She gasps theatrically, then smiles. “Well, well, well. Who would’ve thought you’d end up settling down?”
A muscle ticks in Finn’s jaw. Meanwhile, I struggle not to glare. Why would she say something like that? Finn’s one of the most mature men I know, caring for everyone around him and as responsible as can be.
“I don’t find it surprising,” I say.
“That’s because you didn’t know him before.” She winks at him. “Guess you’ve changed.”
What the fuck is her problem?
“I’m pretty sure he would’ve settled down with anyone he thought was good for him,” I tell her with the bitchiest smile I can muster.
She ignores me, instead saying, “I remember when all you’d talk about was hockey and partying.”
“Yeah,” he says, chuckling. “I was also seventeen.”
She laughs as if he’s said the funniest thing she’s ever heard, then starts bouncing her kid on her hip when he starts crying. She also tries to shut him up with a pacifier, but when that doesn’t work, she turns back to us, wincing. “Well, duty calls,” she says. “It was really good to see you, though.”
“Yeah, you too,” Finn says. I don’t bother faking niceties and simply stare as she and her little family turn toward the ice cream stand to order.
“You never told me about her,” I say once she’s out of ear shot.
“Yeah.” He scratches his neck, then looks at his wristwatch. “Hey, I have to go, uh, help Mom with the lock-in tonight, but I’ll see you later, ’kay? Tell Lil I said bye.”
I look him up and down. He’s never mentioned anything about needing to go help with the preparations. Sure, we’re both supposed to spend the night at the gym with a few of our athletes for their yearly sleepover party, but from what I’d understood, everything was already organized.
“Um, sure, okay?”
He nods, then turns and jogs toward his car.
“What was that about?” Lilianne asks, back from her trip to the bathroom.
“No clue,” I say, staring at him speed out of the parking lot and onto the street.
Chapter 30
Finn
I’mampedup.
My body feels like it’s been boosted by hundreds of electric cables, making me restless. All evening, I’ve been running left and right, passing down snacks to the kids, then hosting a few games, and finally helping them all get ready for bed. Some are as young as seven years old, so they need quite a bit of help, and I’m all the happier to provide it. Anything to keep me occupied. Because if I stop, then I’ll start thinking about what happened this afternoon, and I don’t know what I’ll do if that happens. Probably have the breakdown that’s been looming over me all day.
Another reason why I’ve been so antsy: I can’t look Lexie in the eye, and avoiding someone in a closed gym takes a lot of effort.
It’s not that I’m mad at her. More like the opposite. I think the only thing that made the meeting with Chrissy bearable was Lexie’s lie. I’m still not sure why she pretended we were a couple, but I don’t think she’ll ever realize how much I appreciated it. She saved me from proving to Chrissy that she was right all along about me, even though she might have been.
Ishouldbe thanking Lexie for having my back and not hiding from her, but the truth is, this afternoon was probably one of the most embarrassing moments of my entire existence. Worse than the time I got food poisoning in Thailand and made myself a bus full of enemies, and worse than the time my dad walked in on me and some girl I’d picked up at a bar, who was in a very precarious position on her knees. Because today, it was about something that actually matters, but more than that, it was in front ofsomeonethat actually matters.
I don’t know why I think this specific moment might have been eye-opening for Lexie. It’s not like she’s blind. She doesn’t need someone to tell her I’m a loser. She could see it for herself. And yet, when I’m alone with her, it always feels like she sees me as someone better than I am. Not anymore.
“Okay, everyone, lights out in five minutes,” I shout over the dozens of high-pitched voices. Boys and girls have been separated in two sections of the gym, and everyone has selected the mat they want to use as a mattress, draping their pillows and sleeping bags over them.
I love lock-ins. Because both my mom and dad had to be present when they happened, I always got the chance to attend as a kid, and even though you’d be way more comfortable at home, it feels special to be in this space with friends at night and sleep on the mats used for training only. Kind of like camping. With it being Lexie’s first one, I’d planned on bringing booze and making margaritas in the staff room for her so she could enjoy her night off even more, but with what happened, my head hasn’t been in it.
“Hey, stranger.”
It takes me a long moment to steel myself before looking in her direction. I’d thought seeing her anger and disappointment after our failed date was the worst thing that could happen, but I think seeing Chrissy’s pitiful and belittling expression on Lexie would be an actual stab to the heart.
Of course, it doesn’t happen. When I finally gather all my courage, the only thing I see on Lexie is a casual smile. She wouldn’t do that to me. That doesn’t mean she can’t pity me in her head, but I’ll take what I can get.
