Page 80 of Your Two Lips
“No.” The tears I was trying to fight came despite my efforts, and I sniffed. “I was going to tell him, but then everything happened with his dad. Earlier, he pushed me about getting serious, and I hesitated. I hurt him. Then he hurt me. I’ve known all along it couldn’t work, but I didn’t want to think about it because being with Finn was the happiest I’ve ever been. But I can’t do it anymore. I have to make a clean break. It won’t get easier.”
“Emily, do you want to be with Finn? Like if you didn’t have this loss, would you want him, the farm, that life?”
I grabbed a paper towel and wiped my nose. “God, yes. Finn, his family, the farm. I fell in love with all of them. But I can’t keep pretending I’m enough. He wants more, and I want him to have it.”
49
FINN
I sleptthrough Lucas coming in last night. The exhaustion eventually won against the images of my fights with Dad and with Emily running on a constant loop in my head. This morning, my body ached.
I peeked out to see my truck parked in its usual spot, meaning Tess had arrived home safely. I shuffled to the coffeepot. Even Lucas looked haggard.
“Did you sleep?” he asked.
“A bit.”
“Dad’s going to be okay, Finn.”
“I hope so.” I hated to be selfish, but the situation with the resort also hung on the edges of my mind. “This puts a new timeline on things. I’ll put the resort plans on hold and focus on the farm starting now.”
“Listen, the money is there, and it will be. Let’s take a breath, get Dad settled, and then decide how to move forward. I can help.”
“You have your own job.”
“This project should close in a couple of months. I can take some time off and come home.”
“That would be great, Luc, thanks.” It didn’t change the fact that the resort was being delayed at least another year or longer. And Emily, it wasn’t going to work.
I fell for her, but she didn’t want me. How had my judgment with women become such complete shit?
I had to get out, but fuck, it would hurt.
I stepped out on the deck to smell the fresh fall air and clear my head. Over where the bike resort would have been, two large earthmovers worked the ground. I shoved on my shoes and ran out there.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“We finished the last job early. Ben said you wanted to get this going ASAP.”
Shit. They were doing the work. I had to pay them. “I need a day to pay you, but I will.”
“We’re good. Your wife gave us a check.”
What? “My wife?”
“The woman that was here yesterday. Blonde.” Emily. Her money. A payoff for the fun we had. At least I made ten grand this time.
My phone rang.
“Emily.” My voice was cold, measured.
“Hey. How is your dad? How are you?” Her kindness and caring were like a snare.
I started back to my house. “He’ll be in the hospital for about a week. He had a close call.” I bit out the facts, simple and straight.
“Where are you?” She must have heard the noise of a giant machine backing up.
“Home. Can you stop by? We need to talk.”
