“I really shouldn’t.” I traced the bridge of his nose with my finger. “It looked like it hurt.”
“Terribly,” he assured. “But I can’t think of a better way to have met you. Ever since that moment, you’ve felt like a force in my life, pushing up against me. Demanding me to do something. Feel something.”
My shoulders sagged. “Is that a bad thing? It sounds like what your family does.”
He shook his head quickly. “No. Nowhere close, Naomi. I like the pressure you bring. It’s healthy and exciting. It feels like…love.”
My eyes widened. Finn’s ears turned red. He let out a shaky laugh and stepped away. I could hear my heart in my ears.
So, he had an inkling of how strongly I felt? I hadn’t necessarily been trying to hide it but wasn’t sure if I was ready to say it out loud.
“Finn…” I picked at my nail, watching him put a few more things in his bag.
“Point is,” he said without looking back at me. “I feel like the guys and you are my family. I’m content with that. So, I don’t need my folks as much. I get to choose, and you all feel like the best people imaginable to pick.”
I chewed on my bottom lip, trying my best not to smile too wide. Being his choice felt good. Hell, it felt amazing. A few months ago, my elation would’ve startled me. I would’ve been scared out of my mind to care this much. But Finn felt right. Seeing him content allowed me to do the same. No, I didn’t have a biological family around. But Celeste was a better sister than I could ever dream of having. It felt wonderful to have a choice about who was and wasn’t in my life.
Finn cleared his throat. “Um…so, I’ll see you at the game, right?”
“I’ll be there. Cheering you on and trying to keep up.”
He came close enough to touch me again. I relaxed into him as he pulled me in for a kiss.
“You’ll take the van?” he asked when he pulled away.
I made a face. My car was finally out of the shop, but still wasn’t the most reliable ride.
“Naomi,” Finn warned and then pulled out his keys. “You’re taking the van. From the second I saw your car, I hated the thought of you in it.”
I took the keys. “I thought it was me you hated back then.”
“Never.” He shook his head, amused. “No part of me could ever hate you. I was intimidated. You’re a very intimidating person, you know.”
“Says the six-foot hockey player with biceps like boulders.” I poked his arm.
“It was your beauty. And grace.” Finn wore a teasing grin at the word ‘grace.’ He’s saved me about a million times from falling on my face on the front porch.
I pinched him. “Oh, shut up.”
“Manners, too. You’re always so nice to me, Naomi Lewis. In public, at least. The nicest people are usually bullies behind closed doors, in my experience.”
“You’re so full of it.”
He laughed, grabbing my hand as I reached to pinch him again. Before we could launch a full-on war, Sam called from downstairs,
“Alright, assholes! Ready or not! Time to fight for our lives.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
Finn
Therewasachangein the line-up. Jack was out, and I was in as a starter. No one complained about the last-minute shift. Not even Jack—who’d usually have a field day with this sort of thing. During the bus ride, he went straight to the back and put on his headphones to block out everyone.
I didn’t know the plays as well as the others and confessed as much to Sam in a low voice once when we got off the bus.
“I know. That’s why you’re in.” Sam gave me a knowing look. “Relax and prove them wrong. Okay?”
“Right.” My stomach clenched. He made it sound easy. Like keeping up with a bunch of guys who were well on their way to becoming NHL athletes within the next year was going to be a cakewalk.
