Page 30 of Study You

Finn scoffed as she turned her head. “I’m leaving because I’m sick of drinking alone in fucking bars. It has nothing to do with you.”

“So…have a drink with me.”

“What’s the point?”

Gillian smiled weakly and lowered her eyes. She fidgeted with the hem of her dress, shaking her head. “You’re right. There’s no point. I hoped I could buy you a drink and apologise, but you deserve more than that.”

“Here you go, gorgeous.” Morgan placed Finn’s bill down in the leather wallet. “No rush. I’ll come back in a few.”

Finn checked the bill and took some cash from her back pocket. She slipped the notes inside the wallet and reached over to leave it securely behind the bar. Then she turned fully to Gillian. “We really don’t need to do this. You’ve always said it was a mistake, and I guess I knew deep down that it would complicate things, so…thank you for the time you spent with me, but I have to leave now.”

Finn turned her back on Gillian and left the bar. The sooner she got home, the sooner she could kick herself for ever getting involved with Gillian Masters.

* * *

Gillian rushed outside and followed Finn as quickly as her heels would allow. “Finn, please come back inside.”

Finn spun around, frowning. “Why are you doing this? Why are you following me out of the bar tonight when you wouldn’t even let me speak to you the other day? Move on with your life, Gillian. It’ll be far less complicated without me in it.”

Gillian swallowed. She hated hearing Finn say things like that. Even if it was true in many respects, it didn’t mean she didn’t want Finn around in some capacity. “Can we talk?”

“About what? How this isn’t a good idea? How you never should have gotten involved with me? How your career is on the line? We’ve had those conversations.”

“The way I spoke to you on Wednesday was disgusting. I’d like to make amends.”

Finn nodded slowly, her hands shoved in her pockets.

“Please, Finn. If you never want to speak to me again, I understand…but let’s not leave things like this. I never want to upset you.”

“If you think I’m the kind of person who would report you to the university, you’re wrong. So, like, you don’t have to say any of this stuff. We can just go our separate ways and never mention it again.”

“I…no. God, I know you’d never do that. And I’m not saying any of this because of some sort of guilty conscience. I’m saying it because I would like to apologise. A real apology. A…conversation.”

“Okay.”

“Y-yes? You’ll stay and talk?” Gillian settled ever so slightly. She had spent the last two nights hoping Finn would turn up and hear her out. Now, she was finally going to be given that chance. “You’ll come back inside?”

“If that’s what you want.” Finn shrugged and stepped past Gillian, pushing through the heavy door to the bar. She moved straight towards the booth they’d shared last time they were here and took a seat.

Gillian stopped at the table, looking down at Finn. “Can I get us something to drink?”

“I’ll take a beer, thanks.”

Gillian turned and eyed Morgan. She hadn’t had much conversation with her since she started to drink here, but it was quite clear Finn and Morgan were fond of one another. Anyone who paid even an ounce of attention could see that. “A beer and a pinot, thanks.”

Morgan smiled as she took a glass and turned her attention to the beer pump. “Is Finn okay? I’ve seen you in here with her a couple of times now.”

“She’s…yes. She’s okay.”

“You two a thing then?” Morgan winked as she briefly eyed Gillian. “She’s a real catch. Finn is lovely.”

“No. We’re not anything. Just friends.”

Morgan grinned. “Riiiight.”

Gillian exhaled a deep breath, wondering why she was even giving this server a second of her time.

“You know, if you’re playing hard to get, she won’t wait around for you. I see the way she looks at you, it’s quite clear she fucking adores you, but she doesn’t play games. If you want to risk losing her, then it will happen.”

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