Page 76 of Falling for Finn

“News travels fast around here,” I say. Makes me thankful Oakley was here to rescue me from making that mistake twice. Who knows what would’ve happened.

He pats me on the shoulder. “Well, guess I better get going and leave you to it.”

I chuckle. “Ya bored? Want to help me put all this shit up?”

“I’m good. Have fun with that.” Sebastian laughs as he heads to his truck. He honks twice and then waves as he drives off.

Hours pass, and I’m already sore from the constant lifting. After a quick break, I neatly stack the tables in the loft next to the chairs. They aren’t heavy, but the repetitive motions are exhausting. I push through it because I want to spend all tomorrow with Oakley—something I’ll need to chat with my grandmother about.

Before I go home, I stop at my grandparents’ house. As soon as I walk in, the smell of fresh-baked cookies hits me.

“Grandma? Grandpa?” I holler.

“In here, dear!”

When I enter the kitchen, Grandpa’s rinsing dishes in the sink as Grandma reads the Sunday paper at the table. They still refuse to get their news electronically.

I snag a few cookies that are still warm. Making myself at home, I open the fridge and pour a glass of milk, then Grandma invites me to join her at the table.

“So what’s on your mind?” she asks as I sit across from her.

“I’d like to take tomorrow off for Oakley’s painting presentation and spend some time with her before she leaves on Tuesday.”

“Aw.” Grandma beams, and I resist the urge to roll my eyes.

Grandpa looks at me over his shoulder and grins.

“Don’t you start too.”

“I said nothing,” he muses.

“Consider it done,” Grandma tells me. “She’s a nice girl. Going to be very sad to see her go.”

“Yeah,” I mutter, not wanting to talk about it.

“Will she come back and visit?” she asks with a twinkle in her eye.

“Yeah, we’ll try the long-distance thing and see how it goes.”

I hate lying, but I have to keep up the act until Oakley’s gone. Although, my grandma looks at me like she knows something I don’t. Either way, I ignore it.

“That’s nice. I hope it works out. You two seem very happy,” Grandma says, but her eyes don’t leave mine.

“Thanks.”

Before she can continue, I thank them for the cookies and see myself out.

I make it home in record time, and when I enter, Oakley’s sitting on the couch with her phone. She’s wearing nothing but a towel.

I grin and plop down next to her. “Did you finish?”

“Yep. Check it out.” She stands and leads me over to the canvas.

My eyes scan over the town square decorated for the harvest festival, and I’m amazed by how she continually captures all the small and important details.

“Oakley,” I say, pulling her close. “You’re so talented.”

“Thank you,” she says. “I’m happy with it. The colors complement each other so well, but then again, I painted it just as it was. Vermont is beautiful.”

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