CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

F inn

I guide Noah to the pink couch and plop down beside him. We've got this. Maybe I panicked earlier, but Daniela is right. We'll smash these interviews. Team management will be happy, and we'll have the blissful satisfaction of those who've gone through their checklists early.

So what if Noah and I have to pretend to be madly in love in front of unfriendly strangers with the ability to broadcast any faux-pas to a degree that would make your average mean girl steam with jealousy?

The door opens, and Rex Manley from Sports Showcase saunters in.

Shit.

I mean, we've got this. Totally. I'm not nervous. No way. Not me.

His lips contort into a smirk, and his eyes dance. He settles into an armchair, also pink, then places his pad of paper onto his lap. His pants stretch around once-muscular thighs—I've seen videos of his old games.

Rex knows sports. He's been following me for years.

"I never thought we would be having this conversation," Rex says. "Maybe the vlogs should have given me a clue."

I clear my throat, unsure what to make about his comment. "Rex, this is my husband, Noah. Noah, this is Rex Manley."

"You don't need to make introductions. We're not friends."

"I'm being polite," I mutter.

"That won't score you extra points."

I press my lips together. Is Rex trying to irritate me? Did he take a course on how to be a hard-hitting journalist? Or did we lose our earlier camaraderie when he found out I'm married to a man?

Rex is an ex-hockey player and decent enough at writing or at least frowning into the camera and speaking in solemn tones to earn him a spot on Sports Showcase.

He's also about twenty years older than anyone on my team.

"Noah, how do you like being part of the NHL?" Rex asks.

I frown. That's not a question I can answer. I want to do the talking here, at least on our first interview, so Noah can see how it's done.

I've given interviews before. Noah hasn't.

"I'm grateful for the opportunity," Noah says.

"You had quite the spill on your first appearance. I was certain that was the end of seeing you."

Noah tenses, and I slide my hand over his. I'm not sure if it will make him more relaxed, or more cognizant that he's found himself married to a man instead of a woman, but his shoulders ease, his breath comes more evenly, and I do not remove my hand.

"Noah is a talented player," I say. "Everyone has a bad night, and the first entry to the NHL can be nerve racking. Noah has performed well the other nights."

"And yet the Blizzards have entered a losing streak."

"A temporary one," I assure him.

"Hmph." Rex examines his notes, shaking his head. "I can't get over the fact we're having this interview. I never thought you would marry a man, Finn."

I try to conjure some of the cold wrath my ancestors excelled at. "I fell in love."

"Do you have a history of dating men? How were you able to keep your proclivities secret for so long?"

I hate the way Rex says proclivities. I hate the way smirks settle onto his face with frequency. I hate the way his voice wobbles, as if barely able to contain laughter.

I suddenly understand why Evan and Vinnie have not made a formal announcement that they are dating, and I think I understand why Vinnie overreacted at Noah's astonishment when Evan and Vinnie kissed.

"I fell in love with Noah," I say, "because he is the best person for me. I enjoy spending time with him. We have similar interests. And no one can call him bad looking."

Noah tenses, and a rose color spreads over his cheeks. Does he want me to stop holding his hand? Or would that look strange?

My breath quickens as I debate, and it's only after Rex clears his throat, that I realize I haven't said anything.

"Anyway," I continue. "Nothing about the fact we got together is shocking."

"A sudden marriage is shocking," Rex says.

"You can call me efficient. And I want to use that same efficiency to ensure that the Blizzards wins over and over. Other teams should be afraid."

"I see." Rex scribbles something.

A knock sounds on the door, and Daniela peeks her head into the room. "I have your next interviewer."

Rex rises. "That's enough information. Congratulations on your marriage."

I'm not certain his congratulations are heartfelt, but I will take the politeness.

Another interviewer steps into the room, and from the man's dyed blue hair and wide-eyed grin, I'm not surprised when Daniela announces that he's from an LGBT magazine.

"I am so thrilled to be here," the reporter, Jeremy Jones, exclaims.

Noah and I nod, but guilt rages through my body.

We stepped into this role accidentally, and though it's good if other athletes become comfortable being their true selves, I feel like I've usurped someone's role.

Maybe Noah feels the same, and I tighten my grip on his hand.

Jeremy's gaze falls to our entwined hands, and his beam grows. "Tell me about how you first met." He leans closer, his eyes sparkling. "Was it love at first sight? How did you meet?"

And this is why we should have gotten our stories straight.

NOAH

Finn squirms on the couch, and though the reporter hasn't recognized how much the question unnerves him, I certainly have.

It wouldn't look great to tell him that Finn and I met a week ago. That's the sort of thing that might make people think our marriage won't last.

"Finn has been the highlight of my day for years. I followed his vlogs," I explain, before the reporter can think we were cheating on the people we were actually dating back then.

"I think Noah knew me better than a lot of my friends," Finn says after a startled beat. "So when we did meet, it felt right. And of course, we have a lot in common."

Finn and I gaze at each other.

"You're so cute!" the interviewer exclaims. "It's obvious how devoted you are to each other. I do a lot of these interviewers, and you really stand out."

I shoot the interviewer a wobbly smile.

Finn nudges my shoulder. "We're happy we can live in a world where we can get married and be true to ourselves and, um, everyone else."

The interviewer beams and bursts forth with more congratulations, and before long Daniela has the next interviewer.

The rest of the day passes in a blur. I think it goes well. I think everyone believes that we are a couple. If I'm honest, I'm surprised how willing people are to believe that. If Finn wanted to date a man, he would have many options. He wouldn't choose me.

Finally, there are no more interviewers, and Finn ushers me downstairs. My parents smile when we approach, and after another elegant dinner at another elegant restaurant, this time with Finn's parents, we return to the apartment.

After we say goodnight to my parents, we slip into Finn's bedroom, and the awkwardness returns in full force.

"Did you really watch all my vlogs?" Finn asks.

I want to lie and tell him I was exaggerating. It's embarrassing how important a part Finn played in my day over the past few years.

But I can't lie to Finn.

"You won me over a long time ago." I bite my lip. "And maybe that's why I'm here. All those videos on meditation and clean eating... Some of the other people on my team in Providence were stronger, but I was the person who was called up to join the Blizzards, not them."

Finn smiles. "I'm glad."

We change and slide under the covers.

"We make a good team," Finn says. "I don't think I could have as effectively pretended to be dating anyone else."

"Same." I gaze into Finn's eyes, then pull away, conscious that I'm staring. Heat floods my cheeks, and I practically dive for the bedside lamp, flinging my side of the bed into darkness.