Page 144 of Cold as Ice

Sure enough. Finn had repeated the text nearly word for word. Which Elliott knew was bad. Finn didn’t need to be memorizing his father’s passive-aggressive bullshit.

Of course, he hadn’t said “bail” but it didn’t matter if he’d said “support” instead, because the meaning was clear enough and Finn had taken it to heart.

“Finn,” Elliott said as kindly as he could, “you gotta stop letting him matter.”

“Oh? That’s all I should do? Just tell myself he doesn’t matter? ThatMorgan Reynoldsdoesn’t matter? And I’ll be alright? God, why didn’t I think of that before?”

Elliott winced. “I know it’s not easy.”

“Damn straight it’s not easy,” Finn retorted. “What if someone had told you to just leave Mal alone? Would you have? Oh wait, I know you wouldn’t have, because weallsaid it. We all told you to stop harassing him, but you didn’t. You kept at him. Because you wanted him and you weren’t willing to settle for less.”

“I might’ve,” Elliott protested, but he knew his position wasn’t exactly strong if Finn actually wanted to debate this concept.

Because he had persisted and hehadgotten everything he’d wanted.

The guy, and very possibly the hopeful future together, too.

“You did what it took to get his attention. It was a little insane, and we all knew it.Youeven knew it, but you did it anyway. And it fucking worked.” Finn was back to pacing, and he seemed to be saying this more to himself than to Elliott.

Elliott tried to tamp down the worry spiking, but it didn’t really work. “What are you thinking of doing, Finn?”

Finn’s gaze swung his direction, and it was impossible to read. “Nothing,” he said, but Elliott wasn’t sure he believed him.

“Don’t do something stupid or insane because I did, and it worked,” Elliott said.

“You still don’t have a fucking leg to stand on here,” Finn retorted.

“I know,” Elliott said persuasively. “But there was every chance itwouldn’twork. It still might not. We might end up on separate coasts, doing this whole long-distance thing.”

“And you’ll still be in love,” Finn said.

“Well, yeah,” Elliott said. He wasn’t ever going to benotin love with Malcolm.

“Exactly.” Finn’s voice was resolute. “Are you really going to stand here and tell me not to fight like hell for what I want? What Ideserve?”

What Elliott wanted to tell him was that his relationship with Mal wasn’t the same as a future in professional hockey.

But he didn’t, because he could see the pain in Finn’s eyes. So he just nodded. “Yeah. I mean . . .yeah.You want something? Don’t let anything stop you.”

“Or anybody,” Finn said, shoving his hands into his pockets. “I’m glad for you and Mal, I am. But I gotta go, okay? Tell Ramsey I’ll see him tomorrow, at practice.”

“Are you sure—”

But Finn waved off his attempt to stop him. “Seriously. I’ll be fine. Go inside. Enjoy your boyfriend.”

Elliott didn’t. He watched Finn walk away, and he was almost out of view when the door opened behind him.

“Everything alright?” Mal wondered. “You didn’t come back.” Mal didn’t touch him, but he didn’t need to. His gaze was as good as a touch, concern written clearly in his blue eyes.

“Now, yeah,” Elliott said. He sighed. “Finn’s just going through a tough time, but I think he’ll get through it.”

“With you as a friend? It’s guaranteed,” Mal said firmly. “We’ll make sure he’s taken care of.”

“Yeah,” Elliott said, agreeing. “We take care of our own here.”

“You wanna go back in?” Mal said.

What Elliott really wanted to do was curl up in bed with Mal wrapped around him, but he nodded. “Yeah,” he said.

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