Page 35 of Wonderstruck

My awkward smile pulled tight as Iducked my head. “I should go—”

“Wait.” His hand caught my wrist, thenquickly let go, as if realising the mistake. His head dipped, shame colouring his features. “I… I heard about your dad. I’m so sorry.” his eyes met his skates before lifting back to me with a slight shake of his head. “I would’ve regretted not saying anything to you. Especially after… you know.”

I looked back at him, his eyes pulling me in like they had so many timesbefore. But the trouble with trusting someone who had already broken you was that it was almost impossible to believe they wouldn't do it again. And lucky for me, I wasn’t that naive anymore.

I squared my shoulders and took a stepback, lifting my chin. “I appreciate it. But I really do need to go—”

“Rory, wait.” He sighed, stepping in mypath again as I tried to move. “Look I get that I’m the last person you want to talk to but—”

“But what?” I interrupted, throwing myhands up. “If the only reason you’re talking to me is because you feel bad then justsave your breath. I appreciate your sympathy but I don’t want it. No, actually, I don’t need it. What Ididneed, was for you not to convince me you loved me when it was just some ridiculous bet with your friends.” My arms flailed, powered by nothing but disbelief. “What I need is for you to tell me why.”

His expression softened, the glimmer ofsomething real flickering in his eyes. Whether it was the crack in my voice that caused it or the fact that those memories were playing in his head like they were mine, I didn’t know. But regardless, it was there; a glimpse into the boy I thought I knew.

I shook my head, cutting off thethought. “Please don’t follow me.”

I turned, my steps firm, determined,until the sound of footsteps behind memade my stomach drop.

“Rory, just let me explain—”

“I’m sure if she wanted you to explain,she wouldn’t be walking away fromyou. Don’t you think?”

The voice stopped me cold. I whipped around so fast I felt dizzy. Stars dancedin my vision, but when they cleared, Ryan was gone. In his place stood someone taller, broader, dressed in the same jersey and gear but with his helmet tucked under his arm. His blonde waves clung to his forehead, damp from the game.

And judging by the way Finn was standing—solid, unyielding—he wasn’tgoing anywhere.

“Finn, it’s fine.” I rushed as I steppedbetween them, reassuring both of them that I didn’t need saving and was perfectly fine on my own.

“Come off it, Rhodes.” Ryan grittedthrough his teeth, that angelic smile the most sarcastic thing I’d ever seen.

Finn pulled his head back, smirking infull force. “Oh, come off it like you came off the ice halfway through the first period for having a temper tantrum?”

And I take it back,thatsmirk was themost sarcastic thing I’d ever seen.

Ryan snorted as he let his helmet hangback down by his side. “Yeah, sure.Have fun watching the third period from the fucking bench.”

“Oh, I will,” Finn replied with anexaggerated yawn. “I need the rest aftercarrying your dead weight around the ice for the last hour.” He didn’t even pause for Ryan to react, already adding, “Now run along. I’m sure your seat in the penalty box is still warm.”

Ryan’s jaw tightened, his eyes blazingwith something unspoken, free of all the charm they shined with earlier. But just as he turned to leave, his gaze landed back on me. “We’ll talk soon, okay?”

I didn’t nod. Didn’t whisper okay. Icouldn’t. Not when I knew that if I let himback in, even for a second, I’d have no one to blame but myself when he inevitably hurt me again.

As he disappeared, I let out the breathI'd kept trapped since stepping onto the Lioness' stage. It left meall at once, but my relief was short-lived. My entire body stiffened as I remembered Finn was still standing in front of me. Watching me.

I turned slowly, my eyes immediatelylocking with his. His body towered over me, that stance even more intimidating in his hockey gear.

“You okay?” he asked, his voice low,genuine, wrapping around me like awarm blanket. And just like that, any intimidation I felt in his shadow vanished. “You’re shaking.”

I blinked, startled, and glanced down atmy hands. He was right—they weretrembling, shaking like the ground might crack open at any second.

“Come here,” Finn murmured, slipping anarm around my shoulder before I could think to resist. He guided me to a quieter corner of the rink, just under the stands where the noise of the crowd and the glare of the lights faded into the background. I pressed my back against the cool concrete wall, letting out a shaky breath as my heart fought to slow down.

“What happened?”

I let my eyes trace the lines of hisfigure before they met his face, and for amoment, I just looked at him. Golden skin. A jaw line that looked lethal. Rosy cheeks. The way he stood like a barrier between me and the rest of the world.

I squeezed my eyes shut, shaking myhead. “It… it was nothing.”

“He was crowding you. That wasn't nothing.” he pressed, his tonefirmer now.

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