* * *
After saying our goodbyes, the rest of the band headed off to celebrate more at Nate’s house party, but Fin explained to them that he was ready for some alone time with me. They all poked fun at him and did the whole ‘We know what you’re gonna do’ sing song bit. I was sure I was on the verge of spontaneous human combustion as the heat in my cheeks reached near volcanic levels.
Fin led me by the hand out of the club, and the welcome blast of chilled evening air caressed my burning cheeks.
He laced his fingers with mine. ‘Are you sure you don’t mind us just going back to your place?’ he asked as we sauntered along Hanover Street, hand in hand.
I shook my head and smiled. ‘Not at all. I was just surprised you didn’t want to go celebrate such a successful night.’
He raised his eyebrows briefly. ‘Iamgoing to celebrate. Just not with loads of other people around.’ His sexy half smile made me melt with the promise of what was to come.
‘You really don’t like being the centre of attention, do you?’
He pursed his lips and scrunched his nose. ‘Nah. Not really my thing. Don’t get me wrong, I love the buzz of being on stage and performing when I’m in the zone. But that buzz lifts pretty damn quick as soon as I leave the stage. I’m not the kind of person who’d handle all the shit that goes along with being well known. I’m happy to get up and do my bit and then return to being plain oldmeafter.’
My heart screamed,But Fin,there’s absolutely nothing plain about you.But I reined myself in before blurting it out and instead settled on,‘No chance of you going on Britain’s Got Talent then, huh?’
His hearty laugh did funny things to every muscle below my waistline, and he squeezed my hand. ‘Nope. Not a kitty in Hades’ chance, sweetheart. But... I’d settle for being the centre ofyourattention instead.’
Oh. My. God.‘I think I could take delight in that scenario too.’
We walked along in silence for a while, until a thought crossed my mind and the words left my mouth before I could stop them. ‘I bet your mom and dad would’ve been proud of you tonight.’
I glanced over at him and his handsome smile had been replaced with a scowl. He laughed derisively. ‘Not likely. He rang me tonight, actually.’
I stopped in my tracks. ‘Your dadcalled?Tonight? When? What did he say?’
His nostrils flared. ‘Right before the gig. He said that it was a joke me getting up on a stage and that I was doing my best to ruin the family name. But apart from that, it was all sparkles and rainbows. Oh, and I smashed my bloody phone after.’
I stepped in front of him and cupped his face in my hands. ‘Oh Fin, I’m so sorry.’
‘Don’t be. It’s what I expect.’
‘Is he like this with Callum too?’
He smiled. ‘Yes and no. My brother is as strong-willed and stubborn as my dad. My brother became a GP so he’s still doing something worthwhile even if it’s not law. Although they didn’t like Tori when he met her. She’s not from a well to do family so she was beneath him in their opinion. That seems to have changed since Charlotte came along. Suddenly she’s a wonderful mother and they couldn’t be happier. It’s all so false.’
‘Don’t they want you to be happy? Isn’t that the main job of a parent, to ensure their children’s happiness?’
He shrugged. ‘You’d think so, eh? But with my folks it’s all about status. What kind of car you drive, your parentage, your education, your job, your house.’
My heart sank. ‘Oh god they’re going to have a field day with me, then, huh?’
Fin stopped and turned to face me. ‘Star, I don’t care what they think. Not any more. You’re the one I… care about. If they don’t like that they swivel for all I care.’
His words were reassuring. But a dreadful thought popped into my head. ‘They won’t be at the charity ball will they?’
Fin took my hand. ‘Don’t worry. It’s on a date they’re usually out of the country in St Tropez so no, they probably won’t be there.’
Relief flooded me. ‘That’s good. Although probably is still a little ambiguous.’
‘Look, even if they were there I would avoid them so you’d still have nothing to worry about.’
‘I don’t get why he’s like that with you.’
‘Because I’ve decided to stand on my own two feet. He doesn’t like it when he can’t control things.’
I thought about my own mum and dad and my heart ached. Hearing how Fin’s parents treated him made me miss my own tremendously. My lip began to tremble and my eyes stung with unshed tears.
