Page 38 of Wonderstruck

I was in two minds. About everything.

What Finn was saying made sense. Itwas sensible. Throwing all my moneyinto one lesson would be pointless if I wasn’t sure if I’d even enjoy it.Having that moment, just me, without the pressure to enjoy it because of how much I’d spent to be there, in that moment, it made so much sense that I was almost ready to say yes.

But what kept me was what I’d do for him.

I had no problem tutoring. I was fluent.It would be like teaching someone to breathe it came that naturally to me. The problem was being around Finn. Even existing under him now was enough to call myself a hypocrite. And last week? He stormed off and my heart still had the audacity to jump whenever he looked at me.

I promised myself I wouldn’t let him get close enough to hurt me again, just like Ryan.

So why have you never felt safer than where you’re standing right now?

I looked back up at him, the announcer only getting more prominent with histone. I spared a glance over to the timer left on the break, noting that both he and I had thirty seconds to be back in our positions for the third period.

I met his stare again. “Can I think about it?”

He nodded, that bright smile sweepingacross his face. “Of course you can.”He looked over towards the rink, signalling to someone, probably Jesse from the shadow in my peripheral, that he’d be there in a second, before dropping his stare back onto me. “Do you have my number? In case you make up your mind before I see you next?”

I shook my head. “I don’t have my phone on me, do you?”

He simply smiled at me. “Yes, I always have it on me during games. I just neverknow what pretty girl’s number I’m going to have to take down.”

I knocked my head to the side, ignoring how I could feel my cheeks gettingredder. “I'm starting to remember why you annoy me,” I said as blankly as I could.

He shook his head as his smile turned dopey. “Hey, anything to see you smiling, Ror.” He giggled, but before I could let his words sink in, he shuffled. “Ohwait, actually.” He reached into one of the oversized pockets on his gear, pulling out a pen a second later. He only needed to clock my narrowed eyes before he said, “Sometimes we get the kids from the junior leagues come to the games and ask us to sign things so, I keep it here, just in case.”

Don’t you dare do a flip, heart. I swear to God herself she will shame you foreternity if you do.

“Can I have your hand?”Before I knewwhat was happening, his hand slowly glided under mine, the warmth soothing me in a way it never should have.His palm was soft, holding mine as though it was made of glass.

“Rhodes, get your ass back here!” I turned my head enough to see CoachBurton behind the glass, his face red as a beet.

Finn lifted the hand that had the pen init, not taking his eyes off mine. “Yep, absolutely. I’m heading over right this second.”

I could practically hear the smirk in hisvoice, but all my thoughts faded as Ifelt the pen grace my hand, the sensation making me wriggle.

“Keep still Greene,” he practicallypurred, the pen cap between his teeth.

“Rhodes!” Burton called, but neither ofus paid him any attention.

A second later the feeling faded, and Ilooked down to see Finn’s number written across my hand.

“There.” He said, proud as ever, beforehe stole back my attention. “Think about it, promise me?”

I nodded. “Promise.”

“Rhodes!” Burton yelled.

“God, anyone would think they need meto win or something.” He laughed as he stepped back, and despite everything, a giggle slipped from me too. "Talk soon, okay?"

I swallowed, my breath catching in mythroat. I shouldn’t want this—I knew that. But the girl I was last year took over as I watched him stride away, keeping our eyes locked until the very last second.

Unknown Number

Today at 22:02pm

this might be the wrong number because I sweated a number or two off, but it’s rory.

if that wasn’t already blatantly obvious

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