The Boys 'Round Here

John laughed and leaned against the glass. They’d been standing in the same place for ten minutes and Meghan had barely moved a muscle.

After the press conference, John changed into navy blue shorts, a white polo shirt and classic white Nike low tops, gave the Isles gear to Matt and Alicia to bundle home with Mila then Uber-ed up a car service and took Meghan downtown. They’d been dropped off six blocks from here and he wondered if they’d make it any farther today. He didn’t really care.

Meghan had her nose to the glass of the red panda exhibit in the Central Park Zoo. People passed behind her and kids crowded in close but it didn’t bother her. The panda, which looked more like a fox, was laying in a hollowed out log looking right back at her.

“He is the cutest thing in the world!” she said for the tenth time.

“Second cutest,” John replied.

She stuck her tongue out the side of her mouth. “I think I’m making progress.”

“Yes, he looks very charmed by you.”

“You know,” Meghan finally turned to John. “I am always a little disappointed when forest creatures are not immediately drawn to me. I may have watched Cinderella too many times as a kid. But I realllllllly love them!”

John moved in and laced his fingers through hers. He had to admit, the red panda was pretty freaking precious. Meghan stepped back - and the panda raised his little head as if to say, “Where are you going?”

“Aaagghhh!!!” She slumped against John’s side. He got between her and the window and steered her away. “Bye panda fox!” Meghan called over her shoulder, waving.

They strolled hand in hand around the rest of the zoo, stopping for Meghan to try her telepathy on the sea lions and penguins. The snow leopard looked interested in her bright red dress, so John called him a perv and they moved on to the nature trail and the children’s zoo, where they found a barnyard exhibit.

“See, I told you!” Meghan said as two little sheep pushed their faces through the fence to be petted. A big sheep nudged John’s leg and he obliged it with a head scratch. Around them, kids squealed and ran and played. “Imagine growing up in a city, and having to go to the zoo to see cows and sheep?” she asked.

John looked around. Sure he’d been to a farm to two but certainly hadn’t lived on one growing up. “Where else would you see them?”

“Petting zoos, I guess,” she allowed. As she straightened back to standing one little sheep bleated pitifully about his new friend leaving. “Growing up we went to the country a lot, fairs and farms. I think zoos are for exotic things like giraffes and lions, not goats.”

Nearby a goat pooped charmingly. “That’s not exotic?” John asked.

Meghan laughed. “See, as a kid that was hilarious!”

He frowned, but if Meghan wanted to visit animals they’d visit them. He even harbored a fleeting, crazy thought of someday taking their kids to a farm in the country so they could also laugh at goats pooping.

She rubbed a handful of sanitizer between her palms. “Let’s go before I try to steal a piglet.”

From the zoo they kept walking. The paths of Central Park led around ponds and through fields, passing from sunlight to shade. Lots of tourists were out and plenty of New Yorkers enjoying the beautiful summer day. At the edge of the park they continued down 5th Avenue. Passing stores like Bendel and Bergdorff, John instinctively slowed down. He’d never bought Meghan a present before.

“Don’t even,” she said, reading his mind.

“What?” he teased. She’d seen his houses and cars - they were upscale, but modest. That was John’s style. It didn’t mean he couldn’t splurge on something nice for his girlfriend and it wouldn’t even dent his huge salary.

Meghan had wondered if and when this would come up. James was a little flashy with his money, Steven was about quality brands. John, well, she didn’t know. But it wasn’t going to be about spending that money on her. “What is the most expensive thing you own, besides your house or car?”

“Uh, my watch, maybe?”

She turned his hand and examined the watch on his wrist. It was nice, a Movado. “And which do you like more, your watch or your girlfriend?”

He narrowed his eyes, trying to figure out the trick question. “You, of course.”

Meghan smiled. “And I like you better than expensive things too.”

She started off down the street, leaving John to hurry to catch up. “Okay,” he said, “but if we pass a Lululemon, I’m buying you all of their see-through pants.”

