Epilogue

Delia drew a deep breath,held it for seven seconds, then exhaled and strode into Christian's office.

"Hey, there she is." Christian stood and stepped in front of his desk to give her a side hug that quickly turned awkward when she led with her shoulder to protect him from torquing her still sore neck. He cleared his throat and walked back to his desk. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm ok, considering."

He adjusted the sports coat hanging on the back of his chair and sat down. "I still can't believe that happened. When Mary phoned, I thought you were cooked."

Delia sat in one of the modern bucket seats arranged in front of the desk. "Well, thanks for pushing off the meeting."

"Your mom's doing better?"

Delia looked up, surprised. She didn't think he'd listened to a word she'd said after telling him she couldn't meet when he wanted to. "She is. That's actually?—"

"I've got some new beats I want you to work with Finn on, and?—"

"Christian, before we get into all that, I have some paperwork I'd like you to look at." Delia dropped a manila envelope on his desk.

He frowned and flipped it open. "What is this?"

Delia started to sweat. "I've been working with an entertainment lawyer. I had her look over my contract, and we found a clause that we believe warrants early termination."

Christian's frown deepened. His mouth moved as he scanned the text. ". . . artist development and support? Are you kidding me with this?" His head snapped up, his eyes blazing.

"I haven't had any vocal coaching, songwriting support, or marketing classes, and?—"

"Delia, we've taken you from nothing and made you a superstar."

Delia clenched her hands into fists. "And I've made IndieLake a hell of a lot of money. If you'd keep reading, you'll see that I'm not asking to terminate. I'm only asking for a few adjustments to my current contract."

Her legs started to shake as Christian returned to the cover page. He read it once, then started again at the top. Finally he exhaled and closed the folder. "You want last say on your lyrics. I understand that. But you have to know that what you want and what your audience wants are two different things."

She nodded. "I get it. But I think I'll be able to find a new audience with?—"

"At what cost, Delia? If you're not profitable for the label, then why would we keep you on board?"

She swallowed hard. "I just want an opportunity, Christian." She held out her phone, showing him the video with Jack's song. Two million and counting. "I think I have an audience. But, if it goes south, we can write something in. I'll give it up if it's not gaining traction."

He tapped a finger to his lips. "I'll send a counteroffer through your lawyer. But the Calgary thing . . ." He shook his head. "Why would you want to relocate? There are less than half the resources there, and?—"

"It's all done digitally, Christian, and working with Ethan proves there are good studios. I can record there and still work with Finn."

"It's not the same and you know it."

"Then I find someone else." Guilt trickled through her at the thought of writing off Finn when he'd been a huge part of her success, but her loyalty to anyone here in Toronto couldn't hold a candle to the way her heart was being dragged toward the Rockies.

His eyes narrowed. "Is it because of that hockey player? I thought Tony said there was an imminent breakup where he was concerned."

Delia tucked her hair behind her ear. "There's been a change to that contract, as well."

_____

Delia swung her arm, taking Jack"s with it. It was three weeks out from her accident and she barely noticed the twinge in her neck anymore. "It"s so much warmer here."

He grinned. "I know. It"s like Calgary plus ten degrees."

"Celsius or Fahrenheit? That makes a difference."

Jack grinned. "I can't believe I have the honour of accompanying you on your first trip outside of Canada."

Delia groaned. "I know, it's pathetic."

Jack pulled her closer as they walked and kissed the top of her head. "Not pathetic. It means we have a whole world to explore."

Delia stopped, and Jack turned back on the sidewalk. He sauntered toward her and dropped his hands on her shoulders. "You okay?"

She nodded, scanning the brick buildings and the strings of patio bulbs threaded in giant V's over the street. Being in Denver was magical. Not only because the air was warm like actual spring, but because she"d only been recognized twice. Jack had been stopped more than that, but there hadn"t been any paparazzi. No swarming crowds. Alvin had even let them walk around most of the time without a chaperone, and the entire weekend had been a dream.

Delia looked up at Jack through her lashes. "You probably need some rest, right? For the game tonight?" The Blizzard had soundly beaten the Leafs three to one and now were starting off round three of the playoffs with the Avalanche. It all felt very exotic. Especially since she'd already played her pop-up show the night before and was in full fangirl mode.

The corner of Jack"s mouth lifted. "Your idea of rest and Coach Novak"s idea of rest are wildly different."

Delia snagged a finger in his belt loop and yanked. "Well, I should hope so."

Jack slid his hand under the hem of her shirt. "I could go back to the room."

Delia"s pulse jumped as he gave her backside a gentle squeeze, then retreated down the sidewalk toward the hotel. She hustled to catch up, still gripping his hand.

"I brought the bra." He kept his gaze trained on the sidewalk ahead of them.

Delia"s mouth dropped open. "You"ve had it here for two days and didn"t tell me?" He smirked, and she playfully smacked his arm. "When am I going to get it back?"

"It was a gift."

"No, it was a loan?—"

"It"s my emotional support bra."

She barked a laugh. "When I arrive in Calgary with all my stuff, I want it hand delivered to my door."

"What day does that happen again?"

"You know exactly what day it is." May the fourth. She knew he remembered because every time they talked about it he breathed like Darth Vader. "Ooh, hold on a sec."

Delia stepped to the side of the walkway and pulled out her phone. She grinned and turned the screen to Jack. "I told her to take a picture when she walked out."

Jack peered closer. "She looks so happy."

Delia nodded, barely able to contain her excitement. Five minutes prior, her mother had turned in her badge and walked out of her last job for the last time. After twenty-five years, she'd finally get to do what she'd always wanted. Be a stay-at-home mom.

"You're incredible, you know that?" He cupped her face with his hands and pressed his lips against hers.

She sighed and was about to say something sage like, No, you're incredible, when the sound of someone tapping on glass caught her attention. Delia looked to her right and busted up laughing.

"What the hell?" Jack's cheeks turned pink when he caught sight of it–the entire Snowballs team inside the windows of the pub in front of them. Brett was turned with his hands wrapped around his back getting frisky, Tyler was staring dramatically into Emma's eyes as she pretended to swoon, and some guy Delia hadn't met yet was giving Sean a lap dance.

"We have to go in, right?" Delia said through her smile. "Since they drove all the way down to see you play."

"Just for a minute?"

She nodded. "Then straight up to the room for . . . rest."

"So much rest." Jack grabbed her arm and spun her into a dip, then kissed her breathless to muted cheers through the glass.