If I learned one thing about Finn since I met him, it was that he adored hockey.

Finn perked up. “Oh, definitely. MacKinnon’s been killing it all season.”

Logan and Finn rattled off stats on the drive while Sarah and I sat in silence. Finn must have sensed my discomfort because he reached a hand over to my lap. Gratefully, I threaded my fingers through his.

Sarah cleared her throat behind us. “Hey, Olive, do you still watch those reality shows you used to obsess over?” Her voice was soft and shy. “I saw a new one coming out this week where Instagram models are stuck in the woods for ten days with no phones or internet. It sounded like something you used to watch back in the day.”

I picked at my long, painted nails. “Nope. I stopped watching that stuff a while ago,” I snapped, harsher than I intended. But her attempts at bonding with me were useless, and I hated wasting my time.

“Oh, okay.” I could hear her sulk in the back while Finn and Logan continued their own conversation.

When we pulled up to the same ice-skating rink that Finn and I people-watched at, I almost smiled at the memory. And if it hadn’t been for the most awkward ride here, I’d probably be excited to get on that ice with Finn.

He came around my side and opened up the door for me. When I stepped out, he placed an affectionate touch on my hip, sending tingles all over my body. Instantly, he made me forget about Sarah and her husband, refocusing all of my attention on him.

We made our way to the booth where my parents, Matt, and Taylor already were standing. We each got our ticket and went to pick out our skates. Finn took me to a bench, sat me down, and knelt at my feet, replacing my boots with my ice skates. I smiled down at him, and he looked up into my eyes with a big grin that made my heart beat faster.

He pulled my laces tight and meticulously looped them so they fit just right.

“You’re good at this,” I said, giving him a rare compliment that only made smile bigger.

“Well professional skate lacer was always a backup plan for me,” he said with a shrug. I let out a small laugh, and he smiled down at my feet, continuing to tie my laces. I felt the strong urge to run a hand over his head. He knelt down at my feet like the kind, caring man he was, and I felt unworthy of it. Instinctively, I reached out and brushed my fingers through his short, dark hair, and he looked up at me with that big smile. He leaned into my touch like a puppy wanting to be pet, and I bit my bottom lip as I smiled.