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“Why not? It’d be so cute!” squealed Stefanie.
Glancing toward the ceiling, Georgie plowed a hand through her hair. “Guys, you’re getting way ahead of yourselves. Yes, I like him—a lot—but babies and moving are not on the agenda!” She picked up her almost empty glass, knowing full well the possibility of falling for him was real, as were all the challenges that came with it. She tossed back the last of her cocktail, wishing it would numb all the gnawing questions whirling through her head.
“Well, that’s good, ’cause if you did move, you’d have to kiss goodbye to watching the Leafs in person and on TV.” Kaitlin leaned forward, peering around Georgie. “Tell her, Stef. Be honest.”
Stefanie’s shoulders drooped. “Kait’s right. Hockey’s never on TV there.” She squinted beyond their booth as Will wiped down the neighbouring table. “No highlights either.”
Leesa scowled above the lip of her beer glass. “That’s shit. What if you’re living there and the Leafs win the Cup?!”
I would never forgive myself. Georgie pressed her lips. “That won’t happen ’cause I’m staying here.”
“At least until they win, right?” said Stefanie, clearly not listening. “Then you can leave Toronto and never look back.”
Brow creased, Will approached their booth, his hands occupied with a stack of empty pint glasses and the balled-up cleaning rag. “You’re moving to the UK, Georgie?” His pointed questioning hijacked the attention of Michael, Randall, and Davis, who abandoned their discussion with the bartender.
Michael scoffed, his eyes wild. “What? Since when?! You’ve never mentioned moving.”
Georgie plunked her glass on the table. “Because I’m not!”
“Good,” Michael replied tersely.
Will’s expression softened. “That’s a relief. Can’t have our favourite goalie living in a hockey wasteland.”
“And we can’t have you stressed on your BIRTHDAY weekend!”
Georgie’s mention of the b-word was her friends’ pre-arranged cue to launch into a jovial, albeit out-of-tune, rendition of “Happy Birthday”, which grew louder as bar staff and customers joined in.
“Thank you.” The crow’s feet around Will’s brown eyes crinkled. “I’m truly blessed. A Leafs win, a full bar, another trip around the sun—couldn’t be happier.”
“Are you celebrating tomorrow?” asked Kaitlin, raising her voice over C+C Music Factory’s “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)” thumping through the speakers.
“My girlfriend has lunch planned in Port Perry, then we’re driving up to Muskoka. All she said was to pack hiking boots and something warm and waterproof.”
Georgie looked past Kaitlin as Randall asked Will about canoeing in cottage country. “Leesa, grab me my bag.”
She gathered the tote from the coat pile on the curve of banquette and handed it past Kaitlin.
“Thanks.” Georgie reached inside and removed her camera along with the gift she’d wrapped in colourful balloon-themed paper. She waited for Will to pause his conversation, then said, “For you.”
A smile rising, he set down the empty glasses on their table. “Georgie, you have better things to spend your money on than me.”
She shrugged. “You’ve been so supportive the last while and—well, it’s a small thank you.”
“I’m always gonna look out for you kids.” Will tore away the birthday paper as Georgie snapped a succession of photos. He paused, lifting up a small package of hard candy from Laura Secord. “Ahh, my favourites! You know me too well!” Glancing down at the rest of his present, his grin widened into a full-on laugh. “Whaaat? McNally’s Secret!” Will held it up for all to see. “Well! This couldn’t be more perfect. Thank you!”
“You’re welcome.” Georgie beamed and lowered her camera.
Davis nudged up his glasses. “So how ancient are you, then?”
“DAVIS!” Stefanie chastised him as the bartender swooped in, gathering the empty glasses Will had been collecting.
“I’m fifty-seven,” replied the birthday boy.
Davis snapped his gum. “Don’t look it.”
“How’s fifty-seven supposed to look?” Stefanie tsked. “Honestly!”
“My dad’s fifty-eight and my sister already made him a grandfather,” said Davis.
