nathan, the team owner. There is also, of course, a ton of family and friends.

Blake’s whole family, including aunts, uncles, and cousins are here.

And my mother is even here somewhere.

Blake said that of course his mother-in-law should be invited, so I did, never expecting her to accept. But she immediately agreed and she’s been here since the beginning. She and Blake‘s mom get along great. They’re sitting together at a table along the far wall.

“So on a scale from zero to ten, how happy is he to be retired?” Luna asks. “And how long do you think it will be before he misses it?”

“I think he’s about a nine right now,” I say, honestly. “If the night they won the championship was a fifteen, he’s a nine about retiring.” We both laugh. The night the Racketeers brought that trophy home was amazing. I’ve never been that excited or proud of someone else in my life. “He’s really happy,” I continue. “I don’t know if it’s totally sunk in yet, though. But his doctor says that this last shot he gave him for his hip might actually do some good now that he can rest. And he has plenty to look forward to at home.”

Luna laughs. “I know he does, babe. And I’m so happy for you.”

I sip from my glass, hit by one of those moments that occurs every once in a while, where I can’t believe how everything has turned out and how absolutely ecstatic I actually am. My life is full.

My business is going gangbusters. I am actually to the point where I think I’m going to have to hire someone to help me.

Simon has moved to Chicago and we’re looking at places where we can all live together.

We’ve come up with a sort of routine. At least as much routine as having a billionaire who has to fly around the world occasionally and a firefighter who works twenty-four hours at a time can have.

But it’s all just so fucking good.

“I do think he’ll miss it though,” I tell Luna. “Probably around the time the season is supposed to start. Coach has told him that he is welcome anytime he wants to come to practice and help kick the guys asses. And Crew has been talking to him about the kids hockey program he works with. I think that would be awesome for Blake. He’d love to work with kids.”

Speaking of kids and Crew, his wife and daughter join us just then.

“Hey,” a slightly harried Danielle greets us.

“Gimme,” Luna says, handing her empty martini glass to me and reaching for her niece.

Dani surrenders the baby with a grateful sigh. I pass her the rest of my martini.

She doesn’t even blink at the fact that I’ve drunk half of it. She lifts it for a sip and then sighs happily.

“This is an amazing party, Elise. But I am here to officially tell you that you still have to come to games. Even if Blake isn’t playing, I want you sitting with us.”

A year ago, I would’ve laughed. I did not show up at hockey games because of hockey. I showed up because of friends and the rowdy atmosphere. Then I kept showing up because of the hot hockey players. But now I actually appreciate the game.

“I think that can be arranged.” Aidan has gotten into hockey as well, and Simon just likes to be wherever we are. I’m guessing it will be weird for Blake to sit in the stands after all these years, but he needs to try it.

“Oh, yay!” Dani says enthusiastically. She really is the sweetest person.

Again, I’m hit by a wave of happiness and gratefulness. I have two amazing friends. I’m so lucky.

I also have two amazing boyfriends and an amazing husband, and just then, Simon catches my gaze and tips his head in a ‘come here’ gesture.

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