Page 51 of Finn

She snaps her eyes open, and I see the confusion weighing heavily in them.

“She’s so different here,” she whispers.

I sip my beer and stand next to her, linking my fingers with hers. “I think she’s as confused as you are. Both of you are trying to process a lot of shit right now, but you aren’t alone. I’m right here, and the entire club is inside to help you both.”

“Do you think she’s still using?” she asks, peeking over at me.

I sigh and shrug my large shoulders. “I don’t know, Mia. I hope not.”

She shakes her head and lets out a sigh. “I don’t know how to do this, Finn.”

“Do what, angel?” I ask, dipping my eyebrows.

Her fingers tighten on mine, and she turns her head to look at me. “Get past everything that has happened. The lies and the secrets. My mom, Porter, and my stepdad. I still love my stepdad, and I feel like shit for that.”

I put down my beer and stand in front of her. Her eyes search mine as I rest my hands on either side of her face. “There’s no wrong way to feel. He raised you and gave you a good fucking life. That’s not something you’ll ever forget.”

She tries to nod, but my hands prevent it from happening. “Did you notice how Porter looked at my mom?” she asks. I nod my head, and a small smile hits her lips. “He wasn’t lying. He really does still love her.” We’re both quiet for a minute, but she finally breaks the silence. “It just makes me wonder if her reason for leaving was more than what Porter thinks.”

I press my lips to hers and stand back, grabbing her hands. “What are you thinking?

She lifts her shoulders and looks past me into the dark night. “I don’t know exactly, but I feel like there’s more to this story.”

I squeeze her hands and nod toward the door. “The only way to know is to go back inside and hopefully get the answers you’re looking for.”

The thought that Vic left for another reason is great, but I think Mia just wants it to be another reason. Porter would know best, and if that’s what he thinks, it’s more than likely it. But I won’t tell her what I think. She’s processing enough, and I will not add to that.

I grab my beer, and we walk back inside. Immediately we are hit with loud talking and laughter. I glance over at her and see a very small smile grace her full lips.

There are two empty chairs, and I pull one out for her next to her mom. I grab the other one, pulling it close to her, letting her know I’m right here.

“Remember that time the guys were out of town, and we stayed up all night drinking? You got up on stage and pushed that stripper aside, and you told her to pay attention to how to do things the right way,” Nora says, laughing.

Vic throws her head back, laughing, and points at Adalyn. “You tried pulling me off stage.”

Everyone is laughing at this point, and I glance at Porter. He has a smile on his face, staring at Vic. The love he feels for this woman is so clear in the way he looks at her. It’s almost heartbreaking to see because I have no idea how this is all going to play out.

“Mom,” Mia says with wide eyes.

“Sorry, sweetheart, but your mom used to be one badass chick,” Nora says, smiling.

Mia looks at her mom, and Vic shrugs. “I was young and dumb.”

“You were never dumb,” Porter says. “You loved life.”

Vic and Porter lock eyes, and there is some kind of silent conversation being had that causes them both to smile.

“You’ve been missed, Vic,” Brooks says, tilting his beer toward her.

Vic shakes her head as she finishes off her beer. “Yeah, I’m sure,” she says.

“Why you gotta do that, Vic? Just put that beer down and show us what you taught that stripper,” Riley says, tossing her a wink.

Once again, everyone laughs. Mia turns her head toward me and nods. She’s starting to understand the deep connection the club has, or at least I believe that’s what she meant.

I honestly don’t know where we go from here, but I feel a burning in my gut that tells me the fun and laughs we’re sharing tonight won’t last.

Something is gnawing at me.

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