To manufacture more drama—thanks, Holly—Michelle got Finn and Robbie, and Sophia and Chad, onto the ice beforethe judges. Then the lights turned down low, music played, and the lights spun until a spotlight settled on each pair.
Michelle recapped the events of the past two episodes. Then the judges summed up their assessments of the day’s performances. Robbie couldn’t help but notice that Chad seemed to get more criticism and hoped it wasn’t a bad sign for Robbie. None of these shows were above the old bait and switch.
Robbie clenched his fists. He wanted to hold Finn’s hand, but that might be too telling. Maybe if they had wives or girlfriends, or maybe if their on-ice chemistry wasn’t so damn good…. Handholding would just fan the flames of the rumors and make it much harder to claim to any interested parties that it was all just smoke and mirrors and wishful thinking.
“Robbie Zeiger and Finn Graham… you’re staying for another week.”
Robbie jumped and fist-pumped the air and bumped his shoulder against Finn’s. Finn grinned and gripped Robbie’s arm tight. Fortunately their celebration was somewhat cast in shadow as their spotlight dimmed and Chad’s brightened on his souring face.
“Which means, Chad Bush and Sophia Simpson, you’re going home.”
Chad, clearly remembering the cameras, pulled out a phony smile for his post-loss interview. Robbie blocked him out and bumped shoulders with Finn once more. He caught Finn’s eye and did his best to convey everything he was thinking and couldn’t act on. One day, hopefully soon, Robbie would be able to follow through on all those impulses—to grab Finn and hold him close and kiss him long and deep in front of everyone. Maybe even dramatically dip him for extra flair.
For now, though, he’d have to make do with longing looks and hooking his pinky around Finn’s under the cover ofdarkness, to give it a squeeze and promise more as soon as he could.
Finally, finally, they were off the ice and in the locker room, and before Sawyer or Imogen could find them, Robbie backed Finn up against the wall and kissed him.
“Fuck yeah! We did it—beat the bastard. I can go home happy now.”
Finn laughed, breathless. “Yeah?”
“Hell yes! Though I wouldn’t mind staying a little bit longer if it means more dances like that one.” He gave Finn a heavy-lidded look and Finn went pinker.
“It was pretty damn good, wasn’t it?”
Before Robbie could answer, Sawyer’s voice floated through the doorway. They had just enough time to spring apart before the kid came barreling in.
“You did it! You did it! I knew it!” He flung himself at Robbie and wrapped bony arms around his chest.
“Couldn’t wait until I was clean?” Robbie grumped but pressed a kiss to his head.
“Nope. George and Gail want to hit the road and Imogen asked me to sleep over and I wanted to congratulate you and ask if I could go.”
“A sleepover, huh?” Robbie asked, giving himself a moment to process the barrage of emotions: relief that Sawyer was willing to spend the night away, pride that the kid trusted Robbie to say yes and not be hurt to be abandoned so soon after his triumph, and dawning, thrilling anticipation at the thought of Finn, his empty house, and something to celebrate.
“Yes! So, I can go, right?”
“Well….”
“Robbie,” Sawyer whined.
Robbie laughed, unable to keep up the charade.
He couldn’t let the kid go without checking logistics, but Sawyer and Gail were used to Robbie’s mother-henning by now. He waved them off cheerfully and then shut the door behind them and turned to see Finn looking at him with an expression that was half hope, half something Robbie couldn’t put his finger on.
Robbie cleared his throat. “So it turns out I’ve got an empty house tonight.”
Finn swallowed visibly. “Is that so?”
“Mm-hmm.” And Robbie was ready to top this roller coaster of a week. Figuratively speaking. “What do you say? Want to celebrate our victory in private?”
Finn didn’tremember most of the drive to Robbie’s. Honestly, he’d already forgotten most of the night, focused solely on what would happen next.
After he followed Robbie home.
It wouldn’t be any different, he told himself. It couldn’t be, really, other than the location. Robbie had been clear about what he could offer right now and Finn wouldn’t leave that on the table. The bed. Whatever flat surface Robbie wanted to bend him over.
So of course Robbie proved him wrong almost immediately.
