Page 39 of Finn

“That can be arranged,” I tease, ready to pounce on him again.

At that exact moment, footsteps sound on the porch outside. Finn and I separate as quickly as if we just learned a fire was roaring through the house. He moves toward the armrest, sitting casually, and throwing the blankets off him while I move to the corner of the sectional, taking all the blankets with me.

Just before Jax walks in, Finn pushes play on the movie, and we both pretend like we’re engrossed in the film because what else would two people be doing who are supposed to be staying away from each other?

Fuck.

16

Iyawn, my mouth so wide it hurts my jaw. It’s stupid early in the morning, and my brain doesn’t want to function yet. The three of us move wordlessly around in the kitchen to prepare cereal. Well, I’m eating cereal. Finn’s eating oatmeal with protein powder in it, and Jax is eating a form of cereal that looks like cardboard and probably tastes worse.

Damn. When Finn warned me they went to the gym early, they weren’t kidding. The shower I had this morning only woke me up so much.

“You shouldn’t eat that,” Jax says, motioning toward the sugary goodness in my bowl. “It’s just carbs. It won’t sustain you.”

I grunt at him because I don’t have the capacity to get into a debate about health foods this morning.

Plus, I kind of feel bad that he was none the wiser yesterday when he walked in right after Finn and I shared something special. He took one look at what movie we were watching and sat on the other end of the sectional, placing his arm on Max. As for me, I kept looking at Finn’s fingers, thinking how he’d just brought me to orgasm and all I could do was sink further into the couch in guilt.

I can’t change the situation any more than they can.

Flicking my gaze toward Finn now reminds me of how many times I peeked at him yesterday while he stared steadfast at the screen as if he was transfixed by the characters. Every once in a while, his fingers would flex, and I wondered if he was replaying what happened in his mind. Eventually, I couldn’t take it and went to bed early.

At some point, Maxie came up to join me, and attached to his collar, was a note that read:I can’t get your face out of my mind. -F

I fell asleep smiling. This morning, however, we’re still acting like nothing happened. He wordlessly got me a bowl and the cereal, but that was it. No lingering looks. No whispered promises. The steady thrum of my heart that kicks up every time I think he’s going to look at me tells me all I need to know. Despite the guilt of what we did, I want to do it again. Like now. Surely, I could talk some sense into Cole if he knew we weren’t just fucking around. This seems deeper than just wanting sex. I actually like Finn. A lot.

“I was thinking,” Finn says as we prepare to leave the house. He has on his signature joggers and shirt. Today, the logo of their gym is in block lettering across the front, stretched tight over his taut chest.

Jax is wearing something similar, but like, who cares about that? He eyes Finn. “I just love it when you think,” he says sarcastically.

Finn flips him off but continues as if his brother never said anything. He lets Max out the back door and then walks back into the kitchen. “Since Leenie is upset about not working at the bank, I was thinking she could run our shop. If you want,” he says, glancing at me for the first time.

My cheeks flare with heat. His eyes are less intense this morning, but the longer they stay on mine, all I can think about is his fingers swirling around my clit. Before I make a fool out of myself, I swallow and look away. “Yeah, I can do that. I mean, I have to be there anyway, right?”

“Don’t feel like you have to,” Finn offers.

“No, I’d rather have something to pass the time.” The more I think about his suggestion, the goofier the smile gets that crosses my face. He knew how upset I was about leaving the bank. I was damn proud of that job, and here he’s giving me the opportunity to do something else worthwhile that’s not entangled in Heights bullshit.

“We can’t pay you,” Jax sniffs. “So, don’t think you’re going to get anything.”

I turn my gaze to him. “Let’s call it a swap of services. I get your protection. You get my office knowledge.”

Jax’s mouth shuts, and he stares at me for a long time with discerning eyes. After Max barks, Finn lets the dog back in, and then we all head toward the door. I squat to pet Max on the head, already wishing I didn’t have to leave our little secret communicator here for the day. Finn must notice me fussing over him because he says, “Don’t worry. We get a neighbor kid to take him out and play with him during the day.”

My heart squeezes, and I shake my head. Of course Finn would do that. Can I find nothing wrong with this guy? A quick peek at him tells me no. Definitely not physically.

On the bus to the gym, I quiz them about their store, and Finn promises that he’ll give me a quick tour before his first class of the day starts. However, I get the gist that the store is Finn’s baby and that Jax thinks it’s a waste of time. Which only makes me want to prove the moody one wrong.

The empty gym has a different feeling to it than when it’s bustling with energy. I walk in sandwiched between the two owners, and I notice how each one reacts as they take in the space. Even Jax has a moment of scanning the area with something akin to a smile, even though he quickly moves on to the office in the corner with determination.

Finn, however, lingers behind with a genuine smile on his face. He reaches out absentmindedly to put his hand at the small of my back, and I lean into his touch, loving the delicious waves of heat and nerves he gives me from just one short moment. “You’re so proud of this, aren’t you?” I whisper.

Finn turns to me, lips parting. “Unbelievably,” he answers in the same low tone, like we’re sharing a secret. We get caught up in staring at one another again, and we don’t move until the office door swings open and Jax marches out. Finn flicks his gaze over my head in his brother’s general direction, and then back to me. “Over here,” he says, gesturing toward the store. “And don’t feel like you have to.”

“I don’t,” I reassure him. Now that it’s closer to a decent hour in the morning, the sleep haze has lifted from me and I’m becoming myself again. I never had to work the early morning shift at the bank—thank God because I’m not a morning person. At least we’re at the hour now that I would be getting up to start my day. The early morning wake-up calls are certainly going to take some getting used to. “I’m actually looking forward to keeping busy. I meant what I said, I want to help too.”

Maybe some of their pride rubbed off on me when they walked in. I’ve always been a sucker for people making it in the face of adversity. Trust me, anyone growing up in the Heights faces hardship. It’s all around. You can’t escape from it. I’ve always counted myself as one of those people who rose above it. Sure, I might not have done it in a spectacular fashion as Jax and Finn have, but I have to a lesser degree. Even my brother’s done it too. He’s the most respected person in the Heights. I don’t care what he actually does, he’s risen above all the shit that threatens to take us down.

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