Chapter 16
Sam
Sam brushed snow from her collar, relieved that Finn hadn’t rubbed it in her face, and that some of Finn’s die-hard fans had found them and interrupted their snowball fight.
The way he’d looked at her … the way his lips had parted.
God, if he hadn’t let her go, she’d have kissed him.
And that would have been a huge mistake—fake-dating plan or not.
One kiss could turn this whole moment on its head, and this was Finn’s moment.
He deserved to celebrate his win without her stealing it away from him.
And she deserved it too. Kissing him now wasn’t going to make anything any clearer.
Not when she was still thinking about how natural it had felt to be with him in the shower, as if they were meant to be together.
What did that moment mean to him? Did he feel the same way?
She tugged at the cuff of her jacket, her fingers restless as she watched Finn talking with some fans.
He posed for a photo with a couple of young teenagers who’d been waiting for him after his win, and her chest ached.
He was focused, yet something was off. There seemed to be a slight change in his manner.
His jaw was tight despite his smiles and laughter.
Every time their eyes met, she felt like she was burning up inside with desire.
But she didn’t see that reflected back from him, not even in a fake way.
Maybe she was overthinking things, but she shook her head.
Was she? It wasn’t like he was angry with her, but there was definitely something there, something unspoken now between them.
She exhaled slowly as he smiled at her, trying to push the feeling aside. She must be reading too much into it.
One of the kids tapped her arm and asked her to take a photo of them. Nodding she took his phone and cajoled the group into laughing and smiling. Finn caught her eye; his expression was unreadable. It was driving her crazy.
“How’s my girl?” Maya’s voice cut through her thoughts, soft and careful.
Sam turned, smiling, glad to see Maya. “I’m fine,” Sam lied. “I’m so happy for Finn.”
“Me too.” Maya seemed a little tense. “I was worried …”
“Worried?” Sam handed the boy back his phone and turned her full attention on Maya. “What about? Finn?”
Maya pulled a face. “You know me, I’m always worried.”
Sam tilted her head and raised her eyebrow. “You literally never worry. You’re the most chilled person I’ve ever met.”
“Fine,” Maya admitted. “I had a moment when Viktor pulled off that trick that made me panic, but our boy, well, he did it—he really did it!”
“He did, didn’t he?” Sam said. “I never doubted him.”
She could hear giggles behind her as more fans arrived to ask Finn for a photo. A frisson of jealousy flashed through her as a glamorous woman handed her a camera to take another photo. She huffed as she looked at the small screen, wishing she could take the photo without the woman in it.
“If she was any closer to him, she’d be in his boxers.” Sam sniffed as the woman wrapped her arms around Finn, squealing about how fit he was.
Maya nudged Sam. “Should we tell her that it’s not a Build-a-Boyfriend workshop that’s going on here, or do we let this play out?”
Sam grumbled as Maya laughed. Finn seemed to be enjoying the moment. His wide smile wasn’t lost on Sam. She squinted at the screen and took just one photo as the breeze blew a strand of the woman’s hair across her face.
Maya raised an eyebrow at Sam and giggled. “So this is how we’re playing it, is it?”
Sam wrinkled her nose and huffed again. “One more,” she called. “That one wasn’t good.”
“Do you want some of my chill?” Maya whispered as the woman practically wrapped herself around Finn’s toned torso again.
“Nope,” Sam said. “No chill needed. I am chill personified.”
“Yeah, in your dreams.” Maya took the phone and handed it to the woman who was trying to get Finn’s number.
Sam crossed her arms as Finn wrangled his way out of more photos, promising he’d be around to watch the men’s freestyle moguls and that he’d have more time then. He ambled toward them, his eyes darkening as he got closer. Sam shivered and wished she knew what was going on in his head.
“Oh! I almost forgot.” Maya pulled out her phone.
“You two have a dinner date—the team has arranged it all. I’m using all my amazing caption skills for this one, so prepare yourselves to thank me profusely: a candlelit dinner so magical you’d think Cupid himself cooked it—in the fabulous and exclusive Monteluce.
This Friday, I assume you both are free. ”
“Ooooh Friday!” Sam said, as they began walking back to town. “You know this Friday is Friday the thirteenth.”
Finn shrugged. “I don’t believe in superstitions.”
Maya snorted. “Excuse me? Says the guy who wouldn’t ski without his magic pebble—remember that? Yeah, I thought so.”
Finn gawped. “It was a lucky stone—not a magic pebble. Big difference.”
