As I sign off to the tune of James Arthur’s ‘Say You Won’t Let Go’, the song that was playing in the background as Kaz was skating with his swan, I’m manifesting my own dreamyKazimir Lindström.
#JustSpottedNYC #SpillingTheTea #TheLoveIWant #TheLoveIDeserve #WhenHeLovesYouRight
Epilogue
Harley
Eight months later
The taxi drops me off in front of My Little Bookish Heart. The setting sun washes the sky with warm golden lights over the brick building in front of me. Two store employees are standing outside the bookstore, wearing sports jerseys with ‘Hockey Book Boyfriends Do It Better’ written across their chest.
I guess that’s a clue to today’s mystery guest author.
The two bookstore owners sent an invitation for a blind date with a bookanda blind date with an author, and no way was I going to miss the event. Since Kaz is hanging out with Erik, the timing couldn’t be more perfect.
I approach the women who are more than aware of my addiction and smile.
The tall redhead with brown eyes holding an iPad returns my smile. “Glad you could make it, Harley.” She lowers her eyes to the device, her finger scrolling the screen. “You’re good to go.”
“Thank you.”
“Here’s your blind date with a book copy.” Her colleague, a short Latina with almond shaped brown eyes, hands me a book wrapped in craft paper with all the trimmings that make book girlies giddy—genre themed stickers, colored sticky tabs, a pen, two highlighters, a bag of tea, one of hot chocolate, and a bookmark.
“This is an odd shape,” I say with a frown. “It isn’t a novel.”
“No, but I’m sure it’spuck-tastic.”
I snort laugh as I take the book from her. “Good one.”
“See you inside.” She opens the door to the bookstore.
It’s standing room only.
Wow.
I make my way through the crowd of women clenching their wrapped book in the direction of the stage. At my height, if I don’t, I’ll miss all the action. Since there are so many eager readers, there’s no roaming around the bookstore, so I stay put where I’m standing.
“Hello, everyone.” One of the bookstore owners is standing on the makeshift stage, leaning into the microphone. “Thank you so much to all of you avid readers for coming out on this glorious afternoon,” the blonde says. “Your Sunday is about to get better. This is a double whammy. A blind date with a bookanda blind date with an author. We kept the identity of our special guest a secret because once the cat is out of the bag, you ladies are going to lose your shit.”
That’s a big promise.
“Tuck the copy of your book under your arm and let’s give a big round of applause to our guest author. His resume is impressive. All-Star hockey player. Former center and team captain for the New York Blazers…”
Wait. What?
“Three-time Stanley Cup winner. Olympic gold and silver medalist. Triple Gold Club member…”
What’s going on here?
“Restaurateur and craft beer brewer extraordinaire are also part of his accolades.”
This isn’t possible.
“And last, but not least, philanthropist,” she says. “Kazimir Lindströmjust added another feather to his cap––published author.”
When the hell did he have time to write a book?
“Kaz, if you’ll join us on stage,” the blonde says.
