Page 100 of Exile and Embrace

I know I could be happy with Finn, but I don’t know how long that would last. Declan would come sniffing around eventually.

When that day comes, can I ask Finn to turn against his family? Do I even want to? Is that fair of me?

He’s never wanted to be like them, but can he be a different man?

I join Zoe, looping my arm through hers and turning back to the ballroom. “What do you say we go get in there and get this over with?”

Zoe tilts her head back and groans. “I still don’t know why Dad wanted a massive party to celebrate his will reading.”

“Add that to the list of things about him that we can’t possibly begin to explain.”

Zoe pushes open the doors to the ballroom, fancy dresses swirling by as a string quartet plays at the front of the room. “Let’s get this ridiculous show over with.”

By the time I escape the ballroom and shake off the last of the well-wishers, all I want to do is go back to Oregon and crawl into bed beside Finn.

I’m missing him more than I ever thought I would.

As soon as I'm in my room and out of the burgundy gown, I grab my phone and call him.

The line rings for so long that I nearly give up.

“Hey, Aves.” Finn’s voice is warm and friendly, making me more homesick than ever.

I fall back onto the plush white duvet on my bed. “Hey, Finn.”

“I haven’t heard much from you. How are things going in Tennessee?” What sounds like a cupboard slams shut in the background.

“Everything is weird. I don’t know. I thought that coming back here would feel like coming back home, but it doesn’t. I want to be out of here as soon as possible. I think I might get on a plane and come back tomorrow.”

“You don’t want to stay until the end of the week like you planned?”

I stare at the ceiling, the outline of glow in the dark stars still on the white paint, even though the stars have been gone for years. “No. My mother is on a rampage. She claims that the jewelry that was left to me and Zoe should be hers because me and Zoe abandoned our father. She seems to forget that he tried to sell us.”

“Come home whenever you want. It’s been quiet around here without you.” He sighs as bottles rattle in the background. “I have no clue what the hell to make for dinner.”

“I’m sure you’ll figure it out. I froze a couple servings of beef stew. You could heat that up.”

He’s quiet for a couple seconds before there is a dull thud. “You’re right. Stew for dinner it is. When you get back, we have a lot to talk about.”

My heart skips a beat, and the phone almost falls to the bed.

I scramble to keep my grip, holding it to my ear. “We can talk about it now.”

“No.” He slams what sounds like the microwave door shut. “It’s really something that we should talk about in person. With you gone, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking.”

“Alright. Well, I think I’ll book a plane ticket, and I should land tomorrow night, if I can find one for then. I’ll send you the details from whatever flight I end up getting.”

“I’ve got a run to go on, so I’m not sure what time I’ll be home in the evening.” The microwave beeps and he hums to himself. “Dinner is ready. I’ll let you go now, but I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow.”

The silence stretches between us for a few seconds before the call ends.

I toss the phone to the bed, butterflies erupting in my stomach.

What does Finn want to talk about?

Maybe he’s starting to fall for me, just like I’ve fallen for him. He could want to talk about committing ourselves fully to a relationship.

---