And then the bathroom door swung open.
“I’ll see what I can do about getting you more time on the ice,” said a voice from inside, and Hailey’s lungs quit.
It isn’t him, it isn’t him, she told herself, tamping down any hope that threatened to lift her spirits.
A foot emerged from the bathroom followed by a body—a whole body.
Fin.
Bolting through the door, Hailey jumped on him. He staggered back, and she clamped her arms and legs around him.
“Fin!”
“Yes?” His normally sarcastic voice was constricted.
“I thought you were dead,” she cried as she buried her head in his shoulder.
“I’m not…”
“I’ll just catch up with you later,” said Sidney with a smirk, and Fin didn’t respond as he walked out.
“Hailey,” Fin said, “you can let go now.” He tried to remove her, but she was attached to him like a barnacle.
“Hailey—” He sounded clearly irked as he again tried to peel her off. Then he dropped his arms and huffed. “Are you naked under this paper-thin robe?”
“I saw that Yeti tear you in half!”
She did. She saw it with her own two eyes…blood, guts, and everything.
“No,” he said unequivocally. “You didn’t.”
He held his hands out, fingers splayed, and made a concerted effort to not touch her.
“Hailey—you’re soaking wet!”
“I just got out of the shower,” she said, still clutching him. “And, yes I did.”
“Hailey—” he grumbled, and she squeezed her eyes shut, begging the universe to make all this real, because it sure felt like a dream.
Pressing her forehead against his, she laced her fingers through his hair and hung on. She couldn’t open her eyes, not even to gaze at him. God, she wanted to. But if she did, she might wake up.
Fin lifted his head and brought his lips close to hers, his breath hot against her skin as he kicked his door shut.
“Woman,” he said, breathing heavy as he hesitantly touched her thighs, “I am only human.”
Hailey slid off him and felt through his shirt for the wound.
“I thought I lost you,” she accused, and finally, she found the courage to look up at him. “Am I dreaming?” She searched his eyes for an explanation.
He brushed a tear from her cheek and gazed at her sadly. “No,” he said softly, reassuringly. “You’re not dreaming.”
Wonderful relief washed over her, and she let her hands fall to her sides. Fin wiped another tear from her face then gently tilted her chin up, brushing his lips across her mouth.
“How is this possible?” she whispered as he slowly laid kisses across her cheek and grazed her ear.
“It’s—” he inhaled loudly, “—a long story…”
Hailey’s own breath sped up, and when she leaned into him, he pulled her even closer and nibbled at her neck, his breath ragged next to her ear. It felt right. It felt like…a sudden jolt. He must’ve felt it too, because when she wrapped her arms around his waist, something moved against her hip. Startled, Hailey pushed away, but Fin’s arm tightened and jerked her back.
