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The word tacky floats on the edge of my tongue.
I take a half step sideways. She manages to squeeze her petite frame through the narrow opening regardless.
“Lovely,” I deadpan once she’s out of hearing range. “Realmature.”
“Spreading your legs for me a couple of times doesn’t buy you instant loyalty,” he fires back like he’s waited years to spew the words. “You should understand that better than anyone.”
My eyelids shutter.
Finn digs the knife a little deeper. “At leastsheknew how to say goodbye before walking out.”
“Technically, she said tootles.” I’m irked, but I have no right to be.
“Technicalities,” he piffles, air bouncing past his mouth.
“I came here to try and come to an agreement. To discuss our child,” I say, once again getting us back on topic.
“You mean the one I never knew existed until four days ago?”
I blame his hollow attitude on the leftover lipstick that sits there like a bright-red target needing to be hit. It’s easier to acknowledge his disgrace than focus on what I’d done.
Being around him is starting to burrow something beneath my skin, a growing hate.
“This was a waste of time,” I decide finally.
“You’re right.”
I can barely see him past the slits that are my vision, but my ears work just fine. So quickly does he agree, and I despise it. Hasn’t he told me as much several times over though?Go home. You’re not welcome. You don’t belong.
My arms cross back over my chest as a way of protection rather than defiance.
I shove down my own insecurities, looking him straight in the eye. Pissed as I am for how he’s acting, he has a right to be in our child’s life if he chooses.
“I’m not going to keep doing this. This is the last time I’m going to chase after you. The decision is yours, but know this, Finn.” I pause, stern in my compromise. “Either you’re all in or you’re all out.” No in-betweens. No back-and-forths.Nomaybes.”
Finn’s eyes bulge, his fury glittering like confetti from his sockets.
“Last.” He laughs, mimicking me on a dead noise. “Why don’t you try first? I’ve been the only one to pursue anything between us. Me”—he stabs his index finger to his chest—“Every.Single.Time.”
Either side of his jaw works. Them operating as forcefully as the whoosh of air from the door being slammed in my face.
I’m almost to the curb, thinking I have my answer. He’s out. But then hope blooms inside my chest. The hinges of the door squeak.
“Hey, Hailey…”
More anticipation ignites like a flurry of butterflies in my stomach. Finn changed his mind. He’s in.
The flutters grow, intensifying, while I stay stuck to my spot like my shoes are buried in the pavement.
“Jealousy doesn’t look good on you, babe. She meant about as much to me as you did, and I never even knew her name.”
Those butterflies die a flightless death.
I don’t have to turn around to see how smug he is, but if I did, I imagine he’d have one leg kicked out and crossed over the other. His arms follow a similar pattern.
“It’s hard to miss something I never had…but you already know all about that, don’t you?”
My nails dig into the soft parts of my palms at the sound of the door closing for the final time. I hate that I could hear the smile in his voice on the last part.
