Page 60 of Study You

Chapter 20

There she is…

Finn stopped at the opposite end of the corridor. Gillian was heading into her office, that red skirt hugging her hips today, her dark hair silky…even from so far away. Last night had been emotional for Finn, but it was Gillian who had struggled to form a sentence once they’d made themselves comfortable on the couch. While Finn had wanted to hear all the amazing things Gillian thought about her, she hadn’t expected her to actually feel something so deep that she wanted Finn in her life.

Shocked was an understatement.

Finn had woken this morning with a spring in her step. It didn’t matter if things would be complicated or whether they had to lay low. What mattered was that she had managed to get through to Gillian last night, and now they had a fighting chance. It was all Finn had wanted as they stood in that park together. A chance, an opportunity to make Gillian happy.

Finn smiled when Gillian moved out of sight, heading inside her office. She had laid on the couch last night and held Gillian until she had fallen asleep. There had been times in the past when that was all she had wanted. Of course being intimate was a dream for Finn, but she never wanted Gillian to think she only wanted her body. Even if there had been times when it felt exactly like that, it simply wasn’t true. Finn wanted all of her. Every last side of Gillian Masters.

Even the side she’d had last night.

Finn had carefully and quietly slid out from under Gillian, covered her with a blanket, and dropped a gentle kiss on her hair. She couldn’t help but watch for a moment or two, admiring a woman who meant so much to her, but then she had slipped out of Gillian’s apartment and made her way home. While there hadn’t been any contact from Gillian this morning, Finn was okay about it. It had to be overwhelming; she felt it, too.

“Finn!”

Finn turned around, smiling as Deena walked towards her. “Hey, how’s it going?”

“Not bad. You got time for a cuppa?”

“I…” Finn didn’t really have time. She planned to be at Gillian’s house within the next thirty minutes. A quick coffee wouldn’t do any harm, though. “Yeah, go on. But I’m buying this time.”

Deena held up her hands. “That’s fine by me.”

Finn turned into the cafeteria, thankful that it was quiet this morning. Tuesday was always an easy day around here, though. One lecture, an hour in the library to do what she needed to do, and then that was generally Finn’s academic day done and dusted. Since Deena was studying for the very same degree, it meant Finn had someone to hang out with when it was possible.

“Grab a seat, and I’ll get the coffee.” Finn joined the queue, perusing the menu. Maybe she would take a sandwich with her and have lunch before she got started at Gillian’s. Knowing Finn, the time would end up getting away, and it would be after dinner before she’d remembered to eat. She picked up a ham salad baguette and a bag of crisps and moved towards the cashier. “Just these, thanks. And two coffees.” Finn paid and waited at the end of the counter for their coffee.

She took her phone from the side of her bag and glanced around to make sure nobody was watching over her shoulder.

Hey, it’s me. Is it still okay to start at your new place today?

Finn quickly shoved her phone into her top pocket when the server placed two coffees down. “Thanks.” She felt her phone buzz immediately. Finn almost wanted to drop the coffees to see Gillian’s response, but she restrained herself from doing so. It was only a few steps to the table. She didn’t need to be so eager. “Here. Much needed caffeine if that last lecture was anything to go by.”

“Is it just me, or does Rich have the worst voice out of all the lecturers here?”

Finn smiled. “Yeah, he’s not exactly inspiring.”

She took her phone back out, bracing herself for the response.

Absolutely!

Huh. That was it? No mention of last night?

Don’t overthink this. Let it take its course.

Great. Grabbing some lunch and then heading over.

Finn sent the message, then decided she wasn’t quite finished.

Are we okay? After last night?

She placed her phone screen down on the table, aware that she had Gillian under her name in the phonebook. “So, got any plans for the rest of the day?” She eyed Deena as she took her coffee and sipped. “Anything exciting?”

“Nothing at all. Home, clean the house, pick the kids up from school.” Deena cleared her throat. “Did you want to get a drink at the weekend?”

Finn would love to say yes, but she didn’t know where she would be at with Gillian…or work. “Can I let you know? I’m about to start vetting care agencies for my mum, and I have a few assignments I’d like to get boxed off, and I have a job on at the minute.”

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