They didn’t pass a Lululemon, but she did consent to a stop to buy Kaylynn a birthday present. Then they wandered across town at 47th Street so Meghan could peek in the window of the NHL store. A mock locker room setup was displayed in the north-facing windows, with numbered jerseys from different teams on display: Crosby, Staal, Giroux, Kane, Lundqvist, Tavares.

“OhmygodTavareshe’smyfavorite,” she said loudly, mispronouncing it ‘TavAHHHres’ the way everyone did. If she wanted to go in there, he’d be staying outside.

She kissed his blushing cheek. “Oh sure, now you don’t want to buy me a present.”

Broadway was crowded as they worked back toward Fifth Ave, then down into Bryant Park. John pointed out the lions outside the Public Library since they hadn’t seen any at the zoo. Inside the grand building the city’s antique map collection was on display. They walked between the framed hangings and drafting tables delineating parts of the world that no longer looked the way they once had.

“There we are,” Meghan said, pointing to Toronto’s home just above Lake Ontario on a vintage French fur-trading map.

John pointed to where New York was prominently marked. “See, not that far.”

I could do this every day, he thought. Or every day he wasn’t on the road, which were few enough, and those when it was warm outside. In the winter they could come here too - he pictured Meghan zipped and scarfed up to her nose, fuzzy hunting cap on, just those green eyes sparkling. Bryant Park had a skating rink over the holidays, maybe John could take her for a spin. They were dangerous ideas: mittens and snowbanks and stormy days with nothing to do but cuddle up inside. He followed Meghan toward an incomplete sailing map of the Florida Keys. With her tall and slender shape, all smooth skin and red dress, it was hard to keep his mind from running wild.

Meghan had felt John watching her all day. Not just looking - that she was used to - but watching her, gauging her reactions, trying to read if she liked this place enough. Enough to what? Move here? Live here? she wondered. It was New York City, there was literally something for everyone. Maybe even a job for her.

In truth she found it exciting. Today had been all landmarks and crowds but yesterday was the opposite - houses and families, backyards and barbeques. If John wanted to show her every side of life here, he was doing a great job. And he was so damned handsome, with those big shoulders and arms in that grown-up looking shirt. His curvy lips knit together when he read something closely, which made Meghan want to interrupt him with a kiss every time.

All the maps on display were beautiful - sepia toned snapshots of a world that once seemed too big to imagine. Meghan and John were both quiet, thinking the same thing: how to make it smaller now. They stayed until the library closed.

“Are you hungry?” he asked. This was the only part of the day in Manhattan he’d planned. A slow walk to E 39th Street deposited them in front of The Pod Hotel at half past six.

She looked warily at the sign. “I’m beginning to think you bring all your dates to hotels.”

As John had back in that night in Toronto, he took Meghan right to the roof deck. The view was equally stunning but the atmosphere couldn’t have been different. Where The Thompson had been sleek and modern, Pod 39 was easygoing and rustic. The rooftop bar was a narrow rectangle of exposed red brick. The far wall was high and featured arched, empty windows, as if someone had simply lifted the top off an awesome loft. Small two-person tables in colorful mosaic tile were set along the arched side, the other side was all bar and high tables for standing.

It was pretty full, but the hostess seated them right away. A girl in a pretty dress and a guy in nice shorts fit right in here. They ordered summery cocktails and watched the sun descend toward the horizon. As it did, fairy lights strung overhead twinkled to life. They talked about everything without talking about anything specific, both skirting the obvious topic.

John could feel Meghan holding back just a little. It was still heaven to be with her, but he wanted to make a run for the end zone right now and she was digging her heels in. Good thing he had another trick up his sleeve. When their second round was done, he fished out his phone and ordered up a car.

“We’re not staying for sunset?” Meghan pointed toward the pink and orange streaks already beginning to paint the sky.

“One more stop,” he promised.

