She swallows. “Amazing, as always. I’m going to gain so much weight living here.”
Gemma waves a hand at Finley. “As if you have anything to worry about.”
I’m glad Gemma said it before I could accidentally make our living situation more uncomfortable. Finley was kind about finding me on the floor last night. I clutched her offered hand like a lifeline, not letting go until we reached our rooms. She waited in the doorway until I settled into bed before retreating to her room, as if she was worried about me. I can’t forget it.
Finley shakes her head. “Check with me again in three months.” She takes another enthusiastic bite of waffle, as if it’s a future problem she’s banishing from her mind.
Gemma moves the last waffle to a plate before shutting the heat off. “With the way you work out, I’m not concerned.”
“You work out a lot?” I resist the urge to slam my face into the counter. I didn’t mean for it to sound like a stupid line.
Finley covers her mouth to stifle a laugh. “I go to the gym.”
“You should take Zach with you,” Gemma says. She discreetly winks at me, like she’s doing me a favor. I worry she’s seen something I’m desperately trying to hide, but if she suspected anything between the two of us, she would interrogate me. Gemma loves to meddle, something well-known among our group of friends. I suppose everyone has a guilty-pleasure hobby. “He didn’t love my suggestion to read a book.”
Finley playfully gasps. “The horror.”
“I’m taking Elodie to a playdate this afternoon, but I don’t want to leave Zach alone.”
I drop my fork onto my plate with a dramatic clang. “I can take care of myself, Gemma.”
Gemma reaches over the counter to tap my forearm in a placating manner. “Of course you can.” She swivels her gaze back to Finley. “So can you take him to the gym?”
Finley nods toward me. “He looks like he’s on the run from the cops.”
“I can put my hood down.”
Staying here, all alone, for the rest of the day without hockey, Netflix, or video games sounds like my personal hell. Besides, I want more time with Finley.
Finley laughs. “Yeah, becausethat’swhat looks unusual.”
“Sunglasses indoors are cool, Finley.”
“It’ll be loud,” she replies.
Zach pats a pocket in his jeans. “I have earplugs.”
Gemma laughs, light and airy. “He’ll be fine.”
“I don’t—”
Gemma cuts her off in a tone that doesn’t invite additional input. “It’ll be good for you to have company.”
Finley goes silent. I see gears turning in her head, but I don’t know what worries her. Does she regret what happened between us two years ago? Does she not want to be seen in public with me?
I’m notthatembarrassing. I play professional hockey with thousands of fans who don’t care what I wear as long as they have the chance to talk to me and get my autograph.
“You won’t know I’m there,” I assure her, because even if she doesn’t want to be around me, I can’t stop wanting to be around her.
Finley hesitates for an excruciatingly long second. “Can you be ready in thirty?”
4
Zach
Finley rushes to turnthe radio off before the sound blows a hole straight through my head.
“Thank you,” I gasp, relief pouring through me. I tried listening to music when I woke up this morning, but my head felt like it had been placed in a blender. “It’s been rough sledding these past few days.”
