Uh-oh. He knew what Michelle was going to ask. The light in her eyes gave it away. “And Finn? Did you always secretly want to play Sandra Dee?”
Finn cleared his throat and affected the flattest voice he could muster. “No comment.”
They went to the judges, though Finn got the distinct impression they did so out of habit, that Michelle wasn’t sure what else to do.
The judges applauded their very entertaining and talented rule breaking, refused to give any constructive criticism, and even mourned their departure from the show.
“You were just so entertaining to watch,” sighed judge number two.
The hardass laughed and told them to get off the ice.
Robbie and Finn took their final bows and did just that.
“Finn Graham, I am going to murder you,” Holly said once they were backstage.
“Sorry, Holly.” Finn tried to look chagrined, but it was a hard task when he couldn’t repress his grin.
“You do realize that I now have to totally pivot programming for the next episode since there’s no way—no point in doing a dance-off between you and someone else. Right?”
Finn rubbed the back of his neck. “Uh, I mean, I sorta figured….” He cast her a sheepish look.
“Argh,” Holly groaned into her hands, then peered at Finn over her fingers. “Finn, put those eyes away. Stop it. Jesus. Seriously, stop looking at me like that. Ugh, fine, I forgive you and your boyfriend for your super cheesy and adorable rule-breaking dance that’s got you out of the competition and free to date in public, even if it made my life harder.”
Finn grinned at her. “You do?”
“Do not push it, idiot. You are so lucky that I love you and want to see you happy.” She wagged a finger at him like a disappointed nanny, and before Finn could protest, she turned it on Robbie. “And you, Zeiger, you better be worth all this fuss. Don’t think I’ll take my eye off you just because I’ve forgiven Finn. You break his heart and I will find ways to make your life miserable. Don’t let this cute face fool you, I can and will enact justice.”
Finn pulled a commiserating face in Robbie’s direction, who, to his credit, looked alarmed. “She’s not lying, she’s… creative.”
“Well, Holly, I have no intention of hurting Finn. I’m smitten.” He shot a besotted look in Finn’s direction, and Finn wanted to curl up in his arms.
He settled for giving him his own sappy look back.
And Holly groaned. “Good Lord, you two are disgusting. I already miss you hiding this from me.”
“Sorry, Holly.” Finn smiled. “Now that I can talk about it with you, I’m never going to stop. I’ve missed talking to you.” Holly didn’t know what was about to hit her.
After hegot kicked off the show, Robbie’s days opened up.
In the business of the past few weeks, he’d forgotten how quiet retirement was. With Sawyer on his own schedule, and without the need to hide his relationship with Finn, Robbie’s days consisted mostly of spending time with Finn or talking with lawyers.
The day after theirGreasehomage, the criminal lawyer Robbie had hired for his brother called and told Robbie they were taking a plea deal.
She’d never been confident in Vince’s chances at trial and from the start had urged Vince to take the best deal they could talk the crown into.
“He might get out in time to see Sawyer graduate high school, with good behaviour, but that’s up to him and the parole board.”
With Finn and Robbie officially disqualified fromDance Your Ice Off, Thursday’s competition promised a distinct lack of drama. Sure, there was the group performance, but they didn’t have any material left over to pad out the rest of the forty-two minutes.
“It’s your fault,” Holly said cheerfully when she pitched her substitute idea to Robbie. “The least you can do is help me pull it off.”
Robbie scanned over the notes she’d outlined and grinned. “Well, if the people need me, obviously I’ll be there.”
Which was how Wednesday afternoon found Robbie with a microphone, a silly disguise—a stick-on handlebar mustache and a pair of very reflective aviators—and the ridiculous stage name Mario Butts, trailing a camera crew as he walked through the rink to interview his former competition.
“On a scale of one to ten, how relieved are you not to have to skate against Robbie Zeiger?”
To her credit, Emily barely flinched. “I don’t know, like maybe a two? Guy can barely do a crossover. Finn was totally carrying him.”
