Page 15 of Fluttering Heart

“He is thebesthockey player,” Santa pipes in with a stern look aimed at Charlie, who nods wisely.

“True dat. Anyway, Jules’s nickname is Picard, just like Nik’s nickname is Santa.”

“And what’s yours?” I ask for some stupid reason. I shouldn’t interrupt, it’s going to take longer now to learn more about my absolute favorite musician in the world.

“Sweetheart,” Santa says in a tone that’s trying to be mocking, but failing.

“That’s a good nickname,” I mumble, begging Charlie with telepathy to get on with it.

“Yeah, yeah.” He rolls his eyes and wipes his mouth with a cloth napkin. “Anyway, Jules is Sterling’s husband.”

“Ahh,” I can’t help but voicing. I did see something about that in social media though I’ve never loved using it, but it’s inevitable when doing research, sadly.

“Yes. So I was traded to the Pirates—that’s the Las Vegas hockey team—in September, and I met him. Then my whole family came for our first game in October and met him as well. He was very kind to them and he’s generally a pretty chill dude.”

“He will do anything for Picard.” Santa speaks again. “And Picard wanted everyone to be welcoming to Charlie.” That memory seems to not be a great one for Santa, but I decide not to ask about that.

“So we’re really meeting him?” I ask in a breathy tone that betrays my excitement.

“Yes,” Beau says and nods. “And we should think of leaving soon if we’re going to make it there in time with all this damn traffic.” He sounds grumpy, like he has since we got here, but I still think it’s better than the depressed and dejected version of him I saw just a few hours ago.

* * *

The concert iseverything I could ever have wanted and more.

Being from a very small town in the very south of Illinois, I never got the chance to see him in concert when I was young, and when I moved to Chicago I had much more dire needs and couldn’t manage the expense of a ticket. So this really was the experience of a lifetime.

Despite havingthe best seats in the house—I still can’t get over how amazing that was—we stood for the whole two-hour concert. Santa and me on the ends, and Charlie and Finn bracketing Beau. Despite the standing arrangement, I didn’t feel like I was on the sidelines of the group like I normally would’ve if I’d been at an event like this with any other group of people.

And during the concert, there were times when the three brothers would look at each other with excitement when a specific song started. I realized that it was also somehow an important experience for them—being there together.

Despite that, Finn kept his hand locked with mine, our fingers interlaced for most of the concert. During a couple of the slow songs, he threw an arm around me and brought our bodies closer so we could sway together.

He made me feel important and like I was a priority and it damn near brought tears to my eyes, feeling that way.

I do manage to chill when we’re brought backstage to meet—ohmygodohmygodohmygod—Sterling, but on the inside I’m a fourth of July display of fireworks.

“That’s right, I remember now,” Sterling says, and points a finger at me after I tell him what I do for work and what the whole company is about. “Jamie haseverythingyou guys sell. I swear she’s addicted to all those containers, she has them in every room in the house!” He laughs a little and I do too just because he does. And honestly because it’s pretty mind blowing that he knows the company I work for.

“Oh, God,” Beau groans from next to me. “Don’t get these two started on that again.” He nods at Finn and me, clearly annoyed, but I don’t mind one single bit. Because Beau grouped Finn and me together. Yeah, he called us dorks, but we did dork out over office supplies and organization, so it’s warranted. I definitely don’t take it as an insult when I’ve made a career out of it.

Sterling laughs lightly and thanks us for coming to the concert, and then makes his excuses. “I’m tired and I need to get home to the family, but will I see you guys on Sunday?”

“Yeah, we still don’t know if we’ll be in the suite or not, but—” Finn explains but Sterling cuts him off.

“Oh, please come hang out with me. Jamie and the kids don’t want to go this time.”

“We’ll definitely come say hi at the very least,” Finn settles on, and that’s a very polite way of saying we still don’t know.

We all walk to the banks of elevators, and the lobby is buzzing with so many people that it surprises me when Santa and Charlie get stopped a handful of times for selfies and autographs. It surprises me since it’s the first time I’ve ever seen a hockey player out and about. I really didn’t know they were that popular.

Super surprising, I know, that I’m not a huge sports guy.

“Wait, you guys are coming up too?” I ask when Santa and Charlie get into the elevator with the three of us.

“Yes,” Charlie says simply as Santa swipes a card and presses the button for the top floor.

“They need to be up super early tomorrow for morning skate, and they’re going to save sleep time if they make the drive in the morning instead of now.”

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