“Yes, he should,” Finn said as a waiter twisted the cork from a bottle of Prosecco. “Love always gets in the way. He knows that.”
“Honestly, you’d swear he was doing it to sabotage her.” Sam watched Becky slip a huge diamond ring onto her finger. The soft lighting made the ring sparkle. Poor Becky. She’d have to put up with Leo now—forever. But she looked happy, so happy. Maybe … Sam shook her head. No, having a relationship while competing at the highest level wasn’t a good idea. She and Finn had always said so.Urgh, now she’d have to go down and congratulate the happy couple or else Leo would be angry with her.
2
Finn
Finn raised the glass in the air as cries of “To Leo and Becky!” filled the room. Sam and Maya were hugging Becky, admiring the ring and he just knew Sam was hating every minute of it. Her smile was too bright and her posture too straight. She had that cynical look on her face, the same one she had when they watchedLove Is Blindtogether and she didn’t agree with a couple getting together. Becky and Leo posed for Maya as she took snap after snap and then okayed the ones she was allowed to post on the team Instagram page. He watched Maya haul Sam into more photos, smiling as she posed for a few shots before her patience ran out. That was Sam for ya, she’d little time for romance or love—even when she’d been with Ethan, and whatever the guy before him was called.
Finn swirled the Prosecco in his glass, then knocked back the last drop. Ethan. He’d been good for Sam, but she’d kept him at arm’s length. She’d never committed to him the way he’d committed to her. You couldn’t blame her though; she’dhad her heart set on getting to the Olympics and Ethan didn’t understand that. He wasn’t a sports kind of guy. And Sam—well, she hadn’t understood Ethan either. The relationship seemed to be all surface and nothing else—not even lust. Nevertheless, the guy had been devastated when Sam had broken up with him. Though Finn had been relieved to have Ethan out of the picture, he felt sorry for the guy. Sam, at her best, was adorable, hot and sassy. She was that at her worst too but with a laser-sharp tongue and an ability to freeze people out that an iceberg would be proud of. Ethan had been hooked on her, but as usual Sam didn’t let him in.
Finn blew out a long stream of air. Would she do the same to him if she knew how he really felt about her? Ever since he’d been her impromptu date to her prom, he’d managed to keep his feelings for her under wraps, but it was getting more and more difficult as time went by. It all seemed so useless and stupid, really. He swallowed some Prosecco, vaguely recalling how he’d been so savagely aware of time that night, or the lack of it. How they’d been so honest with each other—how she’d opened up to him about wanting this moment that they were now in, and how he’d shared his dreams with her too. He’d never had anyone listen to him, hear him or see him the way Sam did. And it was beginning to kill him that time was slipping away while he fell more and more in love with her but couldn’t do anything about it.
The waiter brought out a second bottle of Prosecco, topping up glasses as Becky and Leo kissed in the warm, golden light. It was a beautiful place to get engaged, in fairness. The restaurant was cozy, the town outside cute and picturesque. There was snow, and snow made everythingwonderful. Romantic even. Romance wasn’t any good if you weren’t with the right person. Maya may have been close to the truth when she’d called him out for his philandering ways, but at least he was respectful. He’d never ghosted anyone; he was kind, considerate and fun. And he’d always understood their boundaries—and expected the same in return. It hadn’t always worked out. Some of the women had been after him for the glory of being able to say they’d been with Finn Bradley, to brag on their socials about him, not to mention to further their own careers on his credentials. It wasn’t a nice feeling to realize you were being used—he’d never used someone as blatantly as that. His fame and his talent were something he never took for granted—ever. Even as a teenager he’d been keenly aware of how lucky he was. That was why he and Sam had made that pact to never fall for each other, not while they were going for gold.
He sighed and looked at her. She looked so beautiful, even more than the day he’d first seen her. The golden light made her glow. Her green eyes seemed darker and her lips full and kissable. But those weren’t the only things that made him want her. It was the little things she did. The way she never forgot his or his mom’s birthday, the little surprise care parcels she hid in his bags when he was away competing. She had a knack for somehow managing to slip something into his luggage that he’d find at the moment he needed it most. The last time it had been his lucky river stone, the one that he’d needed that time more than ever. He hadn’t been able to find it when he was packing, but, somehow, she had. And she’d tucked it into his wash bag because it was the first thing he’d unpack, so it would be the first thing he’d see.Knowing that she must have searched everywhere for it had made him feel warm and fuzzy, something she was really good at doing to him.
