Page 38 of Finn's Future

Finn went completely still.

Carefully, like I was giving him the choice to move away, I rested my hand lightly over his. He stared down at it for a long moment, then his fingers turned and threaded through mine. Neither of us moved.

The room stayed quiet except for Finn’s breathing slowly evening out beside me. His hand was rough and warm against mine, though I could still feel the panic lingering in him like it hadn’t fully let go yet.

“You don’t have to stay,” he said eventually, but his fingers tightened slightly around mine when he said it.

“I know.” Still, I didn’t let go.

Finn leaned forward slowly, elbows braced against his knees while our hands stayed linked between us. For a long moment, neither of us spoke.

Then softly, almost like the words hurt coming out, he admitted, “Wasn’t always dreams.”

I looked at him carefully but didn’t push.

Finn swallowed hard once. “Sometimes it was real.”

Suddenly, I understood just how much pain he carried around inside himself every single day. Without thinking, I shifted closer, our thighs touching. Finn went tense for half a second before the tension slowly eased back out of him again.

His thumb brushed once against mine before he muttered, “You should really go back to bed.”

A small smile pulled at my mouth. “You keep saying that.”

That earned the faintest huff of laughter from him.

Eventually, Finn let go of my hand first, though his fingers lingered against mine for half a second too long.

“You should sleep,” he said.

That time I didn’t argue.

Finn stood slowly and walked me back down the hallway without saying much.

At the bedroom door, I turned toward him. Finn’s gaze dropped briefly to my mouth before shifting away again.

“Night, Kate.”

“Goodnight, Finn.”

He waited until I climbed back into bed before softly shutting the door behind him.

Chapter 16

Kate

We’d been at Finn’s house for a week and had started to settle in a little. We had gotten into a routine where he made breakfast and I made dinner. He’d even helped out with Noah a couple of times.

Careful not to wake Noah, I slipped out of bed and padded downstairs for water. Voices drifted from the kitchen, calm and deep. I slowed automatically before reaching the door.

“Should’ve listened the first time,” someone said.

“Probably thought we were bluffing,” Finn replied.

A quiet chuckle followed. “People always do.”

I stepped closer before I could stop myself, bare feet cold against the hardwood floor.

“So, what now?” Finn asked.