Page 65 of Rookie Attraction

“I’m missing them. My family and my friends,” Finn admits as he leans into me, his shoulder bumping mine.

“It’s a big change going from college to this. It’ll take time to adjust, but you’re doing great. And you seem tight with your former teammates, like Silas. You should plan a reunion in the summer. You’re gonna need that time to unwind.”

I wish I could go with you.

The idea that I won’t see Finn for months is more than depressing. He suddenly removes his hand from my arm and that only makes things worse…

“Speaking of friends and family, do you mind if I take some pictures while we wait for our food?” he asks as he reaches for his phone.

“Have at it.”

I expect Finn to aim at the stunning view out the window. Instead, he points his phone in my direction and tells me to say cheese.

I shake my head.

“No one wants to see my face.”

“I do,” Finn insists with a grin, his dimples so fucking irresistible. “I want to capture every moment of our first⁠—”

He pauses, a dark flush spreading across his cheekbones.

“Finn?”

“Our first outing in Seattle,” he replies quickly, then he snaps a photo and turns his phone toward the window. “So, are you looking forward to your next date with Taylor?”

“It’s not a date. I told you, I’m not into him.”

Finn lowers his phone and looks at me.

“Not at all?”

“Nope. He’s a nice guy but I have no interest, sexually or romantically.”

“On screen, you seem like a perfect match,” Finn states. “No?”

I shake my head and stare out at the boats in the harbor.

“No. There’s someone else I’ve been thinking about.”

Goddamn it.

Kirkland, what the hell have you done?

Finn’s staring at me with wide eyes. Does he know? Can he tell what’s running through my mind?

I’m desperate to backtrack. “But it doesn’t matter. It won’t go anywhere, it can’t, and that’s for the best.”

“Why can’t it go anywhere?”

I run an agitated hand through my hair and grip the back of my neck.

“It just can’t,” I confess. “For many reasons. Forget I said anything. Besides, hockey comes first in my life.”

“Sel—”

I’m about to completely fuck things up and foolishly admit how I feel about him, when our server returns with our food. The timing is either the greatest save or the worst interference. My appetite’s all but vanished, but looking for distraction, I take a mouthful of chowder. Finn eats silently too. Great, now I’ve made things weird between us. I’m about to suggest we ask the server to wrap up our food to go, when Finn drops his spoon on the table and nudges my arm.

“If it makes you feel better, I know exactly what you’re going through.”