Chapter 26

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

LUNA

I 'm concluding that all NHL players have private elevators.

Tapping in the code Felicity sent me, I drum my fingers nervously on the golden railing along the back wall as I wait for it to reach the penthouse.

The doors open out into a palace. Seriously, Felicity could probably pass as a member of the British royal family living here. The lavish apartment has gloss, gray tile flooring as far as I can see and beautiful sleek black light fittings. But as my eyes cast across the walls of the lobby, my heart squeezes. There are canvases of Jon, Felicity, and who I think are her children and his family scattered all around. Above the stone fireplace in the living room sits a huge print of them both. It looks like it was taken at a professional shoot. Felicity's wrapped in Jon's arms, their faces close together, and that stunning engagement ring is on full display. I don't need to be an appreciator of art to know these two are in the deepest kind of love that could ever exist.

"Luna? We're in here!" A British accent breaks me from my staring session as it filters down the hallway. "Second room on the left!"

I follow the direction of the voice, passing through the stunning kitchen and dining area until I enter a bedroom and find Felicity and Kate talking to two makeup artists and a hairdresser.

"Hey, girl! You're up first." Kate kisses me gently on the cheek and points to an empty chair in front of a dresser.

"All I can say is this place is madness. Like, wow," I say, walking over to the chair and taking a seat. One of the makeup artists comes over first and begins setting out all her equipment and products.

"Thank you. It's really Jon's place; he styled it. But it feels more homely now that we have our pictures up."

"It's perfect," I reply, placing one arm and then the other into a robe.

"I'm Cathy, and I'll be doing your makeup today, and this is Hannah; she will take care of your hair. So, what sort of look are we going for?"

"Sexy as hell," Kate responds, taking the seat next to me, ready for her hair to be fixed.

I snort. "I'm not sure that's possible but give it your best shot." I stare at my reflection for a beat and think about my black dress. I've always worn light makeup and bright colors, but tonight is different. I want to feel different. I need every ounce of confidence I can muster. "Maybe a smokey effect?"

Cathy smiles in response. "You got it. I think that will look awesome and suit your huge brown eyes perfectly."

"I have huge-eye envy." Felicity chimes from across the room where she's pouring glasses of champagne for us all. "They're like looking into two big mugs of hot chocolate." She hands Kate and me a glass and then offers one to the ladies working. "We had some fizz left over from my birthday party, and I thought, why the hell not?!"

I take a sip of the drink and feel the bubbles dance on my tongue. "Champagne is so tasty."

Kate holds her glass up to me and smiles. "To newfound besties."

I'm not sure if it's the alcohol or her addressing me as her "bestie," but my body swarms with warmth. "To besties."

Felicity walks over to the nightstand, fiddling with a control above it. "Ed Sheeran?"

"Hit me with him!" Kate replies.

I look across at her. "Is Tom coming?"

Her lips tip up at the corners as she eyes me through the mirror. "Yep. It's our first time out as an official couple."

"You're officially dating?"

Her face fully illuminates. "Yes! It's been a few weeks now, and he wanted to move it to the next stage." She taps her chin in thought. "I think he's the first ‘boyfriend' I've had in maybe five or six years." Her eyebrows knit together slightly. "But it's nothing serious. We're exclusive, but I'm not planning on marrying the guy or anything."

Felicity comes to sit on the other side of me, examining the different eyeshadow palettes. "Kate doesn't do serious relationships."

Kate nods her head harshly to indicate her agreement, and then quickly apologizes to the hairdresser trying to pin her hair.

Keeping my eyes firmly fixed in front of me, I decide now is as good a time as any. "Zach told me last night that if distance wasn't an issue, and if the hockey lifestyle was something I wanted, then he would ask me to be his girlfriend."

On hearing my revelation, Felicity's mouth hangs open, but then it quickly snaps shut as she reaches forward and grabs my half-empty champagne flute. "Top up?"

I burst out laughing. "I'm a lightweight, so I'll pass." I take a deep breath and exhale slowly as Cathy finishes up the first smokey eye.

"What did you say back?" Kate asks.

"I knew he wanted more," Felicity adds.

"I said I needed time. It's not like the distance is going to change anytime soon. I'd be uprooting my whole life, and he can't exactly move to Florida."

Felicity closes one of the palettes and shrugs. "He would if he could."

I turn to her. "You think?"

"One hundred percent, yes. If he wasn't tied into a contract, I think he would. Zach's the kind of guy who would do anything for those he cares about most."

She's not wrong.

She crosses a leg over and sits back in her chair, drumming her pale-pink fingernails on the arms. "But I don't think this is purely about distance, and it's certainly no longer about his issues or fear of commitment."

Kate nods knowingly. "It wouldn't be just your job and hometown you'd be giving up. It would be your privacy too."

