Page 100 of On Thin Ice

How long had he wanted Morgan to be there for him, and it had never felt like he was? Or that his support had strings and requirements, benchmarks he’d always felt obligated to meet—or even worse, to exceed?

And yet here he was, giving his time and his attention and his support to Finn, without him even asking for it.

“Well, I am making an effort,” Morgan said testily. And maybe that was the problem, Finn realized. They were the same, in so many ways. That Reynolds blood holding true, from father to son.

“You can just be my dad, you know,” Finn reminded him as they walked out the front door together.

“I want to be,” Morgan admitted, and glanced over at him, worry creasing his expression, “but I don’t know how to do that.”

“You must hate that,” Finn joked, because it was easier to make light of it than it was to really think about what his dad was saying.I’m trying, but I don’t know how so I’m gonna fuck it up. A lot.

Not that he hadn’t already. A lot.

“It’s the fucking worst,” Morgan agreed. He glanced over at Finn. “I’m sorry if I do fuck it up. That Ihavefucked it up. Especially because I don’t think I even knew I was doing it.”

“Jacob must’vereallytalked to you,” Finn said.

The apology felt good. He’d needed it and hadn’t even realized it, but there was more, too. More he needed. The action of continuing to show up, to be the father he’d never really been, before.

“And your mom,” Morgan said hesitantly.

“Oh. I didn’t know you still talked to her,” Finn said.

“Sometimes, yeah.” Morgan cracked a smile. “She’s good at setting me straight when nobody else can.”

“I’d imagine so,” Finn said.

“And so are you. And . . .as much as it pains me to admit it . . .apparently Braun is too.”

“How hard was that?” Finn questioned innocently.

Morgan made a face and elbowed him back. “Hard, okay? I’m never going tolikehim, but . . .I’m glad you have someone coaching you, who’s helping you. You look great out there. I mean that. As a dad. And a hockey player.”

“Don’t worry, I don’t think you’d ever be able tonotbe a hockey player.”

“Probably not. But I’m trying.”

“Good,” Finn said, nodding.

“Come on,” Morgan said, “let’s grab some lunch.”

Chapter 14

“Thisfuckingsucks,”Finnhissed under his breath as he and Jacob grabbed a booth in Sammy’s.

It was after practice, three days after Morgan had shown up in Portland, apparently intending to stay for the next two months.

Finn never would’ve guessed that his father would be such an extraordinary cockblocker, but he was.

Every time Finn carved out time—between hockey practices and classes and homework—to spend with Jacob, his dad would text, wanting to grab coffee or have dinner or he “just happened to be driving by campus,” and he’d show up at Finn’s door ten minutes later.

“It’s not ideal,” Jacob agreed with a grimace. He looked around, taking in the students milling around the popular sub and smoothie shop, like he was making sure that Morgan wouldn’t just pop up here, too.

Finn wouldn’t put it past him. That was the worst part.

They were going to have to tell him, and probably sooner than they wanted—if only to get some decent alone time. Andconsidering all of Morgan’s unintentional interference, it wasn’t like they’d had any time to become more comfortable in their new relationship.

“It’s ridiculous,” Finn said, leaning forward. He wanted to kiss Jacob so badly he was practically dying for it, and yet they couldn’t.

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