Finn tapped his fingers on the table, brushing crumbs away impatiently as the familiar feeling that they’d made a mistake began to rise inside him. Maybe they’d made a mistake making that promise—after all, what do you really know about love when you’re seventeen? Maybe now they were here, competing for the highest honor, they might forget about the pact. Maybe now they could be together … No. Finn shook his head at no one in particular. There was no way it would happen. Sam wouldn’t allow it—not now, not after everything they’d been through. When they’d both missed out on the Beijing Olympics, she’d been furious and inconsolable. There was absolutely no chance that Sam would consider changing things now. Not when they were this close. They’d both worked too hard to get where they were to mess things up by falling in love. Because that’s what would happen—it would all get messed up.
He loved her, that was for sure, far too much. The last thing she needed was for him to admit that, and that the highlight of his week was their watch party, that making her laugh made him feel like he’d won the world. That he’d walk away from an Olympic medal if she said he had to—without a second thought.
He couldn’t tell her that he loved how she challenged him. Or that he lived for their random weekends away when she needed some space from her dad—weekends where he pretended, for a little while, that they were a couple. And that watching her leave him at the airport always cracked hisheart a little bit more. He wouldn’t do that to her. She was his best friend. And that meant it was his business to make her Olympic dream come true—no matter what.
“Finn!” Sam’s voice broke into his morose thoughts. She waved at him to come and join them. She looked miserable despite her smile. Her eyes beseeched him to save her from the celebrations and, ever the best friend, he shuffled by his teammates until he was at her side.
“Who’d have thought the prick had it in him to ask her to marry him? She’s far too good for him,” Finn murmured in Sam’s ear, inhaling the scent of her as she grasped his arm. She always smelled good: a mix of vanilla and jasmine and musk. “What perfume are you wearing?”
“The one you got me last Christmas—d’oh,” Sam said through her teeth as she smiled brightly at yet anotherdon’t worry, it’ll be your turn soonfrom one of their teammates. “If someone says that to me again, I’ll kill them, with my bare hands, Finn. I swear to God—I’ll rip them limb from limb.”
“Gotcha.” Finn pulled her back from teetering over. She really was agitated over this. Furious even. “I’ll be your alibi, cross my heart and hope to die.”
“Oh, thank you,” Sam said with gusto. “I’ll hold you to that.”
Finn braced himself as he saw her arrange her face into a smile as an old ex of his, Harper Reynolds, Sam’s current biggest opponent, from the Canadian snowboarding team, walked toward them looking like a Parisian catwalk model. Not a hair out of place, she was as freshly groomed as the snow they all loved best.Damn. Harper was sporting adiamond on her ring finger—one she hadn’t taken long to get after Finn had broken up with her just over a year ago. Finn groaned inwardly and stepped back slightly. He felt genuinely bad for stringing Harper along when he’d always known she was on the lookout for a long-term romance. She’d been the one to end it between them as soon as she’d realized that he only had room in his heart for Sam. He was grateful that she’d never told Sam anything about the conversation they’d had when they’d broken up.
“Samantha, wow! What great news!” Harper sing-songed as she flicked a glance over Finn. Her eyebrow rose slightly as if to ask him if he’d told Sam how he felt yet. “Can you believe it? Your big brother is getting married! And Becky has clinched the Valestré deal! What a night for celebrations!”
Sam’s face paled. Finn took her hand. That deal was supposed to be hers. He squeezed Sam’s hand as she stammered her reply, “W-well, they’re barely engaged, Harper, but I’ll pass on your congratulations,” Sam said. Her hand tightened around his.
“And I believe congratulations are in order for you too. I’m happy for you.” Finn interrupted the moment, his heart breaking for Sam. That deal was huge, and it would have given her so much independence. They’d spent hours talking about how important it was—even muting their favorite show. This was going to devastate her.
“Thank you, yes, we’re … so happy. Setting a date soon—it’ll be a summer wedding of course.” Harper held her hand up for them both to admire her ring.
“Gorgeous,” Sam said dutifully. “Congratulations.”
Harper’s eyes softened as she looked at her ring. “Thanks. He picked it out himself. And what about you?”
“Me?” Sam’s nose wrinkled. “What about me?”
“Anyone special in your life?” Harper asked quietly. Finn held his breath. Not another one—Sam was going to explode.
“Oh no, no, no.” Sam twitched to move forward. Finn threw his arm around Sam’s shoulders and pulled her in close as Harper half raised an eyebrow. He silently mouthed a “no” to Harper.
“Oh, well, enjoy the celebrations. See you out there tomorrow,” Harper babbled before turning and quickly going back to her table.
Finn could feel Sam bristling with anger. Her face was pink, very pink, and she clenched her fists by her sides.
“Outside,” he murmured in her ear. “Come on—let’s cool off.”
