Page 59 of Finn

I raise a brow. “You do remember it’s cold out there, right?”

She waves her hand at me and pshaws. “Who cares? I’ll be all right. Besides, if I get too cold, you can help warm me up out there.”

Wait, what?

Did I just hear her correctly?

I don’t know what she means by that.

Maybe she just plans to borrow my coat or something.

You know, layer up.

My mind is everywhere as we don our parkas and boots and head outside, where it is indeed snowing.

And kind of a lot.

“Wow!” Sammie marvels as she spins around in a circle, her face to the sky. “This is amazing.”

Her excitement over the snow is contagious. I take a good look around and feel a new appreciation for the beauty of this night.

“It is something,” I agree.

Skipping over to me, Sammie places her hands on my arms and looks up at me, her green eyes sparkling. And then she says softly, “Thank you for bringing me up here with you, Finn.”

“Of course.” I take a chance and place my hands on either side of her waist. “I’m happy you’re here with me.”

Reaching up, she touches my stubbled cheek. “Are you really?”

I don’t know what’s happening right now, but I’m fucking rolling with it.

“Yes,” I reply, smiling. “I am.”

Moving her hand from my cheek back down to my arm, she says, “Can I ask you one more thing?”

“Sure. Ask me anything.” Even though it’s through the parka and thick sweater, I squeeze her waist.

She sighs, and there’s a flicker of sadness in her eyes. “If I did something bad back in the past and I told you about it, would you still be my friend?”

“Sammie, I’d be your friend no matter what. In fact”—I hold her gaze—“I’ll be anything you want me to be.”

I see a struggle in her eyes.

She’s fighting something.

But what in the hell could it be?

I can’t imagine anything in her past could really be that bad.

At last, she says, “Before we go back inside, where I want to tell you something, can you do one thing for me?”

God, doesn’t she know what the answer will always be?

“Anything, Sammie. I’ll do anything for you,” I say quietly, as if this moment demands softness.

And then she just about floors me when she says, “Kiss me, Finn.”

Sammie

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