Page 111 of Unleashed

“What did you fucking do?” He shakes his head and glances at the ground. That’s when it hits me. “You and Ricky go to a shooting range together sometimes. Holy shit. You tried to end your life with his gun?”

Instead of arguing, he closes his eyes with a slight nod. “I couldn’t live with myself anymore. I broke Hadley’s heart, trust, and our love. I didn’t want another second here without her.”

With tears falling down my cheeks, I shriek, “What about your family, Finn? Losing you would’ve devastated us!”

“The excruciating pain only got worse. I wanted to beg her to forgive me again, but thought she got married and I lost her forever. You don’t know what it’s like, Simone, until you’ve been to that point.”

“I’ve been through pain, Finn.”

“But you’re not me. I couldn’t do it. I had the gun to my head when Ricky broke down the door. He talked me out of it and took me to the hospital. Then you and Rodwell came to Baltimore after my stay there. You helped me get my life back. I owe you so much, even if I don’t always let you know.”

I cover my face to hide my tears. Finn grabs my shoulder and yanks me into a hug. He whispers, “I’m sorry, Sims. I love you.”

I muffle, “I love you, too.” I step back and smack his chest. “You jackass! I almost lost you!”

He frowns with watery eyes. “Please don’t tell Mom. Only a handful of people know.”

“Hadley?”

Finn sighs. “Yeah. She knows. I told her the night she said she still loved me.” He nods toward the equipment shed. “We need to get back.”

“Thanks for telling me.”

“Did I have a choice?” He smiles with a sniff as we walk. Putting his arm around my shoulders, he drags me with him.

We stop at the shed and when he unlocks it, I follow him into the small building. The musty air hits my nostrils as dust clouds puff with our steps.

Finn pulls the chain for the overhead lightbulb and bends to dig through the shelf. I ask, “How would you describe your first time having sex with Hadley?”

Just as he pulls a bag toward him, he loses his grip on it and a bat clatters to the floor. He mutters, “What the fuck, Sims?”

“I’m curious. I don’t know if I’m doing it wrong.” So dumb, but I want to know if it felt magical for him like it did for me with Greg.

Picking up the bat, he says, “It was good. Okay?”

“I’ll send a sympathy card to Hadley. Jeez.”

He sighs. “It was one of the best days of my life. We had waited about three months. It was worth it. Fireworks, parades, and confetti. We came together. I swear I saw God. Is that enough for you?”

I shrug at his back. “It’s better than your first answer if it’s the truth.”

Finn shoves the bat into the bag. “It is.” He clears his throat. “What about you and Rodwell? I don’t want gory details.”

I make a face when he turns toward me. “I’m not telling you that shit. Get real.”

He laughs. “That bad?”

“No. It wasn’t like yours. That’s all.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

I roll my eyes. Finn tosses me the key, and I catch it before he grabs a bag of bats and helmets. “Lock up for me. My hands are full. I think you can manage the balls.” He laughs and I flip him off.

He steps out of the shed still laughing. I take a minute to gather my thoughts before I need to face everyone. It’s depressing to be alone, especially with someone I had feelings for at one time.

Sunlight fills the shed as the door opens. I spin around to see Greg. “Your brother said to hurry you along.”

“He just left.”

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