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“Are you going to tell her?”
“No.” I shake my head again.
“I’m sorry if this is out of line, but don’t you think she should know? I mean, she is your mom after all.”
“She’s the woman who gave birth to me. She’snotmy mom. Never has been. Besides, I wouldn’t know how to find her even if I wanted to. Which I don’t. If I had to guess she’s either dead or living on the streets with a needle permanently attached to her arm. Either way, I don’t want to know. I shut the door on that part of my life a year and a half ago and I don’t ever plan to open it again. If she wanted to be my mom, she would have done it when I was a child. It’s too late now.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry,” he says, clearly seeing that he’s struck a nerve.
“Don’t be. I just don’t want to add her to the list of things I have to worry about. If I allow myself to think on it for too long then I will. I act like I hate her and maybe a part of me does, but the other part of me...”
“Loves her,” he finishes my sentence. “Despite everything she’s done, she’s still your mom.”
“God, I can only imagine how this must all seem to you. My life has always been a bit of a hot mess express.”
“Well you’re the prettiest damn hot mess I’ve ever seen,” he tells me, giving my hand a squeeze.
“You know, it’s still not too late to make a run for it.” I turn toward him, resting the side of my head against the headboard of the bed.
“I don’t want to go anywhere.” Reaching out, he trails the tips of his fingers down my cheek. “I’m exactly where I want to be.”
“Good. Because I don’t want you to go anywhere,” I whisper.
Abel leans in so close that our noses are almost touching, his gaze holding mine.
“I’m going to kiss you now,” he tells me but makes no attempt to move any closer.
“Okay.” I push past the nervous lump in my throat.
I can’t see his lips but I feel the smile on them as they brush gently against mine. It’s a tentative kiss, slow and unsure at first, but it doesn’t take long before it quickly intensifies.
“Hey, Fin.” Claire’s voice causes us to jump apart and I look up right in time to see her step through the door.
Her eyes go to me and then to Abel before moving back to me. Realizing she walked in on something, she quickly starts to apologize while backing out of the room.
“Claire, wait.” I laugh, having never seen my sister quite so flustered before.
“I’m so sorry,” she tells us, pausing in the doorway. Her cheeks are pink with embarrassment. I’m not sure what the hell she has to be embarrassed about. I was the one in here practically swallowing Abel’s face. “I just wanted to tell you that the food’s ready.”
“You hungry?” I turn toward Abel who seems completely unphased by the intrusion.
“I could eat.” He smiles.
“Great.” Claire nods. “I’ll just go set the table then.”
“Don’t.” I throw my legs over the side of the bed. “Let’s eat in the living room. I don’t feel like sitting in those hard chairs,” I tell her, slowly pushing to a stand.
I wobble slightly, my legs still pretty weak. Within seconds, Abel appears at my side and Claire is moving toward me.
“I’m okay,” I reassure them both, holding my hands up. “My legs are just a little weak.”
“Let me help you,” Abel insists, linking his arm through mine despite the fact that I’m perfectly capable of walking on my own.
“That’s really not necessary.” I look up at him.
“Maybe I just want an excuse to be close to you. Did you ever think of that?” He leans down and rubs his nose against mine. My knees wobble again, only for a completely different reason this time.
“Okay, on that note.” Claire reminds us of her presence. I look up just in time to see her spin and disappear into the hallway.
