Page 65 of Something Unforgettable

“He’s here now. Thanks, Micah.” He ended the call and reached up to brush Xavier’s wet hair out of his face. “Do you want to go home and change into something dry?”

Xavier caught his hand and pressed it to his cheek. “It’s just my coat, my hair, and my knees from changing the tire. I’ll go to the restroom and clean up, okay, little one?”

Finn nodded and Xavier went off to get dry. The waitress came by a minute later and offered Finn a towel. He thanked her and used it to dry his face, then set it next to him on the bench seat. He opened his phone and read Xavier’s messages. The first was to let him know about the flat tire and that he would be a few minutes late. The other two were that he was on the road again, and then “call me.” Finn listened to the messages after that, one after another as Xavier got increasingly frustrated with the delays and the lack of reception. The last was a profuse apology and a promise that he would be there as soon as he could.

Finn set the phone down again, his hands shaking.

Xavier came back a few minutes later and slid into the booth across from him, reaching out to hold his hand. Finn gripped back, glad that Xavier’s skin was warmer now. He forced himself to take a breath past the huge weight crushing his chest.

“I can’t do this.” He shut his eyes, determined to keep his tears under control. When he opened them again Xavier looked stricken. “I’m sorry. I know this wasn’t your fault, but I can’t—” Fuck. His voice kept wobbling and his vision blurred. “I love you, but I can’t do this. I’m so sorry.”

Xavierdidn’tthinkofhimself as overly emotional, but Finn’s words broke something inside him. What had happened to him—or rather, what had his worthless excuse for parents done to him—that he reacted like this to Xavier being late by less than half an hour? His poor boy.

Finn’s skin was pale, his eyes red-rimmed from the tears he was trying and failing to hold back.

“I’m so sorry,” he said again, voice strained. Xavier ached to pull him into his arms.

“Oh, sweetheart.” Xavier cupped Finn’s face. “I love you, too.”

Finn shook his head. “Daddy, that’s not—”

Xavier hushed him. “I know, but you can’t expect me not to say it back.”

Finn’s jaw trembled. In fact, his whole body was shaking like he’d been the one caught out in the rain and not Xavier.

“I’m breaking up with you,” he managed to say before new tears streaked down his cheeks.

Xavier couldn’t stand it any longer. He rounded the table and slid in next to Finn, taking his hands again.

Finn shook his head. “Please, let me go.”

Xavier didn’t move. He would if Finn pushed him, but he didn’t think that was going to happen. “Finn, can I hug you?”

Finn squeezed his eyes shut and nodded. His breath was rapid and shallow as Xavier finally, finally drew him into his arms. Finn’s good arm went around Xavier’s waist and he felt that hand grip the back of his shirt. The other was tucked safely between them, Finn twisting his fingers in the fabric.

“Sweetheart, have you ever had a panic attack before?” Finn stilled, then sucked in another breath that shook. After a moment, he shrugged, then nodded. “I think you might be having one right now.”

Finn’s arm tightened. “Daddy,” he pleaded.

Xavier stroked up and down his back as Finn trembled against him. “Shh, baby. I’ve got you. Daddy’s got you.”

Finn’s tears were quiet, like he didn’t want to draw attention to himself. Xavier continued to murmur soothing words into his ear, hoping Finn was hearing him as he promised that everything was going to be okay. That Xavier wasn’t leaving him again. Slowly the tears ran out and Finn got his breathing under control.

He sighed and melted closer, playing with a button on Xavier’s shirt, so Xavier asked, “Do you want me to take you home?”

Finn jerked his head no. “I—I don’t want to ruin our date, Daddy.”

Xavier had to fight not to laugh with relief. His sweet, sweet boy. Finn claimed to be trying to break up with him, but he was still calling Xavier “Daddy” and didn’t want to mess up a date that was arguably a disaster. The fact that Xavier no longer knew if his shirt was wet from the rain or Finn’s tears could attest to that.

“Okay, my love. We can stay. But how about we get you cleaned up first?”

Finn agreed and Xavier helped him to the bathroom. The hallway leading to it was right next to their table, and most of the guests seemed to have politely turned their attention back to their meals.

He steered Finn into the bathroom, which wasn’t a single stall, but had a door that locked. His boy was a little unsteady on his feet, so Xavier picked him up and set him on the counter before wetting a paper towel to clean up his face.

“I like your shirt,” he said, tilting Finn’s chin up when he tried to duck his head.

“Thank you. The guys helped me get ready.”

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