The car picked them up curbside and whisked back uptown, toward the 59th Street bridge. John hoped he hadn’t timed this next part too late. The clouds overhead were just shy of flourescent as the car crossed into Queens and stopped in front of Z NYC Hotel.

“I was right!” Meghan said, seeing another hotel.

They hurried into the elevator and right up to a smiling hostess who seemed to expect them. She’d better - John had to do a little work to get this reservation. As they stepped out onto the Z Roof deck, he knew it was worth it. The table wasn’t much, just a silver metal two-top with bright pink metal chairs, but it was against the low glass wall. Across the East River, the New York City skyline was stretched out like a row of toys. Meghan pushed her chair in, opting to stand at the edge of this little world instead; John stepped in right behind and rested his chin on her shoulder. The sun sank between the skyscrapers, wildly colored clouds trailing behind like streamers and lights came on like low hanging stars. Most of the conversations around them had quieted as everyone watched the show. John wound his arms around Meghan’s waist and finally felt her body relax into his.

“See,” he said quietly, “not all the best things about New York are in Manhattan.”
____

Friday, Meghan and John woke to another quiet morning in his house. She loved days when he didn’t have to hit the gym early and they could laze around. This morning Meghan lay on her back with her head on John’s chest and stroked the underside of his bicep, marveling at the impossibly soft skin there. He was awake but quiet. She didn’t have to wonder what he was thinking.

Not every day would be like this, she told herself. If she moved to New York she’d have to get up for work most mornings. Weekends would be free, but John wouldn’t always be there. Of course, he wouldn’t be there at all if she lived somewhere else. As Meghan considered the real logistics of a New York life, she knew she’d need independance. Her life would not be sleeping this bed alone, waiting for John to come home. If she moved to New York.

Happy and warm, John fell back to sleep.

Eventually it was time to get up and get to the airport. As they took off from JFK the plane wheeled once more over the New York City skyline, just so Meghan wouldn’t forget. When they landed in Toronto, she kissed John goodbye in his driveway and headed home in her loaner car. He didn’t ask her to stay - with so much to think about, they could both use a little time alone. And she knew she was always welcome.
____

James looked at his phone. Friday night, he should be doing something. Or maybe he’d save that for tomorrow night, when the rest of his friends would be out celebrating Kaylynn’s birthday at the flashy party Stamkos had planned. It had taken James about ten minutes to decide he wasn’t going to that.

The party would be a minefield: girls everywhere, Kaylynn’s watchful eye, his own conflicting emotions. And of course Meghan and John, hanging over the night like a bomb waiting to drop.

James knew he shouldn’t have gone after Tavares at the cottage. He was still a little surprised John stood up for himself, which only made things worse. The guy wasn’t a total wet rag, and now James had made him the hero. If there was anything worse than watching Meghan leave it was coming home to an empty house again.

He swiped the iPhone screen. Three buttons later, his friend Dan picked up the phone. Five minutes after that, James was out the door.
____

Lucy bumped her car door closed with one hip. Her hands were full of purse, keys, Starbucks cup and a bag from Club Monaco. Meghan opened at her parents’ front door with a narrow look.

“You’re going to love it,” Lucy promised.

“Why do I have to dress up?” Meghan led her best friend upstairs.

“Because Kaylynn works in PR, is practically a stylist and we’re going to the one place in Toronto that even I have not been. And you said this girl’s been there. We need our A game.”

“She went there for work!” Meghan said.

Lucy deposited everything but her drink on Meghan’s bed. “And now she’s going because her famous millionaire boyfriend is trying to sweep her off her feet. That doesn’t happen every day.” She paused to roll her eyes. “Oh wait, IT DOES.”

Meghan had to laugh. Lucy had been giving her a hard time about giving John a hard time, as if she couldn’t wait to get rid of her. Secretly, Meghan knew Lucy wanted a place to visit in New York and a crack at all the fun they would have.

