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His smiling face swims in my mind’s eye and I immediately feel a strange sense of calm. When did this happen? When did Finn become the person I turn to in times of crisis? I’m not sure, but it doesn’t bother me nearly as much as it should.
I pull out my phone and open up my chat history with Finn. I haven’t responded to his last messages yet and the sight of them makes me smile.
Finn
Hope you’re enjoying your day off.
Miss you.
I take a deep breath and wipe away the tears that are still falling.
Amber
Are you at the club?
His response is immediate.
Finn
That’s a silly question.
I snort.
Amber
Fair.
I’ll be there soon. Need to see you.
Finn
Is everything all right?
Amber
It will be.
20
FINN
I tapmy fingers against my thigh, eyes narrowed on the office door. It’s been a full hour since Amber last messaged me, and I have no idea where she is.
I’m not sure what’s happened since she refused to elaborate over text, but I know something definitely isn’t right. She told me that she was going to bring her mother and her mother’s husband to visit her new house today. Did something happen? I frown. From what she’s told me about them, they’re not my favourite people in the world and it wouldn’t surprise me if they’ve said or done something to upset her today.
The more I think about it, the more I’m sure that’s the case. Why else would she be coming into work on the only day off she’s had over the last three months? It’s only just midday and I know how much she was looking forward to having one day without having to worry about The August Room or the new hotel project Cynthia dumped on her.
I’m about to drive myself crazy wondering what could have happened, when the office door flies open. Amber kicks the door closed behind her, strides across the room, and without saying anything, wraps her arms around me and buries her face in my chest. I feel a wet patch forming on my shirt where her head currently is, and alarm bells immediately start ringing.
Is she crying?
“Hey, hey,” I whisper as I run my hands down her arms and gently pry her off me. “What happened, sweetheart?”
Sheiscrying, and by the looks of it, she’s been doing it for a while. Her eyes are bloodshot and swollen, and her cheeks are stained with tears. My heart breaks, quickly repairs itself, and then shatters all over again when she takes a shaky breath.
"I could really use that distraction right now.” She’s trying to crack a joke, but the pain in her eyes makes it fall flat.
I wrap my arms around her and squeeze tightly, wanting so badly to undo whatever it is that’s caused this. “What happened?” I ask her again, my mind racing with worst case scenarios. “Did someone hurt you?”
