“When I got home, I was hurting. Bad. I’d been counting on another few years in the pros. Of being able to go for a decent run without limping for the rest of the day. Losing Mom was fucking shitty; something none of us will ever be okay with.” Moving on wasn’t an option; he’d always be missing that part of himself, as would they all.
Zoe nodded. “And Trace? You two were joined at the hip back in the day. This time, it’s like you weren’t willing to let her back in.”
“Getting back together with Trace was a mistake. I never should have crossed that line. Never should have strung her along like that. But it’s over now, and I’m glad she realized it before it was too late, that I don’t deserve her.”
Zoe countered, “Do you deserve Haley?”
He grimaced; her comment stabbed straight into his gut. “Watch it. Haley and I are… no, you know what? You’re the one that said I should have a fling. Haley doesn’t want anything from me, and I don’t have any expectations from this whole thing. I’m having fun with a beautiful woman who makes me laugh. Isn’t that the point of a fling?”
After a long-ass pause, Scott drained the last sip of his drink. “Mom would have had your back. No matter what. Unless you were being a douchebag. I’m glad you’re happy, but there’s more to life than a good lay.”
Finn and Zoe both raised eyebrows at him. Even for a cool dad, that was a whole conversation he’d never expected. What dad said douchebag? He didn’t even say it himself.
“Oh, shut it. You kids know what I mean. We need to live our lives. I’ve been doing a little soul-searching, trying to figure out what your mom would think of all that’s going on with us these days. Finn, be careful with Haley. For her and for you. Don’t string her along, but don’t you doubt for a moment that you deserve to be happy. We all like Trace, but if she doesn’t light your fire, then it’s a good thing it ended before you were in too deep.” Scott rose from the stool and walked to the door. Hand on the bronze plate by the lock, he gazed out at the empty street before turning back. “I’m kicking you kids out of the house. Not today. Not tomorrow. But it’s time for tough love before you kill each other. Or drive me bonkers. You’ve got four weeks.” He nodded to Finn. “Clock’s tickin’. Better schedule those interviews, or not, if that’s not the direction you choose to go. But don’t dick around or time will make the decision for you.”
Well shit. Is this how Pops treated his players on the high school team? Move your ass or get it handed to you. Finn rose from the stool and walked to the door. “What about you?”
“Me?”
“Yeah. Going to move out or make the houseyours? I’m not saying you need to forget her, but you need to be you. As much as you loved Mom’s taste, it was hers. Do you enjoy silk flowers and embroidered armchairs? What’s going to make you happy?”
Zoe laughed from her post in the kitchen doorway. “Oh my. He is sleeping with an interior decorator, isn’t he?”
“Shut the hell up,” he shot back, biting his lip to mask his grin.
Scott nodded, considering. “Think she’s available for hire? That she wouldn’t mind helping create my man cave?”
Chuckling, Finn shook his head and flipped the sign toClosed. Close enough to quitting time. “I’ll ask.”
Wrappingaroundherlikea warm summer breeze, Finn’s strength, his unassuming snuggle pulled her from a strange dream as he rested his hand on her abdomen. Cuddling in tighter, she rested her hand over his. His lips brushed over her bare shoulder, soft, sleepy, and then he laid his head on the pillow behind her, holding her close.
Flashing through her veins like lightning, her chest ached, her pulse pounded in her ears, and her breath came faster than she could handle. Lightheaded, she squeezed her eyes shut to block the memories.
She hadn’t done this in months.
Sensing her go stiff, Finn whispered, “Hey, you okay?”
Unable to speak for fighting back the tears that threatened to flood out of her eyes, she nodded.
“No, you’re not. What’s up?” His voice crooned against the darkness.
Sliding out of the sheets, she stole away to the bathroom. After splashing her face with cold water, she leaned against the counter and let rage overtake the panic. Why did she let him do this to her?
Giving it a few minutes until she was sure she had a handle on it, even if she was still furious, she turned the knob and shut the light back off. She tiptoed back to bed.
In the blue glow of the moon, Finn sat up in the bed, watching. Waiting.
Unable to get closer, her skin prickling, sensitive, she sat on the edge of the bed and stared blankly into the darkness of the backyard.
“Anything I can do?”
She shook her head.
“Something I did?”
She shook her head again, still not trusting herself to speak.
“Want me to go?” He murmured, a crackle in his voice.
