Page 31 of Finn
“Ahh, but she’s relegated you to the friend zone, huh?”
“She sure the fuck has.”
“Did she say why?” he asks.
I nod. “She did. In fact, we had this whole discussion before we ever ended up in bed. Not that that was planned, by the way.” I shake my head, wishing now that it never had happened, seeing as it sort of fucked things up. “Anyway, we talked about how we just didn’t have time for relationships. Just in general, though, you know? Not regarding us. But that’s what she’s falling back on now. That discussion. Well, that and something about not being in a good headspace. I don’t know. Whatever.”
“Damn.” My friend winces. “Even though you changed your mind, it sounds like she’s pretty set on the no-relationship thing.”
“Yeah,” I breathe out. “She is. She claims it’s her, not me. But I think there’s a deeper reason. I just wish she’d level with me.”
Easton shrugs. “Hey, what can you do? You have to respect her decision. The way I see it is youhave two choices—try being her friend…or just cut her loose.”
“I know.” I rest my hip on the boards. “Problem is, I don’t want to cut her loose. I want to keep seeing her.”
“Then it looks like friends it is,” he declares.
I sigh resignedly and agree, “I think you’re right.”
Sammie
Iwas doubtful at first, but I think being “just friends” with Finn may actually work. Of course, I haven’t seen him now for two weeks. Not since the night in the parking lot where we hashed things out.
Staying away from each other hasn’t been by design, though. The Thunder have been on a long road trip out west playing against teams in various states and provinces.
But they’re flying back to Atlanta today.
I know that because Finn called me last night from his hotel room in Vancouver. It was the first time we actually spoke since deciding to be just friends.
Prior to that call, we had been just texting every couple of days, generally about random stuff regarding work and hockey. Nothing heavy.
So to say I was surprised when my phone actually rang last night instead of dinging is an understatement.
I felt happy, though, that Finn was calling to talk instead of texting. It seemed more personal. And he was in a really good mood. I knew why. Not only had the Thunder won their game against the Canucks, but Finn scored a goal and racked up a nice assist.
He asked if I had seen the game, and I told him I’d caught a lot of it, which was true.
Then, like it had just dawned on him, he said, “Shit. I forgot you’re three hours ahead back there. I didn’t wake you, did I?”
“No, no,” I replied, laughing. “I actually just got home. I had a late shift at Boots. They had the game on. So I did see quite a bit of it, like I told you. But I missed your assist. Luckily, I caught your goal in the third. That one was a real beauty, by the way.”
I meant it, and I think Finn could tell.
Softly, he said, “Thanks, Sammie.” And then he told me, “Oh, hey, we fly back tomorrow. It’ll be good to come home.”
“Yeah, I bet. This trip’s been a long one.”
He sighed. “It has. But we have a couple of days before our next game, a chance to rest up.”
“Yeah,” I replied. “I’ll actually be at that game.”
He got really excited. “You will?”
“Mmm-hmm. I’m going with Ellie.”
“That’s awesome,” he said. Then, after a beat, he asked quietly, “Would you, uh, want to do something afterward? Like, we could grab a late bite to eat?”
I hesitated, but then I thought about how, if I’m going to be his friend, this is the kind of thing we’ll be doing.