“So, as the other person currently being romanced by a superstar Canadian hero, you are going to look the part if I have to hold you down and beautify you like this is The Hunger Games.” She whipped something that looked like a bird out of the bag and held it up.

“Uh….”

“On. Now.”

Meghan shucked her shorts. Her own fashion choices were perfectly fine for everyday life, but living in London had taught her a few things - mostly that she was not really swanky enough for most occasions. Wearing something black usually solved that problem, except in the summer at one of Toronto’s top venues. Plus, Steven had gone all out for tonight. Meghan figured she could do the same.

Looking in the mirror, she tilted her head to one side. “Hmmm. I like it.”

The skirt was short with a wide black waistband and covered in layers of black and white feathers that blended together in a flirty, feminine way. It was much less weird once it was on. She lifted onto her toes to simulate heels and turned around. Looked good from the back too.

“I love it. It’s wild,” Lucy declared. She dug through Meghan’s closet and came up with a simple, silky bright yellow sleeveless top. It was a burst of color without complication. Meghan pulled it on, tucked it in and stepped into a pair of delicate black stilettos. She felt like a ballerina - delicate, tall and just a little exotic.

Lucy nodded. “I’m a genius.”

Meghan did her makeup while Lucy dressed. The outfit didn’t need much help, just a smokey eye and nude lips. The yellow blouse made Meghan’s dark hair and lashes pop. Lucy zipped herself into a short, strapless dress of muted gold sequins. With nude heels and dark blonde hair, the effect was decidedly Grecian goddess.

“I hope Steven invited his friends,” she said.

“You know all those guys,” Meghan laughed.

Lucy thought for a second, then frowned. “I hope Steven made some new friends.”
____

John wondered if seeing Meghan would ever feel like less than a big date. He fixed his collar in the mirror for the tenth time, then touched his hair so gently it didn’t even move. It was meant to look the way Meghan had styled it for the press conference - John had checked online afterward and girls had been talking about his hair. How did she know that would happen? He found a photo and matched it as best he could. It wasn’t… quite….

“Stop doing your hair!” Sam hollered from the living room.

Busted, John quickly dropped his hand. His short-sleeved black button down shirt was nicely ironed but not tucked in, which Sam swore was the way to go. John wasn’t sure. It was risky enough to be wearing shorts to a fancy event; he didn’t want to be underdressed. The shorts were nice though, cut as slim as possible for a hockey player’s lower body and neatly hemmed at his knees. He wore new sneakers, light gray with white Nike swooshes. He never knew how to dress for summer.

“Every minute you’re late, another guy asks her out!” Sam’s voice rang out again. Mumbling a curse, John headed downstairs. Sam was grinning like a cartoon character. He wore shorts too - navy blue with a plaid shirt open over a v-neck tee. John figured at least he wouldn’t be the only one breaking the dress code.

Sam drove them into the city and valeted at the Spoke Club, probably Toronto’s most exclusive trendy venue. Membership was required for entry but Steven had clearly rented part of the place out. Maybe the whole place. Or he just walked in the door looking blond and dashing and they kicked everyone else out right away. It didn’t look like much from the outside, just a well-maintained hundred year old building with five floors and big windows hinting of lofted spaces inside. A beautiful receptionist started to ask their names when her male colleague interrupted.

“This way, gentlemen,” he said. Sam lifted his eyebrows as if to say, we’re fancy now. He deposited the guys in the elevator, hit five and wished them a good night.

When the doors open, John couldn’t help but whistle. The entire rooftop was converted into workable space. To the right, a glass enclosure surrounded dining tables with white chairs. To the left and wrapping around was a lounge area with low tables and banquette bench seating upholstered in dark brown. Overhead, a pergola shaded the area without covering it. Beyond that, toward the roof’s edge, was the coup de grace - a completely open-air roof deck. The slatted wood benches and tables were painted black, tossed with white pillows and accompanied by black and white striped ottomans. A spectacular view of downtown Toronto lay at their feet as remnants of daylight stained the sky like spilled wine.

