Page 42 of Finn's Future

Finn.

He stepped inside, shoulders broad enough to fill the frame, his eyes catching mine before darting away as he ran his hand through his hair. The air shifted, thick, awkward.

“Just checking in,” he muttered, lingering by the door.

I nodded, getting into bed and curling up with my back half-turned. “We’re fine.”

But the tension in the room was anything but fine. I could feel it, like a live wire humming under my skin. The memory of the club bunny in his lap burned behind my eyes, clashing with the memory of him asleep on the floor, Noah’s tiny hand wrapped around his finger.

He shifted, boots scuffing the floor. “I didn’t . . . with Riley. It wasn’t—” He blew out a sharp breath, scrubbing a hand over his face.

I shrugged, staring at the wall. “Doesn’t matter.”

“Yeah,” he said, his voice low, rough, “it does.”

I wanted to ask him why he cared, why his words twisted inside me like hope. I wanted to tell him how stupid I felt for letting myself imagine what it would be like if he ever looked at me the way I wanted him to.

Instead, I whispered, “You don’t owe me an explanation. You don’t owe me anything.”

When I finally looked over my shoulder, he was closer than before, standing just inside the room.

Finn stared at me like he wanted to say something and hated himself for it at the same time.

“You looked at her like you wanted her,” I whispered before I could stop myself.

“Yeah,” he replied roughly. “Thought I did.”

The words sliced straight through me. I looked away quickly, blinking hard against the sting building behind my eyes.

“But she wasn’t who I wanted on my lap.”

My breath caught.

Silence stretched between us, heavy and sharp.

Finn dragged a hand over his face roughly before looking back at me. “You think this has been easy for me?” he muttered. “Sleeping down the hall from you every night. Pretending I don’t want things I shouldn’t.”

Every part of me locked up.

Finn looked away briefly before speaking again. “You and that kid got under my skin somewhere along the line.”

Emotion swelled painfully in my chest.

He took another step closer without seeming to realize he’d done it. His eyes dropped briefly to my mouth before lifting back to mine.

I found myself sitting up slowly, drawn towards him in a way that felt dangerous. Finn’s breathing roughened slightly, he bent closer.

Then Noah stirred in the cot beside us.

The sound snapped through the room like cold water.

Finn stepped back immediately, dragging both hands through his hair. “Jesus Christ,” he muttered under his breath, before spinning on his heel and leaving the room.

My heart hammered painfully against my ribs.

For one reckless second, I thought he would’ve kissed me.

Chapter 19