Page 80 of Wreck Me

“Answer him!” Finn yells after a silent, tense moment.

“Get the fuck out of my office before I call security!”

“Answer me. Do you understand?” I grit through clenched teeth.

“I understand. You’re dead to me, Griffin. You were a mistake that I regretted from the moment your mom tricked me into getting her pregnant. You’re fucking dead to me! Get out!”

“Likewise.”

With that, Finn squeezes my hand and pulls me out of the office and toward the elevator. Once safely inside, he collapses against the wall, running both hands over his face. I pull him into a hug, one of my hands cradling the back of his head, the other wrapped around his upper back.

“It’s over, baby. You did it. You’re free. I’m so damn proud of you.”

“Please don’t you ever leave me, Carter. I’m so scared of not being enough for you.”

“Are you kidding me with that right now? You’re mine, Finn, and I’m yours. We’re in it now, and there’s no leaving foreither of us. Look, I know it’s gonna be hard, baby. I know there’s gonna be days where you want to kick my teeth in, but I promise you I will try, I will put you first, I will fight for you and love you. I’ll take care of you. You’re enough for me, all I need. You’re it for me. End game. You’ve wrecked me in the best way, and I can’t spend another moment apart. Move in with me. Marry me. Spend the rest of your life with me; just don’t ever think that you aren’t good enough for me. If a day comes that you feel that way, then tell me so I have the opportunity to fix what I’m doing.”

“You’d marry me?”

“Fuck yes, I’d marry you. I’m in love with you!”

Finn is finally smiling, his hands wrapped around my waist in return.

“Let’s start with moving in together. I fucking hate my house.”

“Thank fuck, baby. I hate it, too. I want you in Aspen Ridge with me, you’re gonna love it there.”

The elevator door slides open and I grab his hand again, walking out of this dumbass building.

“I understand why you hate the name Griffin now.”

“Ya think?”

I’ve never seen such disdain and disgust on anyone’s face before. The man doesn’t even know me, but it was clear he hated me. What kind of father talks to his own son that way? My heart breaks for Finn, that he had to deal with that shit. If his dad had no reservations about talking to him like that in front of a stranger, I can’t imagine what he’s like behind closed doors.

I take the wheel this time, Finn letting me know that I’m the first person he’s ever let drive his vehicle. It’s the only thing he’s bought with his trust fund that is lavish, and I’ll give himthis one. The damn thing is a dream and I’m glad he doesn’t have to give it up.

I merge onto the highway and pull farther and farther away from the city, away from the cage that was locked around Finn, and head toward our new life together.

One hurdle down, two to go.

CHAPTER 20

carter

From the beginning,I haven’t had any difficulty in coming to terms with my sexuality, but now that I’m faced with speaking to it—with coming out—I’m suddenly nervous. My biggest hurdle was accepting love and giving it to someone else, regardless of their gender. Am I completely ready to share this part of me with my family? Can’t say I’m eager to have this conversation, especially when they’ve only ever known me as a playboy. I’m confident nothing bad will come from me sharing my sexuality with my family, but I know I’m going to get some shit for it.

But I don’t want to keep Finn in the dark. We deserve to live out in the open and not have our lives and actions ruled by fear over what people will think. I want to start living with him, and this is just one more step in that direction. Finn’s dad’s reaction replays in my head and I wince. The pure disgust was loud and clear. My heart pangs for Finn to have that kind of man as his father, and I really want my family to accept him as one of us, just like they have with Ivy, Blaire, Hannah, and Charlie.

While I know Finn is anticipating my family reacting badly, because that’s the only experience he has had, I’m confident that it’s just going to be an uncomfortable conversation rather than a negative one. They’re going to be surprised, but nothing will change, except for maybe some jokes here and there—especially from Dallas. My poor Finn. He deserves all the love and support in the world, and I really hope that my family can be that for him. We’ve just gotta get through some hurdles first. And this is the first one.

Ready to get this shit over with, I relax on the couch that sits inside our tasting room at the distillery and pull out my phone, bringing up my texts. My only unread message is from Finn, and I open it up with a smile on my face.

Finn: You’ve got this. I can be there in 10 if you want me

Me: Nah, I’ve got it. They’re a crazy bunch of assholes. Better to pull the Band-Aid myself.

Finn: K. I’ll be at your place waiting. I love you

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