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“I know how to disperse the crowd!” I yelled.
Clare turned to me with a horrified look. “No, Rory. Don’t do it. Don’t call out F.I.R.E.!”
I gave her a surprised look. “I’m not going to yell fire!”
“Fire? Fire? There’s a fire?” the young girl walking by screamed out.
“No!” Clare and I both screamed, “NO FIRE. NONE!”
The girl spun around and looked at us. “What the fuck is wrong with you two? You could have caused a stampede! Crazy-ass women!”
She stomped off, and I breathed a sigh of relief.
“We need to get a line dance going,” I said. The music had finally stopped and the DJ was taking a quick break.
“We’re not in a country bar, Rory!” Clare replied.
“Keep looking! The crowds are dispersing!”
“Rory?”
The sound of his voice made my entire world come to a standstill. Clare grabbed my hand as I turned and saw Finn. There was a girl standing next to him, looking up at me like I was insane.
He’s here with someone.
I didn’t think it was possible for my heart to hurt even more than it already did.
He’s moved on.
I swallowed hard and started to get off the chair. Finn reached out and grabbed me by the waist, helping me down. My entire body came to life. Tingles raced across my skin as I gazed into his eyes.
“Let me help you,” he said as his eyes lit up. He felt it. I knew he felt it, too.
“You’re going to break your neck.”
I turned to see Wes helping Clare down. They way they looked at each other had me smiling. Until Finn asked, “What are you doing here?”
His anger-filled question pissed me off. Here he was with some bimbo who was clearly barely old enough to drink and he was asking what I was doing here.
“Celebrating a possible new job.”
His brows lifted.
“Well, not really yet. I’m not sure if I want the job.”
“Promotion?”
My eyes drifted over to the girl next to him. She smiled and reached her hand out. “Hi there. I’m Alexia.”
Tears formed in my eyes, and I hated myself for letting my jealousy show. “Angie’s friend. I’m here with Angie and Wes.”
“And me,” Finn added.
Alexia looked at Finn, then back to me.
I nodded and forced the next words out. “It’s nice to…uh…it’s nice to meet you, Alexia.”
“It’s um…it’s great meeting you finally. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
My brows pinched together in confusion. Why would Finn be talking to his date about me? I chewed on my lip as I took in every inch of her before focusing back on Finn. “I’ve been calling. Have you gotten my messages?”
He didn’t say a word.
I took a step closer to him and he backed away, causing me to draw a sharp intake of air. Could he not even stand to be near me? “Finn, please will you let me talk to you? Please?”
He directed his gaze over my shoulder before looking back into my eyes. “We were just leaving. You guys have fun celebrating.”
“Finn!” I cried out as I grabbed his arm.
“Don’t touch me, Rory,” Finn shouted. When he pulled his arm from my grasp, I stumbled back and nearly fell. Colton had to steady me.
A look of horror moved across Finn’s face. He gently took me by the arms. “I’m sorry, Éan. Are you okay?”
He’d used my pet name, and I felt a small spark of hope rush through my body. The only thing I could do was answer him truthfully. “No. I’m far from okay, Finn.” Tears instantly poured from my eyes. “I’m lost without you. Please talk to me. Please let me explain.”
He searched my face as his eyes watered. “I can’t. I can’t do this again.”
Dropping his hold on me, he turned and walked away. I tried to call out his name, but it came out as a whispered “Finn” instead.
Alexia walked up to me. “I’m not with him. I swear to you he’s been alone all night, and I think he was only trying to make you jealous by making you think we were on a date.”
I nodded, then forced a smile. I felt so tired all of a sudden. “Thank you, Alexia.”
With a sympathetic look, she turned on her heels and followed Finn and Wes toward the door. Colton walked up to me and drew me into his arms. Burying my face in his chest, I cried.
“Why won’t he let me explain? I love him, Colton.”
He pushed me back at arm’s length. “Why then, Rory?”
Fighting for air, I forced the words out. “My…father. He threatened to fire…Finn! I didn’t…know…what to do!”
A shocked expression hit Colton’s face. “What? He threatened you with Finn’s job?”
Clare walked up to us. “Rory’s father told her if she didn’t break up with Finn, he was going to have him fired. She didn’t know what else to do.”
Colton turned back to me. “Rory, you should have told Finn this.”
