I close the door, and Matt falls into step beside me. “You’re missing practice?”
“Yep.” As much as I want to patch what’s broken between Matt and me, I don’t stop walking. He dismissed me for weeks, all because I fell in love with his sister. As if it’s something I could help.
“For her tryout?”
“She told you?”
“My parents did. You shouldn’t miss practice for atryout.”
My feet stop abruptly. If this were a 90s sitcom, it's when you’d hear a record scratch.
“Finley’s been busting her ass for the last six months preparing for this. It’s her dream. You and your family might not approve, but it’s what she wants. And she needs me there. So it’s where I’m going to be. It’s where I’malwaysgoing to be. Wherever Finley needs me.”
Matt stares, his eyes glossy like he’s in a daze.
“I think the better question is, why don’tyougive a shit?” I press.
Matt’s still got that faraway look in his eyes, but he whispers, “You’re serious...”
“What?”
He runs a hand over his chin, and his mouth morphs into a smile. “You’re serious about her. You’re missinghockeyfor her.”
“I’m never going to be like you, but it doesn’t mean I’m a fuckup. Finley helped me see that.”
His eyebrows raise. “What do you mean, you’ll never be like me?”
“A captain. Perfect in every way. Someone people look to for direction. But I’m loyal, and I show up for the people I love when they need me. I’d do the same for you, even though you’ve been—”
“A dick?” Matt finishes my sentence.
I shrug. “I was going to say turd.”
He clears his throat. “My parents told me how important you are to her, and how she credits you with keeping her balanced, something about learning to have fun.” He flashes me a smile before his mouth shrinks back into a line. “Finley’s always been serious. Maybe it’s because her older brothers constantly competed, or because she had to grow up when our parents were spread too thin, focusing on her siblings. I don’t know the reason, but I worry about her—the way she single-mindedly focuses on gymnastics, a sport where she spends a lot of time alone.”
I stub the top of my sneaker on the linoleum floor. “Do you plan on saying any of this to her?”
Matt winces. “Yeah, when she returns my calls. Listen, I’m not going to lie to you. I’m not wild about you dating her, but I’d feel this way about any guy. It is easier knowing she’s with someone who’s got a good heart, who will have her back.” He lets out a long sigh. “My parents say this is the healthiest they’ve seen her. So… thank you.”
The declaration stuns me silent.
Matt claps me on the shoulder. “If you fuck this up, I will make you regret it though.”
“I’d expect nothing less, Harry.” I use his nickname for the first time in weeks.
People like to say relationships are tough and it takes work to maintain one. Sometimes, it’s described as a sacrifice, but I thinkthat’s the problem. When you love someone, putting them firstisn’ta sacrifice. It’s pure elation watching the other person’s face slip into happiness, to have them laugh and throw their arms around you, to thank you for being there. To know this person needs you, and that they can depend on you.
It’s like being someone’s teammate, something I have a lifetime of experience with.
I’ve always loved being part of a team, but calling Finley Harris my partner eclipses the feeling. She matters more than anyone else,anythingelse.
And I’ll work every day to show her, to be the best damn teammate she’s ever had.
36
Finley
All my hard workcomes down to this—one practice, a couple of routines, a demonstration of skills I’ve practiced hundreds of times in this gym.