Leaning on Maya, Sam stage-whispered, “He made me carry it in my bra once, in case he lost it.”
“That was one time!” Finn shook his head, grinning. “One time!”
“What I want to know, is where is it now?” Sam giggled. “In your … ?” She glanced down at his pants.
“Hell no!” Finn feigned horror. He pulled his glove off and held up the small flat stone, the one he carried everywhere.
Its deep gray color was flecked with white spots and there was a smooth indentation on one side that seemed to hug Finn’s thumb.
He’d always had it on him when he competed.
He said it was lucky because it was the last thing his father had given him before he’d passed away.
Sam smiled, glad to see he still had it.
“Well, the moral of the story is: don’t claim not to be superstitious when you are,” Maya said. “And speaking of magical things, do you know what it took me to get a reservation at Monteluce—three charms, spells and a minor miracle. You all should be worshipping me like the Slay Queen that I am.”
“All hail Queen Maya!” Finn chanted as they walked. Sam smiled. It was beginning to feel normal again, as if nothing had happened. She was right—she’d been reading too much into things.
The snow crunched beneath their feet as the three friends walked and chatted.
“Well,” Maya said brightly as they reached the bar where everyone seemed to be waiting. She yanked open the door, a mischievous grin brightening her face. “Time to celebrate!”
The bar was alive with energy. The upbeat music had everyone in a good mood.
The delicious smell of spiced wine and coffee wrapped around them as they squeezed in the doorway.
People were tightly packed around rustic tables, laughter and chatter mingled with the music, and fairy lights were strung along beams adding a cozy charm to the otherwise upmarket ski lodge vibe.
Sam spotted Davide and Valentina waving from a corner table.
“Looks like they’re already celebrating you.” She nudged Finn. “Think you can handle the attention for another while, Mister Goldie McGold Medal Winner?”
Finn grinned. “I think I could get used to this, yeah.”
“Let’s grab drinks,” Maya declared, grabbing both Sam and Finn by the wrists and pulling them in from the entrance. “My shout. What are you having?”
“Anything with bubbles,” Sam said, as if injected with celebratory energy.
“A beer, please,” Finn called as Maya wriggled her way to the bar. He turned to Sam, a soft quietness in his eyes that hadn’t been there earlier. The noise of the bar faded just enough for Sam to catch his words.
“I feel kind of weird,” he said. “Getting a gold. Standing up there. You should have your medal too.”
Sam shook her head quickly. “No, Finn, stop. This is your moment—you earned it.” She touched his arm and squeezed it gently, her heart filled with love as he gazed down at her. “You were incredible out there, honestly, Finn. You were the best, clearly—you won!”
Her mouth dried up. He’d managed to make half of their dream come true.
Finn’s eyes found hers again. “It will be your turn next,” he said. “I believe that, more than anything—and Sam, I’m sorry—for whatever I said last night to upset you.”
Sam’s throat tightened. “You didn’t say or do anything.”
“Liar,” Finn said. His blue eyes filled with concern, the edges crinkling as he offered a soft smile. “I know you, Sam Harrington. You can’t hide from me.”
Sam’s mouth fell open slightly. She stared at him, then forced a smile.
If he really knew her so well … then he would know how she felt.
Wouldn’t he see that he was—and always had been—the one person she loved more than anything?
If he did know—why wasn’t he saying anything?
Her heart hammered in her chest. Her palms grew sweaty.
Maybe his silence said it all. She smiled wider and shrugged as if she wasn’t breaking apart inside.
“Fine. Apology accepted.”
“Good.” Finn’s eyebrows lowered as Maya reappeared, carrying three drinks awkwardly in her small hands.
“Tough crowd over there,” she announced as Finn helped her. “But here we are, one bubbly, one beer, and one mystery cocktail that will apparently change my life.” She grinned and raised her glass. “Cheers to gold medals, sponsorship deals, and cute barmen!”
Sam clinked glasses with Maya and Finn, who seemed to have managed a genuine smile for the first time since he’d gotten his gold medal earlier. His smile, however, faded away as his ex, Harper, glided over to them.
Sam stiffened but managed a small smile. “Hey, Harper.”
“Hey.” Harper tilted her head, her blonde hair cascading over one shoulder. She laid a hand on Finn’s arm, her perfectly manicured nails glinting under the twinkling fairy lights. “Congratulations, Finn. I always knew you had it in you. Gold suits you.”
Finn pulled his arm back. “Thanks, Harper. I guess it does.”
Harper smiled widely, her gray eyes flashing over Finn. “Aren’t you going to congratulate me too?”