Page 37 of Finn

I don’t feel bad enough to eat with them instead of by myself in Finn’s room though. Nope. I don’t want to deal with all that testosterone down there. Not right now.

When I finish, I leave the empty plate on the bedside table, closing Finn’s book to make space and semi-hoping he lost his page because of me. He deserves a hell of a lot more than just frustration over losing his place in a book, but that’s all I can muster as revenge right now.

And even then, I realize I’m being petty. My brother is capable of fucked up shit, and honestly, they should be scared of what he can do. What I hate is that I’m caught in the middle along with the guy I like, who is teetering closer to being on the receiving end of Cole’s blanket, don’t-fuck-with-him policies.

Hours go by, and I don’t hear a word from them. I have no idea if they need to go into the gym today, but I figure if they do, they’ll come tell me. To pass the time, I open up the Netflix app on my phone and start watching the latest series everyone is talking about. I quickly get drawn into the reimagined regency era romance, but a soft knock on the door pulls me out of it during the second episode.

“Yeah?”

“Can I come in?” Finn asks.

“It’s your room.”

“Leenie, it’s your room right now. Can I come in?”

I play with the idea of saying no, but instead, I huff out a “Yes.”

I pause the show and move to a sitting position as Finn opens the door. Closing it behind him, he leans against it and stays there. “I just wanted to see if you were okay.”

“Perfect,” I smile.

“I’m sorry about your job at the bank.”

I’d helpfully put that out of my mind, but now that he’s brought it up again, I sigh. “That job is one of the better ones in Rawley Heights.” Running my hands through my hair, I set my cell phone to the side. “I don’t want to lose it, and I don’t think my brother gets that.”

“He’s trying to keep you safe...”

I give Finn a hard stare, and he holds his hands up in surrender. My gaze roams over him, and then I pick at Finn’s sheets. “I’m wondering what happens after the storm known as Cole runs its course? What’s going to be left of the life I had before he returned?” My heart squeezes. “It’s not that I don’t love my brother because I do. I missed him when he wasn’t here, but his life choices are affecting mine.” I swallow. “It’s just hard to accept, even if I know it’s for my own good.”

Finn sits on the bed next to me. The mattress dips, and I’m jostled closer to him. He smells so good, a musky sort of cologne scent fills the room, and I breathe in deep. Before long, I’m consumed by the memory of the night we met when neither one of us knew who the other was. Sure, it was only two days ago, but damn. To only go back two days to try to fix this before it started.

“I get that,” Finn says, finally turning toward me. His brows pique as he notices how close we’re sitting. I immediately put distance between us because I’m not about to have Jax call me a slut or blame me for losing everything. The adorable trainer takes in the new space between us with a pained expression. “I’m sorry you’re going through this. I don’t have anything to offer but maybe a chance to take your mind off it. Do you want to hang out? I might be the last person you want to chill with, but Jax went to the gym to take care of some paperwork, and I get bored easily, so...”

He looks at me hopefully, and I cave. I cave so fucking fast I’m surprised neither one of us gets whiplash.

“And what does Finn the MMA trainer do tohang out?” I inquire, using air quotes.

“Watch movies. Read. Play with Max. Anything not involving work.”

“That reminds me,” I blurt out, changing the subject. “I’ve heard you call him Max and Maxie now, which is it?’

Finn chuckles. “Basically whatever comes out of my mouth that’s some version of Max. Maxie. Maximillian. Max-Max. Max-a-hoy.”

I stop him right there. “You made that last one up.”

“Yeah, but the others are true.”

“Well, you had me at Max. As long as he’s involved in hanging out, I guess I can be convinced.”

“I also have snacks…”

“Okay, now you’re just laying it on thick.” I take him in and then peer at him doubtfully. The guy looks like he hasn’t eaten a snack in years. “We’re not talking about protein shit, are we? Because that stuff they call food messes with my stomach.”

He laughs again, the sound boisterous and comforting at the same time. “No protein shit. I promise. I don’t like to think about work at all on Sundays, remember? It’s my me time.”

Holding his hand out, he waits for me to accept. I only pause a moment before I place my palm in his. This should be easy, right? We both know where we stand. We can stay away from each other. We can put our mutual attraction aside, but all bets are off when my brother gets back into town. I’m going to sit him down and threaten him until he lets me fuck Finn’s brains out. Let’s just hope that whatever’s between Finn and me hasn’t passed by then.

Turns out, the MMA trainer does not joke around when he talks about a relaxing day. Half a dozen soft blankets litter the sectional. The end tables, including an extra tray table, are set up with different candies and baked goods. Several full bottles of water are on the tables, but he also tells me there are more drinks in the fridge, and that he’d be happy to get me whatever I want if I give him a grocery list.

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