Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
“I don’t want to ever go back,” I sigh.
Finn smiles, winding our fingers together on the seat between us. “You don’t have to,” he says. “You could quit if you like. Come live with me. I’ve told you, you won’t need to work. I’ll look after you.”
I smile at the image. “I would love to live with you,” I say. “But I do want to work. And for that, I need to finish college. So, as much as I like the sound of the offer, I’d better stick it out.”
“It’s your choice.” Finn’s thumb traces over the back of my hand. “We’ll go straight back to the campus, so I can help you with your bags.”
“That would be lovely,” I say. I rest my head back against the seat. I think about Alex, about our empty dorm room. At least there’s no longer any risk that we’ll run into her and make things awkward, though I miss having her around. Staying there on my own is going to be lonely, even if I do have Finn to call and meet up with as often as I like.
It won’t be like this weekend, though. Spending twenty-four hours a day together. The thought that we might one day be able to do that is a good one. I just hope that nothing goes wrong before then.
Bernard pulls the car into the campus parking lot and I get out, heading to the trunk for my bags. Finn knocks my hand aside with a grin and takes them for me, hefting several in each hand, as if to prove his strength. I roll my eyes but smile, and lead him across campus towards my room, feeling my heart growing heavier with each step.
We reach the building and step inside, up the stairs and down the hall, past all the people who were staring at me when we left here after my fight with Alex. Most of them seem to have moved on to other things; we only get a few curious glances and smirks from the open doors. It’s nice to know that, no matter what people may think of me, they won’t be interested in talking about me forever. At least we can say that.
I reach the door and go to unlock it, but when I try the handle, it opens right away – completely unexpectedly. I step inside with a frown, wondering if I forget to lock it –
And stop dead. Because I’m not the one who unlocked or failed to lock the door, Alex did.
“Alex,” I breathe, and I hear rather than see Finn stop dead behind me as well.
She whirls around from where she was standing, by the window, and sees me. Her eyes first widen at me, then flick to her father behind me, and something in her face hardens.
“You two,” she says, slowly. “You’re together.”
“I’m sorry,” I say, immediately, a knee-jerk response, but Finn nudges me inside as he sets a pile of bags down on the floor.
“We went away together this weekend,” he says, getting right down to telling the truth as he closes the door behind us. I guess he’s as reluctant as I am to have everyone start talking again. “I would have told you about it, but you haven’t answered any of my calls.”
Alex opens her mouth to say something, clearly a sharp retort, but then closes it again right away. “I suppose that’s true.”
Finn pauses, then walks over to take a chair by Alex’s desk. Following his lead, I sit down on my bed, watching Alex with concern. She still looks a little annoyed, but not as pissed as before – and she isn’t screaming. Cautiously taking this as a good sign, I try to stay calm and quiet for the moment, letting them talk.
“I want you to know, Lexie,” Finn says, folding his hands together in front of him. “I’m not taking this lightly. It’s not just some infatuation or a silly fling. This is for keeps. I’m in love with Candy, and I’m in this for the long haul.”
Alex looks at me sharply, without saying anything. I get the idea that she’s waiting for me to confirm this, and I take a deep breath.
“I love Finn, too,” I say, glancing at him as I say it. The first time. It would have been better if we were alone for this, but at least we’re clear about how we feel. “And I’ve never felt like this before, Alex. Believe me. I never wanted to hurt you. If I had known he was your father, I would never have tried to get to know him. But now that I do, I can’t just walk away. I want to be with him. I… I need to be with him.”
Alex looks between the two of us, glowering. The way she’s looking at us makes me want to flinch. It seems that she’s still pissed – still wants to yell and punish us. I brace myself. Whatever she’s about to say next, I have the feeling it isn’t going to be pleasant.