Page 103 of Finn Rhodes Forever

We spentthe rest of the afternoon at The Arbutus, eating a late lunch and then sharing drinks with Emmett and Avery, talking and laughing on the patio.

We walked home down Main Street, and Finn took my hand. My mind wandered back to my realization the other day about my biological father.

I peered up at him. “I’m going to reach out to Cole.”

His eyebrows shot sky-high. “Really?”

I nodded, and when he squeezed my hand, I felt a boost of support, like the ground beneath my feet was more solid.

“What changed your mind?”

“You.” I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth. “When we laid the cards all out on the table, there were two sides to the story.” My shoulders lifted. “It wasn’t right and wrong.”

He was quiet a moment as we walked. “And you think that might be the case with Cole,” he said quietly, and I nodded.

“I don’t even know what I would say to him.” My stomach twinged with worry.Hi, remember me?

Oh, god. What if he didn’t remember me?

“Hey.” Finn stopped and turned me to him, worry written on his face. “Whatever it is, we’ll figure it out. I’ll help you. We can call him together if you like.”

It was so unfair how he could be such a devilish asshole one moment, and the next, he was the sweetest person I could ever imagine.

“Thanks,” I whispered.

He winked at me, hands on my shoulders.

“Your mom invited me for dinner,” I said with a little smile.

“Yeah?” His eyebrows lifted as he gauged my reaction. “And?”

I shrugged. “And I said yes.”

His gaze bored into me. “Like, with everyone, or just us four?”

“She said family dinner, so I think that means everyone.”

“Baby.” His smile stretched ear to ear and my stomach did backflips.

I rolled my eyes. “Relax.”

He walked me backwards until my back was against the nearest wall and he was staring down at me with bright eyes. “This is big.”

I shrugged. “Whatever.” My hands were on his chest, smoothing over the fabric of his t-shirt, the ridges and muscles beneath.

“Mhm.” His eyes danced as he dipped his head down. His hands threaded into the hair at the back of my neck and against my will I sighed, making his smug grin hitch higher. “This is big.”

He kissed me against the wall. I melted under his touch, opening for him as we made out like teenagers for everyone to see. People passed us by and I didn’t care.

I just liked being with him. I was falling for Finn Rhodes, slipping down the slope into a life with him, and I didn’t want it to end.

39

Finn

When we pulledup to our usual parking spot at the end of the old logging road a few days later, there were already seven cars there. People stood around in the early morning light, chatting and drinking coffee. Avery, Sadie, and Hannah gathered around the bed of Holden’s truck, eating muffins, while Holden, Wyatt, Emmett, and Beck peered over a map. Aiden, a friendly, annoyingly good-looking guy who worked for Rhodes Construction, chatted with Joe and Jen.

“What’s going on?” Liv asked, twisting around in her seat as I parked. “Why is half the town here?”

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