Page 113 of Wonderstruck

“Tried to what?” Finn asked, his voice laced withsubtle anger as he knelt in front of her.

“Cora?” My voice was calm, but my hands wereclenched.

She looked down at her lap, wiping at her tears, asthough ashamed. “He tried to touch me.”

Every little piece of my heart broke for her as thewords slipped out. Panic set in my chest, as though the weight of what she’d said was crushing me.Finn and I exchanged a look, and what made me realise that this was happening was the panic that swam in his eyes, the creases in his forehead.

I turned back to her. “What happened?” I askedagain, my voice barely above a whisper.

She sobbed, clutching the blanket that Finn haddraped around her shoulders. “We were on the way back from this… stu—stupid event, and it was raining, so when we got in the c-car, I took my jacket off.” She took three quick breaths, gathering herself. “I noticed him… looking at me. Not in a w-way he had before. I ignored it, but t-then he made a comment about how nice I looked, and it wasn’t in-innocent. I knew it wasn’t.”

Her head fell back into her hands as another sobleft her mouth. I tugged her closer, but even that made me feel helpless.

Cora finally breathed in, lifting her head again. “Iturned my head out the window, tr-trying to ignore it. But then I felt a h-hand on my thigh, and he wouldn't stop moving it hi-higher—” Her voice cracked, and she buried her face in her hands. “I didn’t know what to do, so I just o-opened the car door and ran. All the way here.”

Her words came out in a rush, and then she brokedown completely, her sobs wracking her body. “I knew he’d try something eventually,” she choked out.

That weight crushed my chest again.

Eventually?

Butas I went to open my mouth, her sobs started towreck her body, and in no time she was shaking like she was when she came in.

Not tonight.We’d get the story from her when shewas ready.

I pulled her into my arms, holding her tightly. “You’re safe now.” I rubbed my hand up and down her back. "We’ll figure this out. I promise.”

Finn was still standing in the living room when Icame back downstairs, his hands shoved into his pockets, his face half-lit by fire. He turned when he heard me, his expression softening.

“How is she?” he asked.

“She’s asleep,” I sighed, rubbing my arms despite thewarmth of the room. “I’ll call her sister in the morning and figure things out. She just… needs time.”

“So do you,” he said quietly, stepping closer. “Thatwas a lot to handle.”

“I’ll be fine,” I said, though the exhaustion wasstarting to creep in.

Finn pulled me into a hug, his arms wrappingaround me like a shield against the world. I melted into him, letting the weight of the night sink away for just a moment as I breathed him in.

Heplanted a kiss on my head before he held metighter. “I’ll stay down here tonight. You stay with Cor. I’ll wait for the others to come back and explain.”

I nodded into his chest, smiling out of pure reliefagainst him. “Thank you.”

We stayed like that for a while, holding each otherin the quiet. Eventually, Finn pulled back slightly, just enough to look me in the eyes.

“I hate that I’m leaving tomorrow,” he said, hisvoice tinged with regret.

My heart sank at his words. “Me too.”

Thanksgiving break had snuck up on us out of nowhere. Finn and Daisy were heading home to Montana for a few days. Normally I’d head to Dad’s house, like last year, but that wasn’t possible. For obvious reasons.

Someone had already bought and moved into thathouse now anyway.

But I was still staying in the city, to squeeze inextra practice for sectionals. So was Cora, come to think of it, and given what happened tonight I was more than happy to stick with those plans.But the thought of not seeing Finn felt heavier than it should have.

“I’ll miss you,” he said, his thumb brushing againstmy cheek.

“I’ll miss you too,” I admitted, my voice barelyabove a whisper.

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