“Two o’clock,” Sam said.

John’s eyes followed instructions: there was Meghan. He would have whistled again but his breath was gone. She wore some kind of black and white textured skirt - were those feathers? - that made her long legs look even longer. Her sky-high heels did the rest. From the waist up she was a bright flare of yellow silk, dark fall of wavy hair and so much bare skin that John’s hands tingled. At least it wouldn’t matter what he had on because no one would see past Meghan. She turned and her smile nearly knocked him over.

Sam helpfully reached out and closed John’s open jaw.

“Hi!” Meghan said, striding up. John let her kiss him so he’d have something to hold onto. Their lips met with the usual spark, then she narrowed her eyes. “Hello?”

“Er, hi. Hi,” he said, mouth dry.

“Smooth,” Lucy joined them with a smirk. “You look alright yourself, Tavares. Untucked shirt? It’s gonna be a big night.”

Sam snarfed a laugh, then gave the girls hello hugs. Meghan caught a waitress and ordered drinks. Quite a few people were already milling about the deck and claiming seats beneath the twinkling lights. John leaned in toward Meghan’s ear.

“You look incredible,” he said.

She hooked her finger into the open collar of his shirt - a tiny tug and the second button opened. Meghan met John’s eyes and smiled. “Gonna be a big night.”

Their private moment was interrupted by drinks, and kept out by Sam and Lucy’s bantering. Meghan caught a few people glancing their way, reminding her that while Steven had planned this party, most of the friends were Kaylynn’s. To some of them John and Sam were pretty darned famous.

“Everybody’s checking you guys out,” she said.

“It’s the shorts,” John complained.

“Er, maybe the legs,” Lucy looked down at both their outfits. “Not the shorts.”

Just then, Meghan and John both flinched as their respective phones buzzed. Neither needed to look. “They’re here.”

At the same moment, a blond streak of hair darted through the crowd - Kaylynn’s friend Jenny, last seen with Michael Del Zotto and last heard from telling him to watch for sharks. The memory seemed a hundred years ago. Meghan had put drunk John to bed that night - the first time he said she was pretty, that he liked her. Looking back she knew it was something even then. She squeezed John’s hand.

“They’re here!” a brown-haired girl called, waving people to gather closer. Jenny returned with a camera in hand. Meghan pulled out her phone.

Ding.

Kaylynn stepped out of the elevator before it all registered: people - not just faces, but familiar ones. Lots of them. She stopped, started to turn and then all hell broke loose.

“SURPRISE!” everyone shouted.

Jenny and the brown-haired girl tackled Kaylynn, nearly taking Steven out in the process. He put his hands out to hold up a gaggle of screaming girls. Everyone applauded, including the nearest waitress. John motioned her over, said something over the din, and the girl rushed away.

Still near the elevator, Steven was dipping Kaylynn to the floor like Fred Astaire. “What do I have to say?” Steven asked loud enough for everyone to hear. “Happy birthday!” He kissed her and was rewarded with a blast of whistles and catcalls.

“That makes me wanna,” John said, putting his lips to Meghan’s neck. She swooned - half in pretend, half for real. Sam made a gagging noise. The waitress gave them a nod as she passed, carrying two drinks right toward the happy couple. Meghan allowed them time for a quick toast before she rushed over there.

“Happy birthday!” She and Kaylynn squealed and hugged while the boys nodded greetings, then Meghan pulled Lucy in. “Kay, this is my best friend Lucy. We’ve been practically joined at the hip since birth.”

“It makes things really awkward,” John complained.

“You wish,” Lucy sassed, giving him a bit of that hip in the form of a body check. He was unmoved, but smiling.

Steven reached out and slapped Sam on the shoulder. “And this is Sam Gagner. We all played together growing up, and now he’s out in the Arctic, playing for the Oilers.”

