Page 54 of Secrets on Ice

"Because he wouldn’t be secretive if it was.”

We can hear his voice drifting in from the hallway, too low to make out words, and the whole table has given up pretending not to listen. Sully walks back in and doesn't sit down. He stands behind his chair with his hands on the backrest, looking around the table until he has every set of eyes on him, dragging the moment out because of course he is.

"Connor Sullivan," Maureen warns. "What is going on?”

"I have good news. You'll want to hear this." He looks at Cassidy, then at me. "That was the leasing agent in New York. Jo's been hounding him all week about an apartment that was for lease on the next floor up. The poor guy probably has a nervous twitch by now. But our application was approved."

Cassidy's fork hits her plate. "Apartment?"

"Yeah, I’m moving and so are you two.” He grins. “It’s four bedrooms, four bathrooms, one floor above Emmett and Jo." He grins at his sister. "We land tomorrow afternoon and go straight to pick up the keys."

I’m in shock.

“We had to move quickly, so I did.”

“I can’t believe you did that,” Cassidy says.

Sully’s face falls. “I thought that’s what we talked about. Did you not want to be roomies?”

“No, you idiot,” she says, jumping up from the table and rushing over to hug him. “Thank you.”

“We’re going to be neighbors.” Emmett nudges me.

“Are you okay with that?”

“Of course, means I can get my apartment back.” He smirks.

“Asshole,” I grumble.

"Welcome to the building, man," Emmett says to Sully as they clink beer bottles.

“What do you think, Em? You okay being my roomie?” Sully asks.

“As long as there are no puck bunnies in our home, I’ll be fine,” I tease him.

He puts his hand over his heart. “You wound me. I would never.” He smirks.

“This is so exciting. We need more champagne to celebrate,” Maureen says, getting up from the table and rushing into the kitchen to get another bottle.

And that's when it dawns on me, in the middle of all the noise. We have an apartment. Tomorrow, when I get off the plane, I will be starting my new life in New York City with my friends.

The sound of a champagne cork popping pulls me from my thoughts, and Patrick pours everyone a fresh glass.

Maureen stands and holds up her glass. “I just wanted to say we are so proud of you girls. You’ve handled this difficult time with such grace. I know none of this is easy, and those little cowards probably think they have gotten away scot-free, but better things are coming for the both of you. It’s going to take time and healing, but you will get to the other side and be better off for it.” Tears well in her eyes.

“Here, here,” Patrick adds, which makes us smile as we cheers and take a sip of our drinks.

Maureen’s right, better things are coming for us. They just won’t be in Wisconsin, they will be in New York for the foreseeable future.

The jet touches down in New York mid-afternoon, and it takes two cars to get us and our luggage into the city. Between the four of us, we have eleven suitcases, and I'd like the record to show only four of them are mine.

“You girls have so much shit.” Emmett moans as we arrive at the apartment, the driver parking in a loading zone while Sully meets the doorman and explains what is going on. The front desk has our keys waiting for us, they just need Sully’s signature. He runs off and does that.

Almost three weeks ago, we landed in New York with nothing but our gym clothes, totally devastated. We are still devastated, but now we have our entire wardrobe with us, a new apartment to move into, and a new life to manifest. We have left the rest of our things in Wisconsin and will send for them when we know exactly what we need.

Moments later, Sully jogs back to the car, waving the keys at us. “Got ’em.” He grins.

The concierge asks if they can take the bags for us and bring them up to the apartment, and Sully agrees. Now this is service.