Page 47 of Something Unforgettable

“And how old was that?” Xavier asked, his voice rougher than normal.

Finn shrugged as well as he could. “Nine, I think?”

Xavier’s hand spasmed on his back. “Nine,” he repeated. Ev had had a similar reaction when Finn told him.

“I did okay,” Finn said, trying not to get defensive. “There was always food in the fridge for me, and I didn’t mind being in the apartment alone during the day. There were books to read and stuff on TV. I was in school most of the time anyway. Lots of kids have it worse.”

Xavier took a breath and let it out, his arms loosening until they weren’t squeezing Finn quite so hard. “You said ‘during the day.’ Did they leave you alone at night, too?”

“Not on purpose,” Finn said. “Just, sometimes they were both busy with work and they got their signals crossed. It was always an oversight. Besides, there was a doorman downstairs, and the elevator needed a key. I was perfectly safe.”

“You were a child. It was their responsibility to take care of you. Not the doorman’s.”

Finn swallowed. He knew Xavier was right; he just didn’t like to think about it.

“They have really important jobs. I understood why they were distracted, or they couldn’t leave work on time sometimes.”

“How often was sometimes?” Xavier’s voice was still gentle, but there was steel under it.

“I don’t know. A few times a month, maybe?”

“Finn…”

“I know. I know it wasn’t right. Pops was clear on that when I finally told him.”

“How old were you when you went to live with him?”

“Thirteen. I just— I spent the summers with Pops anyway, and when—” He didn’t want to talk about that part. “I asked if I could live with him instead and he said yes. I’ve only been back a few times since.”

“Back where?” Xavier asked, and Finn wondered if he was thinking about finding Finn’s parents and giving them a piece of his mind. That’s what Ev had wanted to do, but Finn had said no because he didn’t want the drama it would cause. The past was over and done with.

“Miami. Mom’s an immigration lawyer there. They divorced about five years ago when Dad got a better job. He’s an oncologist in New York City now.”

“Wow,” Xavier said.

“Yeah.” That was the problem. No one could argue that their jobs weren’t important. They worked long and unpredictable hours and always had. Finn was used to not being a priority.

“That doesn’t make how they treated you okay, sweetheart.” He shifted Finn so he could cup his face in both big hands. “They neglected you. Maybe not physically, but emotionally for sure.”

Finn stared into Xavier’s dark eyes, reading the sadness and frustration there. “You’re angry with them. Ev was, too, when I told him.”

“And I’m sure your Pops was as well.”

Finn shrugged. “Pops was Pops. He said the whole situation was bullshit and then he took me out to buy new posters for my room because I left all the old ones behind.”

Finn smiled at the memory. He’d been so happy that Pops had let him live in Split Rock. That he finally had family thatsawhim. He wasn’t in the way, or an obligation.

And now Pops was sick. He was forgetting things. Losing his memory. Finn was petrified that he would be forgotten, too, one day. That was how these things worked, wasn’t it? And then he’d be all alone again.

Xavier stood, sweeping Finn up like a bride and walking to the stairs.

Finn didn’t ask where they were going, but he hoped to bed. He rested his cheek on Xavier’s shoulder while Xavier carried him up the steps and down a hallway. They entered a room and crossed to the bed before Xavier set Finn down on the edge and proceeded to strip him down to his boxers. Xavier did the same and a minute later they were both under the covers. He arranged Finn so he was tucked into the curve of Xavier’s body, their legs tangled and his cheek on Xavier’s bicep, Xavier’s arms wrapped around him from behind.

“I know we haven’t known each other long,” Xavier started, his voice vibrating against Finn’s back, his body warming Finn’s chilled skin. “But Finn, you are so special. So important. I hate that I made you relive all those feelings again, even unintentionally.” He paused and pressed a lingering kiss behind Finn’s ear. “The next few days are going to be a whirlwind of meetings and damage control, but Iswear to you, little one—I will do my absolute best to remind you every chance I get how important you are to me.”

Finn’s breath whooshed out of him, relief replacing it. He nodded and hugged Xavier’s arm to his chest. “I’m sorry I’m such a mess,” he said quietly. “I’m worried that you’re gonna get sick of it eventually. Sick of me.”

Xavier squeezed him tighter. “Finn, what do you think I mean when I say I’m a Daddy?”

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