Page 9 of Away Game

“If you can get over yourself, make yourself at home while I go get cleaned up. Once I’m done, I’ll make us something to eat. I should warn you now, it won’t be anything gourmet.” I wouldn’t put it past him to turn his nose up at my grilled cheese and tomato soup, but if he was hungry, Fin would get over himself.

Rolling his eyes at me, Fin plopped down on the beat-up couch and kicked his boot-clad feet up onto the table. As much as I tried, I couldn’t take my eyes off of his designer jeans that molded perfectly to his muscular legs. Eventually, peeling my eyes away, I didn’t look back as I stepped into the tiny bathroom, turned on the water, and waited for it to warm. I could hear Fin moving around outside and wondered what he was doing. Was he snooping? There was nothing here or anywhere for him to find. It wasn’t like I doodled in a notebook like some lovesick girl, professing my love for him, or for anyone for that matter, and scribbled their last name after mine.

Once the water was warm, I stepped inside the shower and pulled the curtain closed, hoping it would block all thoughts of Fin Huntington from my mind. It did the opposite. I kept picturing Fin out in the living room and that night after the game. The number of times I had fantasized about it being me down on my knees in that parking lot was embarrassing. I hated how attracted I was to him, but I couldn’t fight it no matter how hard I tried or how many times he spouted his awful words at me. Strangely, it seemed the snider and uglier the comments he made, the more I wanted him. It made me seriously look at myself in the mirror and wonder what the hell was wrong with me.

He was evil incarnate with a sinful body I’d do anything to feel against mine.

It took all my self-control to not jerk myself off after I washed the grime of the day off me, but knowing Fin was only a few feet away from me kept my lingering hand away from my stiff shaft. Knowing my luck, he’d hear me and barge into the bathroom, spouting how he knew I was touching myself while fantasizing about him.

Less than five minutes later, I emerged from the bathroom to find Fin squatting in front of the fireplace, cursing and pulling the ends of his dark hair with both hands.

“Problem?” I asked, causing Fin to jump up and glare at me.

“For fuck's sake,” he shouted, and then started to grumble under his breath as he paced back and forth.

“What seems to be the problem?” I asked again as I knelt down and started to make a little nest of materials in the middle of the wood Fin had put in the fireplace. “Were you trying to make a fire?” Even as I asked it, I knew the words that tumbled out of my mouth were stupid.

“You know damn good and well that I was,” he growled, stopping to stand behind me. I could feel the heat of his body radiating off him. He was a damn furnace. What did he need with a fire?

“If you want, I can let you finish?” I started to stand when his large hands slammed down on my shoulders and held me in place.

“You fucking do it,” he said in a scathing tone.

I heard the silent ‘asshole’ he wanted to say at the end of his sentence. It surprised me he held back when so often he didn’t.

It only took me a minute before flames were licking up the side of the firebox. Fin was back to grumbling in the background. Why had I thought it was a good idea to invite him to my house? Oh right, I didn’t, but I didn’t have much of a choice in the matter either.

Standing to my full height, I asked as I walked into the kitchen to wash my hands, “Are you hungry?”

“Starving. I didn’t eat lunch because all the girls were whining about how many times they fell and the bruises on their asses. I couldn’t stand it a minute longer and went back out on the slopes. I’m surprised I didn’t see you out there.”

He was standing right behind me, but I didn’t look over my shoulder. For the moment, we seemed to have a truce, and I didn’t want to break it.

“Today, I was on the bunny slopes helping the beginners, so I doubt you would have seen me. I have a feeling you stay as far away from them as possible.”

His only response was to walk away, chuckling.

“Since you didn’t eat, I’ll make you an extra grilled cheese. Like I said before, you won’t be getting a gourmet meal here.”

“I’m sure it’s a hell of a lot better than whatever the girls are making. Whatever they made last night was inedible. I was sure I was going to have to live off pizza the entire time I was on the mountain.”

How many girls were there at his house? Finley Huntington confused the hell out of me. I could practically feel his heated stare, and at the same time, his hatred.

To keep the peace, I kept quiet, and Fin seemed to be on the same page. We ate in silence while we watched a basketball game on the TV that was mounted above the fireplace. Our gaze stayed fixated on the players as they moved up and down the court. Once the game was over, I wasn’t sure what to do. It was strange having Fin in my space. I felt like I should entertain him, but there wasn’t anything to do here but watch TV. I needed to get some sleep since I had to get up early the next morning, knowing I’d have to dig my truck out from under all the snow the blizzard brought through the night. Hopefully, the roads would be clear, and Fin would be out of here.

* * *

“What’s the address here?”Fin asked as he looked at his phone while lying on the couch.

I rattled off the address as I filled a thermos full of hot chocolate. I hadn’t realized I’d woken him up as I got ready. I tried to be as quiet as possible, but the space was small, and the sound carried easily. I was surprised he hadn’t flown off the handle since it was early. His phone dinged, surprising me even more that he was having a text conversation with someone at five in the morning.

Leaning against the counter, I watched as he typed on his phone. “I didn’t mean to wake you up. Do you want some coffee?”

His eyes shifted to me and then back to his phone. “As strong as you got. I barely slept last night on this lumpy as shit couch. Oz is coming to pick me up. He’ll be here in about an hour, or so he thinks.” His voice was pure gravel, and it stirred something deep in my gut.

Turning back around, I started a pot of coffee and didn’t respond. I listened as Fin shuffled around the room and then went into the bathroom. A moment later, the water turned on and then off. When he came out, I could feel the heat of his body as he stood behind me. There was also rage. So much rage. What happened in his life to make him hate the world the way he did?

“How long does it take to make a cup of coffee?” he growled out.

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