“What did you hear?” His voice was low, concerned.
Sam swallowed. Her posture shifted, she whispered, “It was Leo. And my dad.” She looked down and shivered. “It doesn’t really matter now. I’ve spoken to Leo. We’ve cleared a few things up. And it didn’t matter in the end—but youknow what? I think it was good for me, for a while. It gave me a lot to think about.”
“Good for you?” Finn couldn’t keep the incredulous tone from his voice. “How, Sam? What did they say?” Immediately he regretted sounding so sharp. “Sorry.”
“It really doesn’t matter now,” Sam said firmly. “The thing that’s come out of this is that I won’t be listening just to my dad anymore. I took some of Leo’s advice and it worked out for me—and if I hadn’t been so stubborn and had spoken to him properly before all of this, then maybe I wouldn’t have had to learn this lesson now. I might have learned it a long time ago.”
Without a word, Finn pulled her into the duvet again, holding her tightly as a heaviness passed through his chest. The way her voice had cracked a little, like she was holding herself together, told him everything.
“Leo might get back out there, on the slopes,” Sam said quietly against his chest. “It’s something he should have done years ago too. But he thought that Dad believed he was a failure. And, Finn, that’s not true either. I know that—for a fact.”
Finn’s jaw loosened. He had to let go of the heat that surged through him, dark and fast. His pulse roared in his ears. His hands balled into fists again. If Leo and Jake were standing in front of him now, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to control himself. The desire to lash out against them both was hot and curled through his body, tensing every fiber and muscle.
But then Sam sighed, her breath warm on his chest. She was tucked against him as if he was her safe place. And hewas. She’d said as much, and he wouldn’t change that. But one thing was for sure, she’d never doubt herself again, not if he had anything to do with it.
“If Leo gets back out on the slopes,” she said quietly, “it would be wonderful.”
“You know they’re idiots.” His voice was gruffer than intended so he softened it. “Two, big lumbering idiots.”
Sam tensed. “Yes but …”
“But nothing, Sam.” His chest rose and fell. She didn’t need his anger. She needed him to believe in her in the way they should believe in her—the way she believed in him. She needed him to support her. Love her. He rubbed her arm soothingly. “They don’t get to decide who you are, Sam. You do. And the last time I checked only the best made it to the Olympics. And you, Sam Harrington, you are a gold medalist. An Olympian. You’re the goddamn best with the medal to prove it. You know it!”
“Thanks,” Sam said, her face pink with emotion.
“Hold up a second,” Finn said, his voice softer now. “Say it.”
Sam laughed. “Finn!”
“Say it,” he urged, unwilling to let her go until she said it. He rolled them suddenly, pinning her beneath him, his arms braced on either side of her head. She laughed, pushing against him hopelessly. He smiled down at her. “Say it, Sam—I want to hear you say it.”
Her lips parted, a flush crept up her neck. “I’m …”
“You’re?” He kissed the tip of her nose.
Sam laughed again, this time louder. “Jesus, Finn, I’m the best!”
“What? I can’t hear you!” Finn grinned.
Sam’s wide smile made his heart soar. All his anger swept away, morphing into a desire to lift her up. He laughed as she scrunched her nose up and yelled, “I’m the goddamn best!”
“Damn right!” He kissed her, slow and deep. When he finally pulled back, she was breathless, and he could see the desire in her eyes.
Sam pushed him off and jumped up. “Finn Bradley if I’d known all these years that you kissed like that … I think I need a cold shower!”
“Make it quick.” He smirked. “You’ve got five minutes before I come in and—”
The bedroom door swung open. Sam froze. Finn blinked.
Maya stood dead in the doorway, a huge grin on her face. “Don’t mind me—I’m just here to witness history. Again. And to remind you, lover boy, that you have a final today. My famous Freestyle Fuel smoothie is in your kitchen waiting for you – but now I think it should be renamed The Railed and Refreshed! What I want to know is … what you two were doing that made you both not hear the blender?”
Finn laughed. He stretched lazily in the bed, not an ounce of shame in his actions. “Morning, Maya.”
Sam grabbed a T-shirt and, blushing, tugged it on. “Eh … how the hell did you get in here?”
Maya laughed. “If I told you, I’d have to kill you.”
“Does this have anything to do with that guy on the front desk?” Sam grumbled as she tried to cover her ass with the T-shirt.