“Don’t listen to him,” Sam gave Kaylynn a handshake, noting she returned it with a nice, firm grip. No wonder Steven was completely in love. “Not all of us won the lottery to play down in paradise where nobody watches your games.”

“So anyway,” Steven cut in, cutting Sam off. “Gags, have you met Lucy? Just want to make sure I’m not slacking on my hosting duties.”

Oh God, this again. Sam and Lucy groaned in unison.

“What?” Steven asked with a shrug.

“Yeah, it was this thing at Tavares’ place and Meghan brought Lucy so…” Sam started to explain. Lucy watched Kaylynn’s eyes go wide with excitement. Steven had the same expression. These people and their lovestruck need to matchmake everyone in town. No such luck here.

“Stop, both of you,” she cut in.

Kaylynn grinned, feigning innocence. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Sam rolled his eyes. “Sure. Just cause you guys are all crazy, doesn't mean I am."

Turning to head towards the bar, Lucy called over her shoulder. “Exactly. Edmonton."

Once everyone knew everyone, there were more people to meet. Kaylynn took off, Steven trailing in her wake. Meghan asked the waitress to keep an eye on them - this could get exhausting. Lucy and Sam made some pact about wingmen and left to do a lap of the deck. For Meghan’s part, the rest was easy: she had John, a bench seat under the stars and her glass of champagne stayed magically full.

“I seem to remember you feeding me champagne on a hotel rooftop like this one night, not that long ago…,” she teased. The first time they slept together was their date at the Thompson Hotel, when John had surprised her with a rooftop bar and a room just a few floors below.

“Well neither of us drove tonight, so…,” he replied. They sat turned in so their knees touched. Even so, John’s hand was always somewhere - at her waist, on her leg - anchored to her like she might drift away otherwise. He looked so good in his dark shirt.

“I was thinking this bench looks pretty sturdy,” Meghan said.

Once that comment would have made John blush. Now he craned his neck around. “Where did that champagne go?”

Meghan tipped back what was left in her glass so as to be ready. “Eh, I would hate to mess up your hair.” Just as she was about to risk touching his perfect coif, a big thump landed in the seat across from them.

“Romeo. Juliet,” Michael Del Zotto said with a serious nod. Meghan yelped in surprise and jumped up to hug him with an enthusiasm that John still wasn’t crazy about.

“Fucking right, you look hot,” Michael said, holding her away from his body. He wore a suit, of course, some almost-shiny, light blue fabric with a white shirt open three buttons because it was so tight he probably couldn’t close it all the way. With his curly hair and white teeth, he looked like a superhero on summer break. John fought the urge to gag.

“Tavares, you’re still in one piece. I’m impressed.”

John reluctantly shook MDZ’s hand. The waitress practically impaled herself on the back of the chair rushing to serve him. “Molson. Thanks hon,” Del Zotta said. The girl shivered visibly. John suppressed a comment.

“So,” Michael leaned forward, elbows on knees. “What’s new?”

Meghan felt the change in John’s posture - tension in his shoulders, straightness of his back. It was adorable that he still felt vulnerable around Michael - it was like being afraid of a puppy. After all John had been through with James, there was nothing to worry about here. She snaked her arm in under his, resting it along his thigh. John covered her hand with his own.

Michael’s eyes sparkled. He loved this game.

“Well,” Meghan said, “I finally told James about us, he took it badly, I almost threw him in a lake and then I moved out.”

“Oh.” DZ said with a smile - he clearly already knew this.

“We went to New York this week.”

That got a different, “Oh.” This one was surprised.

“John did the Stadium Series press conference. We had a great time - he’s so famous, I felt like a princess.” She shrugged. “It’s too bad you didn’t get invited.”

“OH!” he said loudly and swung a pillow in her direction. Meghan ducked into John, laughing out loud. DZ shook his head but had no choice but to take the joke at his own expense.

Meghan squeezed John’s knee.

