Page 12 of Cross the Line
“No.”
“Did you write the article?”
“No.”
“So, it’s fair to say that you have not hurt anybody with either of those things. Don’t you think?” When I open my mouth to argue, she goes on, “Eli, the people you love don’t care about the words in the article. It’s not the photos that hurt them; it’s the fact that they don’t know the significance of those pictures or the story surrounding them. They can’t process or come to terms with what they don’t know. Do you understand?”
My phone rings as I allow her words to sink in. The last time I answered my phone, Lex was in full damage control mode. It was fucking torture, and with everyone around me, I couldn’t do anything except listen and concur with him getting on his jet and flying here to handle this face-to-face.
With bated breath, I check who’s calling me, and the instant Finley’s face beams up at me, my heart fists tighter than ever.
“Fin,” I answer with a strangled sigh when Connie turns away and heads back up the stairs.
“Elijah,” she sighs right back at me. Her voice is so tender that I can’t stop a dry sob from ripping up my throat when she asks, “Are you okay, Love?”
I wish I could say yes. I want to so badly. Instead, I blurt, “I don’t know.”
“I know it’s not true,” she states, the words rough and angry around the edges. “The photos and the words are not true.”
“How do you know, Fin?”
“Because I’m your heart, remember? I feel what you feel. I love who you love, Elijah.”
The hiccup in her voice shreds me open. “I’m sorry.”
“Why?”
“I hurt you and JJ, and?—”
“You haven’t hurt me,” Finley coos back, her words are pitched and trembling, and I can just imagine her fussing with her hair. Winding it around her finger and tugging at it.
“But I did hurt Jayden. I saw it, Fin. I saw it, and I can’t stop thinking about it. About him. What I’ve done to him. It’s killing me.”
“Then fix it, Elijah. Stop overthinking everything. Stop thinking at all. Let your heart do its thing. Let it guide you because it knows what it wants and what it needs.”
“Finley, I?—”
“You came to me when I needed you, and now Jayden needs you. He needs you to go to him. To let him in. To fight for him. Put yourself on the line for him like you always have for me. Cause that’s love, Elijah. It protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres. Most importantly, it forgives and understands.”
“What if he doesn’t forgive or understand?” What if I’ve pushed Jayden too far?
He’s been here all this time, and he’s trusted me, had my back when all I’ve done is hold back. Too afraid to lose him. And maybe I have now.
“That night after Matheo’s party, you told me to take what I want. I did. Now, it’s your turn to take the leap of faith. To fight for what you want.”
The line is quiet for a beat with only our blustery breaths colliding into static before she whispers, “I love you. Forever.”
“I love you,” I murmur back. “Always.”
Finley ends the call with a cajoling, “Go get him, Elijah.” Leaving me with nothing but the empty silence to drive our conversation home.
Right to my chest, where the emptiness hollers for her. For Jayden.
Leaving me no choice other than to do what Finley said.
Go to him.
Take a leap of faith.
