Page 55 of Persuaded

Despite the noisy restaurant, a weighted silence fell between them, comprised of all those things unsaid and unsayable. Finn’s jaw worked like he was chewing on a tough thought, but nothing left his lips save a tense breath.

“I—”

“Are—?”

They spoke at the same time and Finn blushed, gesturing for Joshua to continue.

“I was only going to ask what brings you to New York. I thought you’d be filming.”

“I’ve got a free weekend, so... Sean said you’re working as a studio musician?” He scrubbed a hand through his damp hair. “Sounds cool. You enjoying it?”

Joshua gave an equivocal shrug. “I’ve only played one session, but it was fun. Not sure it’s really for me, but I figured I needed to dosomethingwith my life.”

“What do you mean?” Finn’s smile disappeared. “You’re doing something with your life, man. Those kids up in New Milton adore you.”

“Says the rich and famous actor.”

“That’s—” Someone shoved past Finn, pushing him a step closer. So close that Joshua could see the raindrops clinging to the ends of his hair. “Josh, believe me, thatmeanssomething. I know it’s a cliché, but it’s people that matter.”

Joshua cocked an eyebrow. “Talking of people, how’s Liz?”

Finn flinched. He actually flinched, and Joshua felt at once terrible and vindicated. Finn knew he was in the wrong, Joshua could see the shame in his eyes, and his stupid soft heart tugged toward him. “Yeah, uh—she’s good,” Finn said. “You heard about...everything?”

“Sean told me. He said you weren’t unhappy it ended?”

“No.” He half met Joshua’s eyes. “No, I—I let it go too far with Liz. I didn’t mean to—”

The door opened with a rainy gust of wind. “Joshua!” Quinton called. “Come on, I’ve got us a cab.”

Finn froze with his eyes locked on Joshua’s.

“I have to go.” Joshua edged around him toward the door. “It was good to run into you.”

“Yeah, you too.” Finn turned, his gaze flitting toward Quinton and back to Joshua. “I was hoping we would.”

“Chop-chop, Joshua,” Quinton called from the doorway. “The bugger won’t wait, you know.”

Hot and stifled in the foyer, Joshua felt things slipping through his fingers. “Hold on,” he told Quinton, turning back to Finn even as Quinton tugged on his sleeve. “There’s an open mic here tonight. You should come, it looks like fun.” Finn nodded and Joshua felt a jolt of hope so powerful it almost made him stumble. “Nine o’clock?” he called as the door closed behind him.

And then Quinton had his hand on Joshua’s back, urging him through the rain to the waiting cab. Just before he climbed inside, he looked back. But Finn was a blurred shape behind the fogged glass, indistinct and out of reach.

Chapter Fourteen

Finn stared at his reflection in the hotel mirror: boots for the bad weather, his favorite black jeans, an old Zeppelin T-shirt. Too obvious? They’d listened to a lot of Zeppelin that summer. Screw it, though, why not be obvious? He was on a mission.

Although maybe he should dress smarter. That guy with Josh had been dressed to kill, all sharp lines and expensive tailoring. Limey bastard.

He glanced back at the bed where he’d laid out all the clothes he’d brought with him. A shirt, maybe? Or—

A knock at the door and Sean’s muffled voice called, “Finn, it’s me.”

Sean was both the only and last person Finn wanted to see right then. He was nervous about the evening and not in the mood for Sean’s ribbing, but there was literally no one else in the world who knew what was going on and he figured it might help his nerves to talk.

“So you’re going then?” Sean strolled in, taking up all the space with his long limbs and broad shoulders. He dumped his bag on the floor, shrugged off his coat. Dude hadn’t even been back to his own room yet.

“Of course I’m going.” Josh had invited him; he took that as a good sign. “I’m just...”

Sean lifted an eyebrow as he surveyed the clothes strewn across Finn’s bed. “Nervous as a cheerleader on a first date?”

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