Page 113 of Scent of Home

“Yeah, okay. That’s like me saying I’m going to walk away from Destiny’s.”

“It’s not the same!”

I try to sit up, but Shane threads his fingers through my hair and holds me in place.

“It’s similar enough.”

“Your resort didn’t hurt you,” Locke shouts.

Finn goes quiet. “My parents built that place, they planted trees, they created memories, and planned a future, and they died when I was fifteen years old. Everything about Destiny’s hurts. And it has been a prison at times and a solace. Music didn’t hurt you, Locke. People did.”

Locke stares blankly at Finn, and then the anger just seeps out of him.

“I’m not ready.”

“Then you wait until you are. But you have a space for your guitar, waiting, when you wake one day and decide today is the day.”

There’s a deep tense silence, and then Locke sighs. “Can you show me the room you picked out?”

Finn smiles, it’s radiant and so full of devotion. They leave the room, unaware we were even sitting there watching.

“That was fascinating.”

“Wasn’t it just?” Shane murmurs.

As the day drifts on, Bray comes and joins us. He worms his way under my body and lays against Shane, falling asleep within minutes.

Shane puts a movie on, and Finn brings in snacks and drinks. Locke and Finn curl up in front of us on the floor. The fire is on and roaring, the wind outside is howling.

The movie ends, and another begins, but it could be a blank screen for all I care. I’ve never done this before. Never been this still. I’ve never found or had such peace.

Bray shifts, snuggling behind me, spooning me, one heavy arm thrown over my waist. I wonder how long it’s been since he slept this deeply or well.

Shane is now alternating between stroking my hair and stroking his hair.

Finn and Locke chat and murmur to each other, but I’m too drowsy to pay much attention.

“I’ve never done this before.”

“What? Watched movies?” Shane asks.

“Watched movies, laid with my head in someone’s lap, and just been quiet.”

“How are you enjoying it?” Shane asks.

“I think perhaps it’s one of my favourite things.”

“I’ve watched a lot of movies alone, but I’ve never done it with someone I cared about. It always seemed so intimate. I made excuses not to,” Shane says.

“I never had anyone. Don’t have a TV, either. I’m too busy fixing engines,” Bray murmurs.

“People don’t stay at Destiny’s to hang out with me,” Finn says.

Locke sighs. “I’ve done it lots.”

I tense. “You have?”

“Yeah, heaps and heaps. But that’s what happens when your mother dumps you at your cousin’s house and goes off for weeks on end. Ryn, Lia, Bethany, Raider, and I watched so many movies. Kelly was always around but doing other things. I only do it when I visit them. It’s nice to be able to do it with you guys.”

---