Page 26 of Persuaded

“Thereyou are!” Finn barreled into their conversation with an exaggerated sigh. “Nose all powdered?”

Sean’s expression went tight and he ignored his brother. “You’re so good with those kids, man,” he said to Joshua. “I don’t know how you do it.”

“It’s because they all love Mr. Newton.” Liz squeezed his arm. “He can get them to do anything.”

“Well, anything except practice their music on a regular basis.” He gave her a smile—better than looking at Finn—and said, “I’ll see you later, okay?”

“Thanks, Newt. You’re a star.”

With a nod to Sean and half a glance at Finn, he said, “Goodnight. And, uh, happy Thanksgiving.”

“Yeah, you too, Joshua.” There was just enough doubt in Sean’s voice to make Joshua hurry for the door. The last thing he wanted was an invitation.

He made it into his car before the others left the building, but after five tries the engine still coughed and sputtered and refused to cooperate. By then Sean and Finn were heading to their own car and Sean glanced over, exchanging a few words with his brother. Crap. Joshua cast a prayer heavenward—come on, come on—turned the key for a sixth time and jammed his foot on the gas. Like a miracle, it started. Throwing the car into gear, he pulled around them with a wave and hit the road. In his rearview mirror he saw Finn watching him leave and tried not to hope it meant something.

He drove home under heavy skies, gloomy even for a late November afternoon. Shattered after the concert, he peered up at the threatening sky and sighed. The last thing he wanted to do was spend the evening babysitting for Finn and Liz’s date, but of course he wouldn’t back out. He wasn’t that kind of guy—he liked to be responsible, thoughtful. Or, in Finn’s black-and-white book, a pushover.

After a quick shower and a sandwich, he pulled on his boots and headed out. Naturally, this time, the car refused point-blank to start. A red light flashed balefully on the dash. The battery? He cursed loudly and crudely—no one was listening—and slumped back in the seat. Maybe it was a sign. Maybe he should call Liz and tell her he couldn’t make it. But that wasn’t fair on her and, anyway, if she knew his car was acting up, she—or she and Finn—would come pick him up. And that would be infinitely worse. Besides, it was only a twenty-minute walk.

Liz looked great when she opened the front door, beautiful by any objective measure. He thought she might be a little too apple pie for Finn’s taste, but who was he to judge? In the grand scheme of things he’d only known Finn Callaghan for a couple of months, and people changed.

Matt didn’t seemtoobothered that his music teacher was minding him. They played Mario Kart on his PlayStation (Joshua lost, his lack of affinity with cars extending from the real into the digital world) and then stayed up half an hour beyond Matt’s nine-thirty bedtime playing chopsticks together on Liz’s keyboard.

But by ten o’clock Matt was in bed and Joshua settled down, feet propped up on the coffee table, for a good read. It had been a long day, though, and his eyes were heavy. He’d barely read three pages before he surrendered to the inevitable and let his eyes close for a moment.

Liz’s hand on his shoulder startled him awake. “Hey, Newt.”

Scrubbing a hand through his hair, he sat up, sending his book thumping to the floor. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

“No problem. I hope Matt behaved?”

“He was great.” Still a little muzzy, Joshua retrieved his book. “So did you have a good—?” And then he saw Finn hovering in the doorway. “Ah.” Suddenly wide awake, he jolted to his feet. “I’ll get out of your way.”

He didn’t look at either of them as he shoved his feet into his boots and looked around for his coat. But his mind had gone blank, wiped clean by the need to escape. He couldn’t bear to be there any longer.

“I really appreciate this,” Liz said. “Seriously. Thanks so much, Newt.”

“Anytime.” He almost choked on the lie. And where had he left his damned coat? In the hall. He’d left it in the hall.

Finn skulked in the doorway like an awkward teenager, eyes on the floor, and lurched out of the way when Joshua said, “Excuse me.” Even so, something electric jumped between them as he brushed past and he wondered whether Finn felt it too.

“I hope you didn’t park too far away,” Liz said, following him into the hall. “It’s nasty out.”

He made a face and pulled on his jacket. “Not too far, no. Night, Liz.” Another half glance at Finn. “Night, Finn.”

Finn caught his eye, hesitant yet frowning like he was looking for something in his expression. “I didn’t see your car out front.”

“It’s just...” He made a vague gesture. “Anyway, happy Thanksgiving.” And then he was out the door and standing on the porch, watching a thick, sleety rain whip past. Great.

He pulled up his hood and headed out into the night, shoulders hunched. Twenty minutes and he’d be home.

Warming himself with thoughts of hot tea, a bath, and Dee’s pumpkin pie waiting for him tomorrow, he trudged through the rain. He’d been walking for a few minutes when a car rolled up behind him and slowed down to crawl at his side. Startled, he stepped back. In the dark and the rain he didn’t recognize the car at first, but then the passenger window rolled down and Finn called out, “Get in, I’ll give you a ride.”

Joshua stared. “What are you doing?”

“I’m offering you a ride home. Get in.”

“You don’t need to.” He peered at Finn in confusion. Why was he there? “Go back to Liz’s.”

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