"I've lived my entire life barely being noticed. I don't mean that in a self-pitying way," I clarify. "What I mean is I've never had eyes on me. Before you two, I didn't have any real friends. My family isn't close at all, and I'm an only child. I'm used to heading to the store on a Sunday with no bra on." I laugh. "Plus, let's just say for one minute that I went through with it all. There would be weeks, probably months at a time, when I wouldn't see him. It's not that I don't trust him, but I'd be in this big city, in a new job, and on my own. I'd be away from the only home and people I've known my whole life."

"I agreed with everything but the part where you said you'd be on your own," Kate replies. "You would have us, so you would never be by yourself."

I throw her an appreciative smile. Turning to Felicity, I wonder how she does it. "How do you cope with it all?"

"It's hard. It was really hard at first. The adjustment, the speculation. The media passing comment on my age and being older than Jon." She laughs darkly. "At one point they questioned whether I was pregnant and had entrapped him that way."

"Wankers," Kate drawls, which draws a laugh from Cathy and her colleague.

"My bestie's turning British." Felcitiy giggles and then she returns her focus to me."But it's slightly different for me. I was already set up and living in Seattle when I met Jon, and as much as he hates to talk about it, he only has a season or two left in the NHL, and then he'll likely look at retirement options. Hence why he's doing so much in the coaching space right now. Zach is four years younger and has much longer to go. In theory, anyway."

I nod. "It's a big decision. I want to make everything work between us."

"Is he worth it? As in, do you feel strongly enough about him to make that step?" Kate asks in a soft tone.

"I do. I've liked him for a long time, and my feelings have only gotten stronger. But what if I make the jump and it's not right for me, or I can't cope with the lifestyle? What if I give up my career working somewhere I'm happy and valued only to move to a school where I'm not? I just got a promotion too. Then there's my house, and my?—"

Felicity places a palm on my knee. "You're absolutely right. You need time to digest everything. You need time to work out what's best for you both." She smiles sweetly. "I think when you have your answer, then you'll just know. There won't be any doubt. Have a little faith in the process and enjoy the time you do get to spend with each other."

I nod but feel the growing frustration at the situation. "I feel like I can't win because the time we spend apart will be so rough."

Kate sucks in a sharp breath. "And based on how you look in that dress, he's definitely gonna pine."

I smirk and check out my reflection. "This makeup is amazing."

Cathy beams. "It looks even better than I thought."

"Now time for hair." Hannah comes to stand behind me. "Are we going for relaxed waves or something more formal?"

"I prefer my hair down." It falls all the way to the small of my back, and when it's styled properly, it's probably my favorite feature.

Wrapping one of my strands around her finger, she twists her lips to the side, clearly running through a style in her head. "I was really hoping you'd say that."

ZACH

Like a bride on her wedding day, Luna has refused to let me see her dress, makeup, or hair, wanting me to see it "all together."

Glancing down at my watch, I know we're pushing it for time. I doubt the event organizers will appreciate the founder of Hockey Now being late to his annual gala.

Stepping toward her bedroom door, I knock gently. "You ready to go?"

"Yep, just two seconds!" Her voice is slightly raised and panicky.

I begin walking over to grab my wallet and keys when the door to her bedroom opens. "Okay, I think I'm all set."

Fuck. Me.

I have no words to describe the insane level of attraction I feel toward her on a normal day, but at this moment, she's a goddess. Her smokey brown eyes and the long, flowing dress that outlines the perfect curve of her full breasts are sensational. Her gown is floor length and hugs every part of her flawless body, and when she spins around, showing me the way the straps cross over all the way down to the lower part of her back, I bite down on my fist, unable to contain my reaction. "Luna. Wow. I—Um, yeah. Just, wow."

I fumble over my words and my feet as I make my way across to her. Wrapping my hands around her beautiful hips, I lean down to whisper in her ear. "You make me feel like I'm sixteen all over again."

Whispering back, I feel her breath on the shell of my ear as it sends tingles throughout my body. "You liked me in high school?"

I nod slowly. "I always thought you were gorgeous."

"Well, I won't lie, but I'm surprised."

I throw my head back and laugh. "I'm not blind, but I was shy." My laughter fades out. "Then you got with?—"

"Luke?"

"Yeah."

She nods. "Remember that time in the kitchen? You asked me why I split with him."

I nod slowly.

"Well…" her voice shakes, and I can tell she's anxious. "I ended it because whenever I was with him, I thought only about you."

I squeeze my eyes shut, her truth lighting me up but killing me all at once. How the fuck am I supposed to let her board that flight tomorrow? Anything but her right by my side is too far for my heart.

I rub my nose against hers. "The way I want to lay you down and kiss you all night."

She smiles sweetly at me and fuck if its not the most beautiful sight. "But our car will be outside and you have a big speech to deliver. She reaches up and carefully straightens my bow tie. "Come on Evans, let's go raise a shit load of cash."