The Sweetest Save

New Love?

The date was going really well.

Tuure couldn't stop looking over at Alexej. He knew that he probably looked like a lovesick idiot, but he couldn't help it. After all, that's exactly what he was.

Alexej listened fondly as Tuure described the latest weird and funny thing that his younger brother Juuse had done in detail. He used to assume that Tuure was closed off from the world and didn't let people get close to him, but now, he realized that that assumption couldn't be further from the truth.

Tuure noticed how lovely Alexej's blue eyes looked in the light from the candle. He looked some more as he continued his story, mentioning how Juuse had accidentally let Kielo, his one-and-a-half-year-old daughter, fall down the stairs. Thankfully, the little girl had not been injured by the fall, and her father had found it hilarious (the same could not be said for her mother).

Alexej laughed at the unfortunate mishap, and Tuure could feel himself blushing yet again. There were so many new things that he was learning to love about Alexej, and he supposed that he could put Alexej's laugh on that list.

They finished their dinner, paid the bill, and left. The stars in the sky seemed to shine brighter as the two goaltenders approached Alexej's car, hand in hand.

"Tonight was nice," Alexej noted as he pulled into Tuure's driveway to drop the younger man off. "It's been a while since I had a date like that."

"It's been years for me," Tuure confessed as they both approached the front porch of the house. "Thank you so much for reminding me how nice it is to go out with someone."

"It's my pleasure," Alexej stared up at Tuure. "Really."

"I have to tell Esteri about how the date went tonight," Tuure laced his and Alexej's fingers together. "When she and I were on our way home from the orientation, she made me promise to tell her how things went."

"It's so nice to hear how excited she is that you are dating again," said Alexej. "And tell her that it went really well."

"I was planning on doing that," Tuure moved his hands to Alexej's hips. Alexej noticed the motion, and he smiled up at Tuure before leaning in and kissing him.

Tuure sighed softly as he kissed Alexej back, hugging the other man carefully. He let himself enjoy the feeling for a while before pulling away. Alexej's blue eyes were wide open, like he couldn't believe what had just happened. Tuure assumed that he himself looked just as shocked.

"That was nice," he commented, nearly speechless. Alexej nodded in agreement.

They were silent for a moment before Tuure inhaled sharply, then sighed. "Alexej, I must tell you this: I'm in love with you."

Alexej beamed, and his cheeks went bright red. "I feel the same way, Tuure."

"So...do you want to go on a second date sometime?" Tuure asked nervously.

"Yes," Alexej agreed breathlessly. "How about Auberge du Pommiere on Yonge Street? Can you do Wednesday at seven?"

"That sounds like a fantastic plan," Tuure grinned and squeezed Alexej's hand. Alexej kissed him on the cheek. He turned to leave, but Tuure told him to wait.

"I'm sorry," Tuure apologized as Alexej turned to look at him. "I just forgot to ask you one more question. Alexej, will you be my boyfriend?"

Alexej's eyes lit up, and a blinding smile spread across his face. "Yes, absolutely. I mean, I did just make out with you."

Tuure laughed. "Right, and it was great. I can't wait to see you on Wednesday, Alexej."

Alexej gave him a short peck on the lips and squeezed his hand. "Me neither, Tuure."

Tuure stood and watched as Alexej's car as the older man drove away. He had a sudden flashback to the first date he'd ever been on. He was twelve, and so was Anja, the girl he thought he was going to be with for the rest of his life.

He thought about it as he entered his house and saw his daughter, who reminded him even more of the girl he once loved.

After a couple of days had passed where he had constantly thought about Anja, he realized what was going on.

He had once sworn to himself that he and Anja would be together forever. He would propose to her, and they would get married and raise a happy family. When that hadn't worked out, he had promised himself that Anja would be the only person he would ever love in a romantic way.

Now here he was, falling for someone else.

Esteri noticed her father's worried expression just a few days after her father and Alexej had gone on their first date, and she decided to ask him about what was going on.

"Dad, you look sort of upset," Esteri commented as they were eating breakfast. "Is something wrong?"

Tuure shrugged. "I'm not sure. I'm sure I love Alexej, and we're going on our second date tonight. I can't stop thinking about your mother, though. I fell in love with her when we were just kids, but I fell hard. I loved her so much, and I promised that I would marry her and love her forever."

"You promised Anja that? My mother?" Esteri questioned curiously.

"No," Tuure admitted. "I promised that to myself. I was serious about it, though. I feel like Anja would still be angry at me. After all, I'm in love with somebody else now, and that somebody is not her."

"Dad," Esteri brushed her curly brown hair over her shoulder. "Listen to me. One of the things my mother always wanted, even when you two were not contacting each other, was for you to be happy. She knew that after she left, it was likely that you would move on from her and enter into a new relationship. Obviously, she was sad that what you two broke up, but she ended the relationship because she wanted you to be happy and successful in your career."

Tuure nodded, making eye contact with his daughter. "Your mother was so compassionate. She did want me to be happy, Esteri."

"Yes," Esteri confirmed. "She did. And she still would if she were alive today. She would be fine with your relationship with Alexej. You seem truly in love with him, and you're as full of joy as I've seen you since Mom passed away. Truthfully, she was your best friend. She cared so much about you. I can determine from that that she wouldn't mind you dating Alexej. In fact, if this relationship really goes somewhere, I bet she'd want to be maid of honor at the wedding."

Tuure realized that his young but intelligent daughter was correct. Anja cared so much about him. Even though she ended their relationship when neither of them wanted it to end, she did it so that he could be happy. That's all she ever wanted.

And as he thought about his relationship with Alexej, he recognized that Esteri was once again correct: Tuure really was the happiest he had been since Anja passed away.

Maybe this whole thing would work out after all.