Page 84 of Finlay

“Well, he didn’t have much of a choice.” I explained what’d happened the night before. How Finn had shifted to save me.

“Stop it.” Reid looked more delighted than ever. “Are you trying to tell me that Finn, the terrifying and almighty leader of the great McCarthy Clan, has been spendingweekspretending to be a domestic pet?”

Shit.“You can’t say anything. This stays between us.”

He pouted. “Spoil my fun.”

“I mean it, Reid,” I said warningly. “You’re not to speak about this to anyone. Especially Logan.”

“Fine.” He sighed dramatically. “It’s a good thing he was there.”

“It is.” I flashed back to the sensation of being unable to take a breath. Of knowing I was choking but not being able to do anything about it. “It would’ve ended very differently if he hadn’t been.”

Reid shuddered. “Yeah. Thank fuck. Still, I can’t believe he spent all that time with you posing as a dog.”

“It was cute,” I said defensively.

“I didn’t say it wasn’t.” Reid smiled kindly. “It’s incredibly sweet when you think about it. Finn could probably tell you weren’t ready to let anyone in and realised he could spend time with you that way.”

My mouth gaped open. “How’d you figure that out?”

“It’s not hard when you pay attention.” Reid spun in his chair to finally turn the computer on. “You’ve got walls higher than the Great Wall of China.”

My lips twitched. “Is the Great Wall of China known for being high? I thought it was more famous for its length.”

“Semantics.” Reid waved a hand dismissively. “Did he tell you everything? About the clan and him being the leader and all that?”

“Yep.” I scratched at my stubble. I hadn’t bothered to shave this morning. Matt wouldn’t have let me leave the house without doing so. Finn, however,had nipped alongmy jaw before asking if we had time to see how it felt on his thighs before work.

Sadly, we hadn’t. I’d added it to my list for the next time we were together though. Whenever that might be. Finn hadn’t said when he’d next see me, just that he would.

And you’re okay with that?

The little voice was still there, but quieter now. Somewhere between Finn holding me close all night and making me breakfast, its power had been eroded.

It was such a simple thing Finn had done this morning. His casual mention of taking turns, as though that was something one did in a relationship. You looked after each other instead of it all being one sided.

I’d never had that. Ever. Even before Matt, I’d been more of a caretaker. Up until Matt, I hadn’t minded.

Funny how someone abusing a particular part of your personality could make you hate it.

I had to admit, Finn taking care of me had felt good. Better than good. Like a glimpse of a life that could be mine.

If I was brave enough to accept it.

“Your family,” I said slowly, bringing myself back to the present. “They’re shifters, but you’re not?”

“Yep.” Reid spun the chair from side to side. “I’m the anomaly. My dad was convinced for a while that Mum had cheated, but when he heard of a few cases happening inAustralia and Italy, he realised it was possible. Just…highly irregular.”

“That can’t have been easy,” I said quietly. “Growing up somewhere where you’re seen as different.”

Reid stopped spinning. “I think it was the type of difference that bothered them.”

“What do you mean?”

“I was weaker. Slower. Prone to illness and injury.” Reid’s voice was more bitter than I’d ever heard it before. “Instead of being an asset, I was a liability.”

My brows drew together. “I’m sorry they made you feel like that, Reid. I don’t know you as well as I should, and that’s my fault, but what I do know is awesome.”

---