Page 241 of Cross the Line
Because…I shrug.
There isn’t a person who doesn’t have an opinion on us, on what the three of us being together makes of us. Whether it’s warranted or not. Regardless of whether it’s accurate.
“Because I can’t control what people say or think of me, but I can choose not to listen or care.”
“Finley…”
“Those same people will look at you and talk about you, too.”
“I don’t care about me. What they think or say, or if they judge me.” The choked-up rasp of his voice wrenches in my chest—a sharp blade that bleeds my anguish through my bloodstream as I carefully wipe away the tears beading on his lashes. “I want to protect you from all the shit out there. To shield him from any more pain and… I can’t.”
“We don’t need your protection.” He winces at my words. “All we’ve ever needed is you.”
Warm hands trail up my sides, bracketing my rib cage beneath the loose T-shirt I’m wearing. His shirt.
When I step backward, closer to the washing machine, he steps forward with me. Moving seamlessly with me until my butt hits the machine and he sits me on it.
“Eli is strong and resilient, and what he needs from us is faith.” Wrapping my arms around JJ’s shoulders, I press my forehead to his when he gives me a half glare. “We are strong and resilient, and we can make it through anything together. You, me, and Eli.”
A slow breath breezes past his lips. “You are something else, Finley-James.”
“I am everything that you and Eli have made of me,” is all I reply, nudging my nose with his before he deposits a gentle kiss to my lips.
I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to myself that I’m as terrified as he is. We’re not just going into a storm; we’re getting sucked into a major hurricane.
Even so, I firmly believe that, together, we can survive anything. Our love will carry us through everything the world throws at us.
CHAPTER 69
JAYDEN
Eli’s in the bedroom getting ready to meet with Coach and Gerry, and Finley’s at work. He demanded we carry on with our day as normal. Which meant training in the morning for us and a day in the office for her.
Our home is eerily quiet.
After the chaos Lex brought with him earlier, everything is too still. Too calm. Too controlled. Nothing like the storm raging inside me.
When Eli spoke to Lex, I thought he would help us get a handle on the situation. However, there’s a turbulent undercurrent beneath the placid surface of our lives right now. We’re all desperately trying to keep outwardly cool ahead of Eli’s meeting while being one wrong breath away from freaking out. Aloud.
The anxiety amped up all around the second Coach called Eli into his office after practice. Then Dad showed up here.
Surprise!
At first, I was mad that Lex would invite him here to help without discussing it with me. That he would out Eli like that for the sake of figuring out the PR approach and everything that goes into Eli as a brand and sports personality.
Until Eli told me it was him who called. Right after he called Taylor yesterday.Beforehe went to Lex.
I know it’s a positive thing that Eli feels secure enough in the family to reach out to Dad. Still, the fact he didn’t talk to me about it stings.
“You’ve been staring at that page for a while,” Dad says, sitting beside me on the couch.
He’s quiet for a moment, giving me the opportunity to talk to him. Except, I don’t know what to say. Since he walked in the door earlier, I’ve had this crippling fear that I’ve let him down. That me not doing more or pushing Eli to say something sooner has disappointed him.
“I’m sorry,” I say, quickly following it up with a groan, “No, I’m not. I couldn’t tell you, and I couldn’t force Eli to?—”
“Do you guys have ice cream? I have the worst hankering for a sundae.” Dad shifts to the edge of the couch, taking my much-loved copy ofPride and Prejudicefrom my hands. “How many times have you read it now?”
“I stopped keeping track a while back,” I reply, pushing to my feet and ushering him toward the kitchen.
