Without another word, I turn and storm off.
The second I reach my car, I try to tell myself to calm down, but I’m riled up. I sit there for a while trying to digest the conversation before I start to drive in my furious state, but to know people are talking about us behind our backs when they know nothing?
It kills me.
When I finally arrive home and walk through the front door, my mood immediately calms when I find Finn sitting on the sofa with Skye in his arms as they watch a movie. He has his textbooks sprawled out around him with a notepad on the arm of the sofa and a pen in his other hand.
His green eyes flick to mine as I shut the door. “Hey,” he says softly. “You okay?”
I swallow the agonising lump in my throat. There’s no way in hell I’m going to tell him about my conversation with Alfie. He doesn’t need to know, not when he’s focusing on his recovery.
What’s the point? It’ll only upset him.
“Yeah. How are you? How’s Skye?”
“Been a little restless today,” he confesses. “But okay. I think she likes action-adventure movies.”
I glance at the TV screen to findIndiana Jonesplaying.
A small laugh falls from my lips. “Well, that’s new.”
I shrug off my coat and dump down my bag before walking over to them. I gladly take Skye from his arms and give her forehead a tender kiss.
“How’s coursework going?”
He hums. “Hard, but I think I’m getting the hang of it.”
“Good,” I say. “Multi-tasking like that is honestly a talent.”
Finn starts to remove his books from the sofa and pats the spot beside him. “Sit with me.”
I don’t hesitate, perching beside him as Skye wriggles in my arms.
“Do you have a meeting tonight?”
“Tomorrow. Double whammy. Therapy and a meeting.”
I give him a small smile. “You’re doing so well,” I say with my whole heart.
“Getting there,” he sighs. “So, I’ve been speaking to my parents. How do you feel about going down for Christmas on the twenty-first? I still have some things to do here with therapy, but if you want to go earlier, we can?—”
“No,” I cut him off. “The twenty-first is perfect.”
“Sure?”
“Yeah.” I nod. “I’m really looking forward to it.”
Finn’s eyes soften at my honesty. “It’s going to be good. Ivy hasn’t been home for Christmas in two years. So it’s going to be really special.”
“What do you usually do?”
He releases a quick sigh. “Well, it’ll be my first sober Christmas, so that’s going to be different, but my dad said they’re all going to be sober. No alcohol in sight.”
My heart warms at how much they care for his well-being.
“I’m here for it,” I admit.
“Going to the pub for beers and beach parties is what I practically did all summer.” He drags his tongue over his bottom lip. “So, I’m looking forward to rewriting my future.”
