Down For The Ride (Jonathan Toews)

71~ Lately

Brielle

After a few long days of figuring out a mortgage and home owners insurance and everything else that comes with being an adult I buy the house on Dearborn. Jon and I scoop up the cats before leaving LA and get to our new home for the foreseeable future. For a little while there was no more trips and no hockey, just Jon and I making our home and working together to be the best we can be.

So we invite Amanda and Patrick over to come see the new house with us since we haven't seen them in forever. Amanda's baby shower was next week and I told her and Patrick's sisters they were more than welcomed to have it here which she was excited about. Not a lot of places were open due to COVID so we got the house at a perfect time. Thankfully it was pretty much ready to host as is. I wanted to rearrange some of the furniture and add some updates from the last renovation but for the most part it was already home.

"God this place is so stunning. It's so... you" Amanda laughs as we walk around.

"Not gonna lie, it was this house or nothing. I've seen it so many times before but had no idea it was for sale. And now it's home" I giggle.

"It's incredible" she agrees. "So how have you and Jon been? Your pictures from your trip to Italy made me so jealous" she claims. 

"That's the happiest I had been all year honestly. It blows my mind that places like that exist. It really did feel like I wasn't even on the same earth I've lived in my whole life. It was nice to get a new perspective instead of looking at the same old same old" I explain.

"I feel like I need to get away. I'm at the point of the pregnancy where Patrick's face is pissing me off" she claims and I laugh.

"I'm making a theatre room and a relaxing room where it's nothing but good vibes and good times. You are more than welcome to come hang out and get away for a while" I say.

"When is one of these going to be a nursery" she asks and I nearly choke.

"Not for a while" I assure her. "I have a... a big project coming up so I'm afraid the whole kids thing will have to hold off for a little while longer" I explain.

"What is it" she wonders. I knew I could trust Amanda not to say anything just as she trusted me with knowing she was pregnant.

"I got offered a Netflix show and were trying to make it work. I'm not trying to sign my life away on a dotted line but I do think it'll be fun especially with this house now" I explain.

"Oh Bri that is awesome! I'm so happy for you" she claims and I smile.

"Thanks Amanda. I still want to baby sit though" I tease.

"Of course" she smiles.

Eventually her and Patrick head back to their apartment and Jon and I finish setting up the house. I smile big as I look around knowing I was going to love it here. This year had been tough but there has been a lot of good too. And being able to build a home with the love of my life, I don't see it getting much better than that.

"Babe" Jon calls out and I go downstairs to find him. He sat in the living room with all the furniture pushed against the walls. He presses something as music starts to play. Jon had been working on setting up speakers in here since we returned to Chicago and I think he got it working.

"Dance with me" he says as he sets the phone down. He reaches his hand out and I gladly take it as we dance to the music. 

"Lately
It's been hard to breath
Just trying to keep my head above water
Sometimes life's in the way, all work and no play
And lately
It's been hard to see the way you used to be
And I wonder
If the words I don't say
Can make it okay