I love you, John thought. He’d thought it so often, but every single time Meghan earned it anew with a perfectly placed arrow to his heart. She and Del Zotto kept chatting, changing subjects. John decided finally to give up and just like the guy - he certainly took his lumps with grace.

“Hey man, I’m looking forward to the outdoor game,” John said, “but I think you guys are gonna have to sell all the tickets.”

Michael lifted his beer to toast. “We will do our best.”
____

There were more drinks, laughs, some dancing. Once they got up and mingled, quite a few of Kaylynn’s friends introduced themselves to John. Meghan was happy to let him shine in his own way. While Michael loudly made friends with everyone, Steven was so sincere and thanked everyone who thanked him. Sam seemed surprised anyone knew who he was. John was different still. He was so serious and earnest, asking their opinions and talking real hockey with them like they were hockey players too. No one gained more new fans that night than John.

Except maybe Steven. After all, he was paying.

Stamkos’ efforts were a huge success. Kaylynn was barefoot and gleeful, like a bride actually enjoying her own wedding reception. They were never more than arm’s length apart. Meghan thought about the effort Steven had put into this: thought, time, trust in Kaylynn’s friends. No wonder everyone loved the guy, his heart was bottomless. Seeing Steven so in love made Meghan feel drunk herself.

As the party went on, John wished he’d thought of something like this. Meghan’s birthday wasn’t until the winter but it didn’t have to be for that. He wanted to make a big gesture in case she still had any doubts. He wanted to find her dream job in New York so she’d have everything. So he would have everything. Mostly he wanted to show he felt like this about her too.

Finally people started to pour themselves into the elevator and head home. The warm, summer night made tipsy partygoers sleepy and lounge furniture was too tempting. People left while they still could, wishing Kaylynn elaborate goodbyes on the way. After about half the rooftop was empty, she did a sudden check of the scene.

“Where’s Jenny?!” she asked. Her friend Amanda reacted the same way, brown hair whipping as she looked around.

“Where’s Del Zotto?” Meghan added, stifling a yawn.

“Aw fuck,” Kaylynn and Amanda both said. Comparing notes, no one had seen either of them in hours. Of course, no one could remember seeing them leave separately or together.

“Oh, it was together,” Kaylynn said. “That Del Zotto, what a….”

“Shit?” Steven tried.

“Tool?” John suggested.

“Stud?” Meghan offered. They all laughed. If DZ was sneaking out of a party with some other girl, it was fine by John.

There was still no sign of them when the last guests left. Lucy and Sam were at the bar, talking animatedly and unaware the entire party had emptied around them. Kaylynn wiggled her eyebrows but Meghan shook her head. Not everyone was going to find the man of her dreams this summer. Otherwise the place was deserted save a few staff picking up the remains.

“I don’t wanna leave.” Kaylynn put her head against Steven’s shoulder. “This has been the best night.”

“Too bad, birthday girl. I am taking you home. You guys can camp out if you want.” Steven levered Kaylynn to her feet. They said goodbye then headed over to interrupt Sam and Lucy, who glanced around looking vaguely embarrassed.

Taking advantage of the quiet moment in the darkness under the stars, John pulled Meghan tighter against his side. “I don’t want to leave either.”

“This was the best night,” she agreed.

He cleared his throat. This night was about something else - someone else - but John knew his time with Meghan could be running out. He had to take advantage of every opportunity to tell her what was in his heart. Well, tell her part of it at least. He put his hand on Meghan’s cheek, she focused her green eyes on his.

“I wish I could stay here, so you didn’t have to leave.” He wasn’t talking about the party, he was talking about Toronto.

“John,” Meghan whispered.

“I wish I could go wherever you want.”

“John,” she said again.

“I want to give everything,” John said carefully.

“John.” This time she meant it. He went quiet. Meghan took a steadying breath of her own. After a few days in New York, seeing the rest of John’s life, she was beginning to lean toward really making this happen - on her terms.

“I want it too,” she said, heart pounding. “And Monday, I will start looking for jobs in New York.”
____

Notes