Page 121 of Wonderstruck

I met his gaze, searching the deep navy for something—anything—that would make this moment make sense. And for the first time in a long time, I felt something other than anger or indifference.

I used to think if I just held on tightly enough, I could keep myself safe. Safe from wanting things that might not want me back. Safe from heartbreak. Safe from admitting that maybe I’d already outgrown the things I'd sworn I couldn’t live without. But some heartbreaks shape us. And maybe that was okay.

Because chasing skating—that was real. Chasing Finn—that was real. Not just some old dream I was afraid to let go of, but something that mattered. And standing here now, looking at this piece of my past, I finally knew which dreams were mine to keep.

“It’s not easy to say what you just said,” I admitted,my voice quieter now. “And I appreciate it. I really do. But I don’t know if I can forget. Forgive, maybe. But forget? I’m not sure.”

“I don’t expect you to,” he said quickly, running a hand through his brown stands. “I don’texpect anything. I just needed you to know.”

We stood there in silence for a moment, theweight of the conversation settlingbetween us. Finally, I nodded. “Thank you. For saying it.”

He exhaled, like he’d been holding his breath since the moment he saw me.“Thank you for listening.”

The sound of the rink doors opening pulled myattention, and before I could blink Finn was in the space where Ryan was, his expression unreadable. My heart skipped, panic flaring for a moment before it settled.

Ryan followed my gaze and stiffened slightly whenhe saw Finn. He hesitated, then looked back at me. “I should go. But… thank you. For letting me say what I needed to say.”

“Take care, Ryan,” I said sincerely, nodding along with him.

As he stepped back, he turned to face Finn, passing him a small, almost respectfulnod as he passed, before pushing open the doors and disappearing. Finn watched him for a moment before turning his attention to me and walking over.

“Hey,” he reached for me. “Everythinggood?”

“Yeah,” I hummed, and I meant it.

He studied my face, then smiled, that boyish grinthat always makes my stomach flip. “So… you wanna go on a date?”

I blinked, my head pulling back as my grin widened. “Good evening to you too.”

His smile was everything. “Good evening. Do youwant to go on a date with me?”

And although it made me giddy, I still didn’t trust hissmirk. Knowing Finn, there could be a million different things running through his head to power that smirk. And I was too exhausted to list them off.

I let out a sigh, making my shoulders roll as I headed towards him, reality sinking in. “Wait, are you just trying to set up another French session? Because if you are then I can pencil you in for Friday because I have approximately zero free time with sectio—”

“No,” he interrupts, his grin widening. “I mean areal date. With me. You in?”

My heart skips.

Oh yeah. This dream was worth chasing.

"I'm in."

chapter thirty three

je suis tellement amoureux de cette femme

I’m on a date with Aurora Greene and I feel like the luckiest guy alive.

No, screw that. Iamthe luckiest guy alive.

Tell Finn from last year that this day was in his future and he’d deny it until he was blue in the face.But there was no denying the feel of Rory’s handin mine. There was no questioning the smile that had been glued to her ever since I told her we were heading for the Wollman rink in Central. And all I was doing was hoping that it would always feel this right with us.

The cold nipped at my face as we laced up ourskates and stepped onto the ice, but her palm warmed mine enough for me to ignore it.

“You ready?” I asked, giving her hand a squeeze.

Rory tilted her head, eyes glinting somethingdaring. “Are you?”

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