The shared universe
Northbridge
A hockey town with old money, new money, and nobody minding their own business. Every After Dark story happens here — and the people in them keep running into each other.
Five ways into the city
Campus
College sports romance. Rivals, roommates, secret relationships. All romantic leads 21+.
Messy
Relationships going wrong — cheating, weddings, exes, revenge, second chances.
Society
Status, wealth, gossip, marriages and social warfare.
After Hours
Adult power romance — founders, lawyers, doctors, consenting power games.
Secrets
Hidden pasts, double lives, anonymous messages, unknown connections.
People
Celeste Vandermeer
Society · Board chair, Vandermeer Foundation
Old Northbridge money. Her family's name is on the arena. She would like everyone to remember that.
Declan Shaw
Campus · Captain, Northbridge Wolves (NCAA) · MBA candidate
Northbridge's captain. Doesn't do interviews. Doesn't do parties. Apparently does do The Last Call.
Genevieve “Gigi” Hart
Society · Founder, Hart House PR · Rangers team wife
Married to the Rangers' captain. Runs the charity circuit like a general. Never loses a seating war.
Marcus Hart
Society · Captain, Northbridge Rangers (pro)
Former Northbridge University captain. Now captain of the Rangers. Declan Shaw's future boss on the ice.
Maya Reyes
Campus · Senior, Northbridge University · bartender at The Last Call
Pours the drinks at The Last Call. Does not date hockey players. Especially not that one.
Theo Reyes
Campus · Former Wolves defenseman (deceased)
#4. Gone too early. His number still hangs in Harlow Arena.
Places
14 Maple Street
Priya and Zoe's rental. Thin walls. One bathroom.
Meridian Tower
Forty-one floors. Vale Systems on 38. Ashgrove LLP on 40.
Northbridge Country Club
Where the Rangers Foundation gala is held every spring.
Northbridge Historical Society
Where the city keeps its paperwork — and its family secrets.
Northbridge University
Old brick, new money, and a hockey program the whole city worships.
The Last Call
Dive bar two blocks from the Harlow. Hockey players are not supposed to drink here.
Vandermeer Arena (“the Harlow”)
Home of the Wolves. Everyone still calls it the Harlow. The Vandermeers hate that.
Timeline
Jun 12, 2021
Marcus & Gigi Hart marry
wedding · Northbridge Country Club
Dec 14, 2024
Theo Reyes dies in a winter crash
tragedy
Jun 27, 2025
Declan Shaw's rights drafted by the Northbridge Rangers
draft
Feb 13, 2026
Declan waits outside The Last Call →meeting · The Last Call
Mar 9, 2026
Clause 14.3 discovered
scandal · Meridian Tower
Apr 18, 2026
Rangers Foundation gala →gala · Northbridge Country Club
Jun 20, 2026
Nora & Callum Bell's wedding
wedding