“I know Bonnie thinks I’m crazy. I still live in the same small town where I grew up—tourists in the summer, quiet in the winter. But I like it there. I love being by the lake. I love the familiarity of it.”
“So how did she convince you to come here?”
“She needed me,” Penny answered simply. “She’s my best friend, and she needed me.”
His arms tightened gently around her, and his chin settled to rest on her shoulder. For a moment, she thought he was outof questions, but he had one more. “And how does it feel being here?”
Here, she thought to herself, right here sitting between your legs with your arms around me? But she answered, “Wonderful, adventurous, scary, and overwhelming.”
“All together?”
“Yup.”
He pulled her even closer so that his cheek was pressed against hers. “I’m glad you came.”
“I am too.”
They stayed that way for a long time, talking quietly on and off, Finn asking her random questions about her family and her life growing up. But he didn’t kiss her again. As much as she wanted him to, she was okay with this—being pressed against his chest, his arms wrapped around her, her fingers entwined with his.
Eventually, there was no denying that they were both getting tired. “We should head back. Get some sleep before Von wakes.”
The mention of Bonnie’s name stirred something in her—the feeling of wrong-doing.
Finn’s fingers closed around hers after lifting himself off the ground. “Come on. I know a shortcut.”
But how could this be wrong? She would explain to Bonnie. If she just told her how right it felt, how unlike anything she’d ever had before, surely Bonnie would understand. Wouldn’t she? Or she could not tell her. At least, not yet. Not until she was sure. Was that lying?
“Careful, sleepyhead,” Finn admonished, as she tripped and then nearly let herself fall.
Her eyes were barely open by the time he steered her into the house. She’d meant to object, to let him have the other bed. But she was too tired to find the words.
“And here we go again,” he said as he slipped her shoes off, tucking her legs up onto the mattress for her.
She wanted to ask him what he meant by that, but even the thought was too much to hold onto, never mind forming the words.
She woke to the sound of the door opening and someone moving around the room. Curtains were being pulled back so that even with her eyes closed, she sensed the change in light.
“Come on, sleepyhead, wake up,” she heard Bonnie’s voice. “The day will be gone, and we’ll have done nothing.”
“Uhhhh,” Penny groaned, not wanting to move.
Then, her covers were being pulled from her. She made a feeble attempt to grab them, but it was too late.
“What the? You’re still in your clothes. How late did you and Finn stay up?”
It was the mention of his name that finally prompted her to wake. “Huh?”
“I woke him up as well,” Bonnie continued, oblivious to Penny’s reaction. “Not on purpose. But I didn’t expect him to still be sleeping on the couch when I got up. He’s usually an early riser. And so are you.”
“Coffee,” Penny mumbled. Without covers or peace, she asked for the only other thing that could help.
“We couldn’t find any. Finn’s gone out to the shop to get some and some other things for breakfast.”
“Then can’t I sleep until he gets back?” Penny pleaded.
“I’ve already been waiting for you to wake for over an hour. I went for a walk after I discovered Finn. It’s almost twelve. Come on. I’ll let you have the blanket if you come sit on the couch with me.”
Penny peeked over at her doubtfully.
