Holy shit.
Holy. Shit.
I don’t want you to wait.
That’s exactly why I’ll do it.
He knew. He knew exactly why I was distancing myself from him. He could see it on me so clearly, like a beacon in the darkness and he told me exactly what he thought of it.
That’s exactly why I’ll do it.
“When he leaves?” Wren asks in disbelief, but her voice sounds like it’s a million miles away. “Lee, the man has been in love with you since we were fifteen, and you think he’s going to get bored andleave?”
I’ve been so stupid. Wren is right, why the hell was I letting my insecurities fuel such a useless thought when the evidence against it was so clear in front of me?
Without even wasting a second, I’m up and racing toward the front door.
“Wait, Oakleigh!”
I turn to face my best friend. “I have to go.”
Her laugh is light and filled with amusement. “I know you do, but you gotta get changed first. You look like shit.”
* * *
Wren offers to drive since she knows exactly where her brother is. The entire journey over to Eaglewood, I’m a chaotic bundle of nerves, leg bouncing, teeth chattering, fingers tapping. I’m anxious, excited, and confused all at once.
I become even more confused when we end up driving past Goldleaf Farm, further down the road until we reach another dirt road that leads to a wide patch of land that looks like it could hold at least five football fields. There’s a large concrete foundation at the beginning of the land, and in front of it, the rest of our group of friends lounges on the grass, drinking beers and conversing lightly.
I barely wait for Wren to put the car in park before I’m out of it, ignoring her protests completely.
It’s Sam who spots me first, a knowing smile tugging at his lips.
“New bet!” he yells, causing everyone except the one man I’m here to see to turn and spot me marching over. Finn remains in the one sun chair that sits directly in front of the foundation. He’s slumped in it so that he rests his head against the back, his eyes closed.
“Oh, I am so in,” Bash smiles, blowing me a kiss.
Raze, the newest addition, lifts his head from where he’s lying on his back. He smiles and looks over at Finn.
“Hey, boss. You might want to get in on this one.”
“What makes you think that?” Finn asks, and my steps falter at the sound of his deep, mellow voice. God, I’ve missed it.
He looks over at Raze who flicks his head toward me.
Finn looks back and sees me standing behind him. His eyes widen like crazy and he’s not graceful at all when he gets up.
“Cherry,” he breathes. “You’re…you’re here.”
“Can we talk?” I ask.
He looks around at our friends before nodding and motioning over to a tree that’s off to the side.
I hesitate. “You going to let me walk to the tree this time?”
His lips twitch. “I’m more than happy to carry you over if that’s what you want.”
I follow him over to the base of the tree, a gorgeous willow that provides some much-needed shade from the unrelenting sun.
