Kelly examined a potato chip. ‘I may have been a little harsh in my original assessment.’
Finn grinned. ‘So why exactly are you taking advantage of my hospitality rather than maxing out his credit card at some fancy restaurant?’
‘One, it’s not your hospitality – I’m paying for the pizza. And, two, I was going to study. You know, before the whole egg-chucking incident.’
‘You should go out with this guy. Or someone at least. Maybe it’ll help you relax if you take a break.’
‘I don’t know how to relax.’
She wasn’t joking. Finn had never seen Kelly truly content. There was always something else to do, something more to achieve. She didn’t live in the present, only for future success.
Kelly stuffed a handful of chips into her mouth and spoke through the cacophony of her obscene crunching. ‘Anyway, why would I take relationship advice from a guy whose last actual date required a visit to Blockbuster video?’
Finn raised his chin in mock defiance. ‘For your information, I was asked out on a date of sorts as well – tonight, in fact.’
Kelly raised an eyebrow as she chewed through a mouthful of chips. ‘Of sorts?’
‘Ashley from down the corridor asked me to work out with her.’
‘The hot Italian chick?’
‘She’s Maltese.’
‘And she wants to—’ Kelly made air quotes with her fingers, ‘—“work out” with you.’
‘That she does.’
‘You know that means sex, right? You do know what sex is?’
‘I’m not having this conversation with you.’
Kelly placed her palms on the bench and leaned forwards, a playful smile on her lips. ‘All right, a deal, then. You go out with the hot Maltese chick and I’ll go out with Eli.’
Finn didn’t want to go out with Ashley. He knew it would only end badly. But Kelly desperately needed to do something other than work and study.
‘Does a gym session count as going out?’
‘Only if you have sex on the bench press.’
‘You’re a disgusting human being. I’m going to change the sheets on your bed.’ He smiled as he walked away. She was a ridiculous person who was talking a load of rubbish.
But as he walked into the spare room, he realised he hadn’t thought about the pregnant woman he’d killed since Kelly had started talking.
He sucked in a deep breath, held it for the count of two and exhaled slowly.
Kelly. His best friend.
His antidote.
His warrior.
***
Kelly fell asleep just before ten.
Finn had taken their empty bottles into the kitchen and when he came back, she was curled up on the couch like a purring cat. Finn watched the gentle rise and fall of her chest. The slightly troubled, almost comical frown. The occasional twitch around her eyes. He smiled. She looked so fragile, so harmless – a sleeping koala that would claw your eyes out if you woke it up.
His body was still weak and battered from his gym session, but Finn delicately slipped his arms beneath Kelly’s knees and shoulders. He picked her up, cradling her head in the crook of his elbow, and even though she was small and light, it took an extreme effort to hold her steady and carry her into the spare room.
