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“Let’s get something to eat and grab a table. We can decide whether to stay inside or go out when the fireworks start.”
We load plates and Callum grabs two beers for us. We sit at a table with Coach West and Ava and are joined by a handful of the single players. For the next forty minutes, we eat, drink and laugh. The interior of the glass boat is spacious with enough tables to seat everyone but only half take advantage of them, the others preferring to stand out on the deck as they hold their plates.
I end up meeting more people than I can ever hope to remember and when the boat begins a slow glide into the middle of the river, everyone is excited. The sun has set, the sky a dusky purple. Over a loudspeaker, a deep male voice says, “The fireworks will begin in about fifteen minutes, but if everyone could come into the interior, Brienne Norcross has a few words.”
It doesn’t take long for everyone to congregate under the glass structure, filling the large space shoulder to shoulder. Brienne stands in the middle, and so she can be seen, someone places a chair before her, and Drake offers support as she climbs onto it. He keeps a steady hand on her hip and she rests one on his shoulder.
She doesn’t have a microphone, but her voice rings clear across the crowd. “Thank you, everyone, for coming. I know we’re missing a handful of people tonight as folks who are wiser than us are off on beautiful vacations this summer. But they are with us in spirit. I had this boat built for business purposes, but tonight I wanted to use it so our team could be together on this very important holiday to our nation. I’m just so happy to have you all here and you know I’m proud of each and every one of you. For all of the resilience, grit and determination you have shown this past year and a half, I want you to know there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you. I want to tell you to eat, drink and enjoy the rest of the evening, particularly the amazing fireworks. But before we do that, I want to address one important thing.” And here, Brienne takes a pause and looks around the room before locking eyes with someone. “Coen… can you come up here? Tillie as well.”
I rise to my tiptoes to see Coen Highsmith and his wife, Tillie, walking through the crowd toward Brienne. I met them briefly just a bit ago. Brienne hops off the chair and positions herself between the two of them, looking around at the crowd of Titans and their loved ones. “I know the news was shocking last week that Coen’s leaving us and yes, we’re going to throw a hell of a going-away party for him. Technically, he’s not even a Titan anymore if you believe the ink on the contract papers, and I’m going to have a hard time thinking of him as a Viper.” Brienne tips her head up to look at Coen. “You are the absolute epitome of what this team is about. Our success is owed in such a big part to you and thank you is not enough. We’ll miss you so very desperately next year and while I want to wish you all the best of luck with the Vipers, I still hope we kick your ass when we meet up.”
Everybody laughs but Brienne continues. “Aside from you being an amazing Titan and member of this team, my heart is so warmed by the fact that you’re giving up part of your dreams so that Tillie can pursue hers. I hope everyone in this room takes that to heart because Coen’s generosity and commitment to love is what really matters. And for that reason, I do wish you all the luck and success in the world. Everyone, please raise a glass with me and let’s congratulate Coen and Tillie as they embark on this new adventure without us.”
Everyone lifts their glasses or bottles, but no one is cheering their well wishes. Instead, murmured cheers and good luck ripple through the crowd. The sadness is palpable as Brienne hugs Coen and Tillie and then other players move in.
Callum bends down to murmur in my ear. “Losing him will be tough.”
“I can feel the distress. I even see it on Coen’s and Tillie’s faces.”
“It wasn’t an easy decision. He has so much loyalty to this team, but Coen will be the first to tell you he wouldn’t have come back to hockey without Tillie changing the way he viewed things. This worked out well for everyone in the end. Coen keeps playing and Tillie gets a shot at a dream she didn’t even know was possible.”
“And who knows?” I say thoughtfully as I watch Coen clasp a teammate’s hand and pull him in for a quick hug. “Maybe he’ll be back.”
“Maybe,” Callum murmurs.
♦
The cloudless evening provides an inky sky over Pittsburgh upon which to lay the vibrant hues of exploding Zambelli Fireworks. Each burst is a riot of color, and the booms echo off the surrounding city buildings. The fiery sparkles shimmer on the dark river waters and it is utterly magical. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. The air is cool, a gentle breeze carrying exclamations and gasps of awe from viewers on the dozens of boats anchored around us.
I’d be a lying fool if I denied that most of the magic surrounding us is from Callum behind me, standing close enough I feel his body heat. He touches me nowhere other than one hand on my hip and the other on the railing. He has me caged in, but it’s in no way suffocating. I feel… protected. Somehow, the man who broke my heart and trust is now a comforting solidity against the backdrop of fleeting light and sound.
The fireworks explode in dazzling arrays of reds, greens and blues, each one a stunning flower blooming in the night. My favorites, however, are the monochromatic white and silver ones that arc outward with trails of tiny sparkles behind them like shooting stars.
It reminds me of wishes that I could potentially make one day.
And then Callum moves closer, shocking me to my core by wrapping his arms around my stomach. I melt backward into him and as if I have no will of my own, my hands grip his forearms, holding him tight to me. The world seems to pause, caught in this spectacle of light and sound. In Callum’s embrace, with the magic exploding all around, it feels so quiet.
“Have you let it go?” he whispers into my ear. I have to suppress a shiver. “The past? That I hurt you? That I left you behind to fend for yourself?”
I turn my head slightly so he can hear me without having to raise my voice. “I accepted your apology.”
“But that doesn’t mean you’ve let the bad stuff go,” he presses, squeezing me. “Many people forgive without forgetting.”
“It’s hard to forget pain,” I say, needing to be honest. “But I also know you never intended to hurt me. Not the way Joshua did.” Callum stiffens at the reminder that the difference between the two men in my life who have loved me all resides within the realm of intent. Callum’s pain was caused by indifference to my desires while every time Joshua struck out, he did so with the intent to hurt me physically and mentally. “It’s why I can forgive what you did.”
Callum is silent, presumably digesting my words. I expect easy acceptance from him because he’s never been the type to pressure more than one could give.
And yet, he wouldn’t be Callum—the person I know better than anyone in this world—without doubling down to get what he wants. Never have I known anyone with more dogged persistence than this dynamic man. His lips touch the shell of my ear. “I want another shot with you.”
I jerk my head away from him, not because his touch or words are unpleasant, but because I’m jolted down to the bottom of my soul over the need within his tone. I twist to get a good look at his face because Callum is always honest, and his eyes have always been clear windows to his emotions.
He stares back at me with determination… a plain declaration in his eyes. He wants what we once had.
“How?” I stammer. “I mean… why?”
Callum tilts his head, lips quirked. “Why? Because you were the greatest love of my life, Juni.”
“No, I wasn’t,” I whisper harshly, a slight surge of sourness over the way he left me behind.
