"Because..." I trailed off, staring down at my coffee.
"Does he have someone else?" Finn asked gently, watching me over the rim of his cup.
"No," I said, my voice a little too fast.
"He doesn't want you?"
"No." I let out a sharp breath. "He does."
Finn tilted his head, eyes narrowing slightly. "So you don't love him."
A bitter little laugh escaped me before I could stop it. "I do."
His expression softened. "So he hurt you?"
"Yes." The word landed like a stone between us. His brows knit together, concern flickering in his eyes, so I rushed to clarify. "Not like that! Actually..anyway, he said things, he did things.."
Finn was quiet for a moment, then asked carefully, "Is he sorry?"
I hesitated, staring down at my hands. "Yeah. He is."
Finn leaned forward slightly, elbows on the table. "Then is this really about what he did? Or is it about you—about being scared to trust him again?"
Something in me just broke. The words tumbled out before I could stop them.
"I'm terrified, okay?" My voice cracked, raw and sharp in the quiet café. "I am terrified of trusting him again, of opening up, of believing it's safe only to have the floor drop out from under me. I can't survive another heartbreak like that. I can't."
Finn didn't interrupt. I finally looked away, embarrassed by how exposed I felt, he spoke.
"Did you ever actually talk to him about it?"
"I think so," I muttered, frowning down at my coffee.
"Youthink so?" He leaned forward, elbows on the table. "I mean, did you sit him down and address every single horrible thing he said or did? Did you actually say the words out loud and let him hear how badly he hurt you?"
I swallowed hard. "Yes... I... well, I guess... I don't know."
"Then you haven't done it," Finn said gently, but with a firmness that made my stomach twist. "And as long as you haven't facedthe ugly stuff, the words, the actions, the things that made you bleed, you can't really move on."
I felt heat rise in my chest, anger or fear, I couldn't tell. "You don't get it. I'm scared of what he'll say back, Finn. What if he confirms all my worst fears?''
I stayed quiet for a moment, then whispered, "What if it hurts?"
He met my gaze steadily. "What if it heals?"
Chapter 24: Open Bruises
When we stepped out of the café, I surprised even myself by pulling Finn into a hug. He didn't hesitate, just held me tightly, steady and warm in a way I didn't know I needed until that moment.
I breathed out shakily. "Thanks. For listening."
"Anytime," he said softly, letting me go first so it wouldn't feel like he was holding on too long.
As I turned to head home, my heart gave a sharp jolt. Ryder was there. Standing by the lamppost a few feet away, watching us. The look on his face was like a punch—pained, raw, but carefully restrained.
He turned his eyes away the second mine met his, but he didn't leave. Instead, he fell into step beside me without a word,walking me home. The silence stretched, tense and humming with something unspoken. The air between us felt charged, my chest tight with everything I wasn't saying.
Finally, I blurted, "Finn is just a friend."
