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Oliver smiled warmly and rested the gift bag on the table. “I reckon you’ll love what I have planned.”
Hmm, would she, though? Georgie stared at the tissue poking out of the gift bag, wondering what lurked inside. Oliver had no clue what she’d like Valentine-wise. Whenever he’d brought up the subject, she’d shut it down. God love him, but if he’d booked one of those hotel rooms with a cheesy heart-shaped bed or tub…
He began unbuttoning his coat.
“I rented Strictly Ballroom to watch later and”—Oliver whipped open his coat, revealing a Leafs away jersey—“I’m wearing this to the bar tonight.”
Georgie gasped, spotting the 21s on the sleeves as the coat slipped down his arms. Oliver was wearing Borje Salming, the Leafs’ Swedish legend. Delighted, she reached out, skimming her fingers along the left arm of the ’80s-style sweater. “Where’d you get this from? Mikey?”
“No, I bought it five days ago.”
Georgie’s grin widened. If that wasn’t love, she didn’t know what was.
* * *
The Leafs scored three goals in the third period to sneak past Minnesota 6-5, and Georgie couldn’t recall a more enjoyable February 14th. From the buffalo wings and her new Polaroid camera gifted to her by Oliver to the sneaky kisses they’d shared and how handsome he looked in that retro jersey, she couldn’t deny that Operation Cupid’s Bow was a spicy, swoony success. However, as the post-game highlights played on the bar’s screens and through its speakers, Oliver grew increasingly distracted.
Hopefully he wasn’t disappointed in his Valentine gifts: hard candy from Laura Secord and a book about Vincent van Gogh. “Everything okay?” she asked.
“Yeah, why?”
Georgie shook the most recent Polaroid she’d taken. “You seem kinda—” A melodic loop of crashing cymbals and synthesizer pops blasted through the speakers, cutting her off. She gawped. “Whaaat?! ‘POPCORN’! Who…?” Her gaze swept the booth.
On her left, Leesa and Kaitlin shrugged, and across the table, Michael held his hands up. “Don’t look at me.”
“Or me,” said Stefanie beside him, her eyes swerving to the person sat to Georgie’s right.
Oliver grinned. “Happy Valentine’s Day.” He held out his hand. “Shall we?”
“YEAH!” Dropping the photo, she gathered his hand in hers and led him to the dance floor, cleared of high-top tables and stools from the game.
Georgie had always thought her first dance with Oliver would be all bump-and-grind sexy foreplay, but “Popcorn” was anything but. Instead, she jumped, spun, and tossed her hair unapologetically, letting the quirky chart-topping hit from 1972 be her muse. But best of all, Oliver joined in with zero reluctance and exhibited his own arm-flinging tricks too, even incorporating a sexy body roll and timely hip thrust for hilarious measure.
As the ‘popping’ mayhem slowed through the speakers, Georgie dissolved into laughter and folded into Oliver’s arms. “I can’t believe you got them to play that! And you danced! I thought you hated dancing.”
“It’s a love-hate thing for me. When Ma pulled me out of hockey, she put me in ballroom dancing. Made me go twice a week and enter competitions.”
“I would’ve paid good money to see that!”
He kissed her on the top of the head as they returned to the booth, their friends applauding their dance floor shenanigans.
“See, Mikey?” Georgie slipped in beside Leesa. “Oliver can dance.”
Donning an amused grin, Michael shrugged and sat back, leaving Oliver scratching his chin, somewhat befuddled.
Before Georgie could explain, Will arrived with a tray of drinks and a sly wink. “On the house, kids.” He handed out the beverages and headed back to the bar.
Michael shuffled through the Polaroids. “I still can’t get over that Will’s your dad! How’s it been, getting acquainted?”
“Great!” Picking up his beer, Oliver wrapped his arm around Georgie’s shoulder. “We’ve both been busy, so we’ve talked more on the phone than in person, but we’re getting there.”
“You know, I see a resemblance.” Leesa leaned over Georgie.
Gulping back a mouthful, Oliver squinted. “Really?”
“Yeah, your jawline, maybe your nose”—Leesa blinked—“if you’d broken it.”
Michael nodded. “Three times.”
