Page 74 of Wonderstruck

“Speaking of rink time,” Daisy said,setting down the champagne flute paintedwith little tiny daisies, clasping her hands. “I had a really,reallygood conversation with Finn today, said something about enjoying skating with you.”

Goldie’s posture magically straightened,her eyes darting over to me. “Oh yeah! I forgot about this whole thing.” She unfolded her legs, tucking them under herself and used the arm of the chair to rest her elbow. “You said you’d tell us what was going on, so… I’m all ears.”

Cora smiled, sitting up straighter. “God,I’m so ready to hear this.”

I was positive these girls would thrive inRegency-era London. Bunch of gossip mongers.

Knowing that there was no way they’d letme leave this room without supplying them with every last detail of what was happening between me and Finn, I sighed. Admitting defeat.

I placed down the frame that was coveredin tiny pink hearts and shuffled around on the cushion below me, clearing my throat before setting my eyes on the girls.“I told you guys about how we made adeal; I’d help him with French if hehelped me get back on the ice for the first time.” They all nodded, giddy smiles in place. “Well, that’s all it was supposed to be. We were friends helping friends and that’s all I ever really imagined it would be, given… you know.”

The girls nodded, saving me from sayingit.

“But, it’s like the Finn who turned medown last year never existed. Like I’ddreamt the entire thing, because…” I sucked in a breath, snippets from the last few weeks floating through my head. “When I’m with him he looks at me like… I don’t even know how to describe it… like I’m the only thing he wants to pay attention to. Like he’s been waiting his whole life for just a moment with me.”

Goldie perked up. “I’m sorry, we’re alltalking about the same Finn aren’t we?”She points to Daisy. “Her brother?”

My eyes widen, and my wrists flick. “Right? I’m not the only one who thinksthis sounds crazy.”

Cora nodded. “This does sound like you’retalking about an entirely different person. And I know he can be sweet, but he was right mard arse last year. Even after the Lions won their games.”

Goldie pushed her body up, her other handcupping her cheek. “You two avoided each other last year like you both had the black death or something.”

I nodded my head. “I know what changedon my end. But for the life of me, I have no idea why he's so hellbent on making things right—”

“It might be my fault,” Daisy announced.

I tilted my head. “What?”

She shuffled forward, chewing her bottomlip. “Before we came back I told him that he needed to make amends with you. For his own good. For yours. For the integrity of the group. Because I knew that if you two kept avoiding each other things between all of us, even the guys, would eventually break apart. And I didn’t want that to happen. So…”

“So you told him to help me?”

She shook her head, her curls bouncing. “Itold him to get over whatever made him turn you down last year and grow up.” She smiled. “Helping you skate was all him.”

I let her words settle.

To get over whatever made himturn you down.

Flashes of the conversations we’d hadbegan to flow through my mind. He saidhe was scared of losing me. He’d said it had more to do with him than it did with me.But the guy bailing me out of my classesdidn’t seem scared. The guy sending me knock-knock jokes that I always managed to laugh at despite them being terrible didn’t act scared.

I couldn’t help but wonder what it was.What was hanging over him to make him back away last year.

I looked at Daisy.

I wonder if she knows.

Even if she did, now wasn'tthe right time to ask her. Asking her might no be the right thing to do at all. Remembering the look on Finn’s face the other day when he admitted all that made me want to hold out hope that he’d be able to overcome whatever it was and tell me himself one day.

“Is that why you’ve been quiet?” Goldie's voice broke through my raging thought, my stare landing on hers. “Because you don’t know what’s happening with Finn?”

My face knotted, my smile pulling tight.“Well,” I shrugged. “Half of the reason.”

Before they could ambush me withquestions, I beat them to it, my voice hesitant. “I got a juniorpass at the recital, which basically means I can compete in competitions if that’s what I want to do. Train forregionalsin six weeks if I want to.”

As I expected, their faces lit up with glee,their wide smiles almost pulling one out of me. But that wasn’t the part I was worried about. What I’d lost sleep over was what came after this.

“Is that a good thing, for you?” Goldieasked, her voice like a hug.

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