Page 53 of Rule 1: Never Accidentally Marry Your Teammate

Soon, my dad and Finn chat about hockey, while my mother interrupts to marvel more at the food and the decor.

Finally, we stroll back to the glossy apartment complex, pass the always friendly doorman, and take the elevatorupstairs.

My parents express their thanks for the dinner again, then Finn and I go back to his room.

“You have nice parents,” Finn says, when the door is closed, and he takes off his shirt.

“I-I know.” I remember to avert my gaze, and I pretend that the plain white painted wall is more interesting than Finn’s rippled chest.

“What’s wrong?” Finn asks.

“I thought they might wonder why I married a man.”

“They didn’t have to wonder after they met me.” Finn winks.

I scrutinize the pillows on the bed. “Are those there so I can throw them at you?”

Finn gives a strangled laugh.

I decide violence, even the pillow variety, isn’t how I want to thank Finn for this evening, but when I glance at Finn, he is frowning, as if I did pummel pillows at him.

“Did your parents meet your past girlfriends?” he asks.

“I don’t think my parents will bring them up tomorrow,” I reassure him. “They won’t quiz you.”

His brow remains furrowed. “I just wanted to know.”

“Oh.” I sit on the bed and remove my shirt.

His gaze bounces away from me, then he goes to his chest of drawers and pulls out some pajamas.

“I dated Abby through college. We broke up earlier this year.”

His eyes widen. “Dude, you dated her a long time.”

“I guess.” I stand and remove my belt, sliding it from the loops.

“So you were in love?”

“I thought so.”

“You’re not sure?”

I rake my hand through my hair. “How are we supposed to know what love feels like? It’s something we see other people say they have. Something we watch in movies. Or read about.”

His eyes don’t soften.

“Abby was nice. And smart. She was a premed student. We got along fine.”

“Then why did you break up?”

“Technically, she broke up with me.”

“Oh.” He draws back. “You wouldn’t have broken up with her.”

“Probably not,” I admit, but it’s not a statement that makes me feel proud. “She was sweet. I could have dated her forever.”

Finn blinks rapidly, then turns away. His reaction is strange. I mean, we’ve promised to divorce each other in the next year, but that’s different, right?