Probably not.
Do I want to anyway?
Yes.
Instead, I clear my throat and lean my forearms on the boards beside her, careful to keep my distance. “Okay.Necessary compliment…you look beautiful today, and your edges are insane.”
Harlow pauses, then looks away quickly like she can hide the blush quickly reddening her cheeks. “Thank you.”
I glance toward the far end, where Weston is attempting something athletic and failing loudly.
“Asher looks like he was born on skates,” I say.
Harlow hums. “He’s scary calm.”
“Right?” I snort. “Like he’s never once had a spiraling thought.”
Harlow’s gaze flicks to me, sharp. “Well, not all hockey players are immune. It’s okay to spiral, especially over something you love.”
I blink. “Excuse me?”
“You spiral,” she says, like it’s a fact. “You told me as much. Actually, I think you said my brother can cause youallto have a little moment or two when you’re late to film.”
My stomach flips. Because she’s right. Because she noticed. And because nobody notices that unless they’re looking.
I cover it with humor. “Are you profiling me?”
Harlow’s mouth twitches. “Maybe.”
My pulse trips again, connecting the dots, but I force it down.
“Dangerous hobby,” I say lightly.
Harlow’s gaze holds mine. “So is hockey.”
“Touché,” I concede.
A quiet stretch settles between us. Then Harlow’s eyes shift toward the entrance, and I see it—the subtle tension returning, like she’s remembering she’s in public. Her fingers tighten on the boards.
“You okay?” I ask, low.
“Yeah,” she says quickly.
Automatic armor.
I don’t push. “Okay.”
And then, softer, “If you need to leave, you can. No one here is going to be mad.”
Harlow’s head turns fast, eyes narrowing like she’s trying to figure out if I’m patronizing her. I keep my face neutral. She studies me for a long moment.
Then she exhales. “I’m not leaving. I like…this.”
Her voice drops on the last word, like she’s surprised by it.
A small victory.
I nod once. “You don’t have to, but you also don’t have to force yourself to stay in situations that make you uncomfortable, even if others think it’s important for you to.”
