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“The last thing I remember is us going on that date to the fair.”
She smiled. “Oh, that was the best date ever. Do you remember the bear you won me?”
He smiled. How could he forget? He’d used every last dollar in his wallet to get it for her. She’d pouted because Julie Kent’s boyfriend had already gotten her one. Laura had always been in some silent competition with the other girls. But that was understandable when you came from two parents who only cared about winners. He’d been able to look past her rough edges and see the girl beneath who needed him to show her she was good enough.
“Yeah. That was fun.”
“You told me you loved me that night.” Her gaze bore into him. “Do you remember what else you told me?”
He swallowed and nodded. “I told you I’d never leave you. That you and I were forever.”
She nodded jerkily, turning away slightly. She was silent a moment before she wiped a tear from her cheek.
“I’m sorry. If this is too much, I can go,” Finn said, moving towards the edge of the couch.
Her hand shot out and grabbed his thigh. “Why did you do it, Finn? Why did you leave me for her? What did she have that I didn’t?”
His brows furrowed, pain reflecting in her turquoise eyes. “You cheated on me with Ricky.”
She shook her head. “She told you that. Because she wanted you for herself.”
“What?” No. That can’t be true.
“She lied to you, and you believed her after you told me you loved me. After you promised me forever. I guess I never was enough.” She pulled her arms into her lap.
Finn was torn, his mind running a million miles a minute. One part wanted to comfort Laura. The other wanted to run out of there and track down his wife and ask her what the hell was going on. Would Charli lie to him? No, she didn’t seem like a liar.
Stewart warned me she changed me.
Laura let out a humorless laugh. “After all that, she still cheated on you when you were deployed. Are you even sure that baby is yours?”
The air was ripped from his lungs. His chest threatened to snap under the weight of the blow Laura had just delivered. Confirmation of what he’d suspected. He turned towards her, his body rigid. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m sorry. I know you don’t remember, but I can’t stand by and watch you destroy your life anymore. I still love you, Finn. I never stopped. Even though you hurt me more than anyone ever has. I still want you to be happy.” She placed her hand on his cheek.
He shook his head. “Damon.” The pieces of the puzzle clicked into place.
“Finn?”
Shooting to his feet, Finn needed to get out of there. “I-I’m sorry. I’ve gotta go.”
He grabbed his jacket off the rung and opened the door, running out.
Mind spinning, his heart racing in his chest. He slid on his jacket before grabbing his helmet. Finn got on his bike and flipped his black visor down. Revving the engine, he took off down the otherwise quiet street.
Everything inside him was at war. Spiderwebs of connections lit up. Synapses fired. Panic built. Anger roiled. Houses whipped by. Every muscle was tense as the world as he knew it came crumbling beneath him.
Charli isn’t like that. Is she?
Was he that blinded by the lust between them? Was she that good at playing him? No. The last time he’d gotten a conflicting story off Stewart, Finn had made some big mistakes. It had all turned out to be a misunderstanding. He needed answers.
By the time he turned into the familiar neighborhood, he’d made the decision to keep his meeting with Laura to himself.
He parked his bike and walked up to his parents’ house. Opening the door, he called out, “Mom? Dad?”
“In the kitchen.” His mother’s voice called from deeper within the house.
He took off his shoes, leaving them by the door, and hung his coat before finding his way to his parents. The scent of cinnamon and apple clung to the air.
