Page 123 of When The Rain Falls

That night, I fall asleep clutching my phone to my chest. My head on a lumpy motel pillow. My face wet with tears.

44PREPARED TO GROVEL

FINN

I’m prepared to grovel.

Whatever it’s going to take.

I ring Alicia's doorbell early on Saturday morning and take a step back. I thought about rushing over last night. But I was enjoying my time with Vivian and Ruby too much to interrupt it. I’ve put them second to my grief so often. It was time to put them first.

Anxious, I ring the doorbell again and peek through the window. When I see the outline of a figure, I hold my breath. But when Alicia opens the door, I let it out in a long disappointing exhale.

"Hey. Is Aimee home?" I ask quickly, trying to peek into the house around her.

Alicia cocks her head and runs her eyes over my body. Then her eyes flitter downward. And her eyebrow raises studiously. And, goddammit. Aimee might not have been joking about telling Aliciathingsabout me. Fuck, PTA meetings are going to be so awkward.

I sigh in frustration. This isn’t the time for ogling. This is the time for me to go after my woman and bring her back to my cave. Jesus. Maybe I am a troll.

I clear my throat and Alicia blinks. Then she bites her lip thoughtfully as she leans in to study my face. “What did you do to her?” she asks pointedly.

“Alicia,” I groan. “I’m going to fix it. I promise.”

Alicia’s head tilts in confusion. “What do you mean fix it? Fix what?”

Now it’s my turn to be confused. What exactly does Alicia know?

“Wait. What wereyoutalking about?” I ask carefully.

She waves a hand in front of her face. “Finn, I don’t even know where to begin. At first I was concerned. When I realized she was over at your place so much. I mean you’re so much, you know,older.”

Thanks, Alicia.

“I’m notthatold,” I mutter. Like my van, I still have some life left.

“And she’s so, you know,Aimee.” The flippant way she says her name makes me growl. I’m about to tear into her when she continues.

“But she’s changed. She’s so much more grounded. She’s getting her head on straight. She’s not as flighty and distracted. She’s much more reasonable. I think you’re a good influence.”

Fuck Alicia. Talking about Aimee like she’s something that needs to be tamed. I like Aimee the way she is. Full of zest and sass. Those wide eyes that drink in the world with a childlike hunger. If she’s different. If she’s more grounded. It’s not because of me. In fact, I’m sure it’s in spite of me. And everything I’ve done to her.

“Alicia,” I growl. “I don’t knowwhoin her life ever made her feel like she wasn’t wanted. I don’t know what happened to make her think people just want to use her. But it’s never happening again. Never. Understand me?”

Alicia’s head teeters back in surprise. I don’t know if her sister is behind any of this. But I’m fairly certain she never really helped the situation. And I don’t like the way she talks about my girl.

That’s right. She’smygirl now. Or she will be. If she still wants me. Assuming I haven’t blown it entirely.

“Alicia,” I command. “Tell her I’m here. I need to talk to her.”

“Oh…” Alicia’s brows crinkle. “She left.”

“What do you meanshe left? Her car is in the driveway.” I jerk a thumb over my shoulder as panic begins to squeeze my ribcage. She’s been ignoring my texts and my calls. But seeing her car in the driveway was my one source of comfort yesterday. It told me that she was still here and that I still had a chance. And now that chance seems to be quickly slipping from my fingers.

My entire body is drowning in pins and needles as I run a shaky hand through my hair.Fucking fuck.Am I too late?

"Yeah," Alicia says, "I made her take my car. She doesn't have all wheel drive." Take her car where? How far did I run her off?

"Alicia, tell me where she went,” I demand. Aimeeleft.

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