Page 54 of Riptide

“I’m not judging,” she starts, which is usually what people say right before they do exactly that, but her voice stays even. “Hell, I had a baby in my freshman year. The last thing I’m allowed to do is throw moral high ground around. And I know you didn’t know Finn was my brother when this, whatever this is between you, started. But now you do.”

I blink. She’s not dancing around it. I respect that, even if my chest feels heavier than it did before she walked in here.

“I know he acts like nothing gets to him. But things do. More than he lets on. And he’s been trying to rebuild.”

I stay quiet, letting her talk so I can gather more background on Finn.

“I’m not here to make you confess anything and, frankly, it’s a little weird I’m even here,” she adds, her eyes holding mine. “Just…don’t hurt him. He’s been through a lot in the last year.”

I let the words absorb, then nod once. Because I’ve thought about exactly that—how easily this could become complicated, how detrimental things could become. We were meant to be a good time, a one night hookup, but fate decided to throw me a curveball just as I’m contemplating where my life is going and gave me someone I could easily become addicted to. Student or not. Drama or not, it doesn’t seem to matter. But I can’t deny, the last thing I want is for either of us to get hurt here, especially him.

“Miss James. I can assure you, I have no intentions of hurting him.”

She assesses me, weighing up if she can trust me, if I’m an asshole or not. I hope she sees that I’m being honest. Then she must see what she needs to as she stands with a smile and says, “Thank you, Professor Jones.”

And I'm left still thinking about him.

***

It’s already dark when I turn onto my street, and the air’s dropped to that winter chill that bites at your collar. I’ve been walking without really thinking, tracing the path home with muscle memory, distracted by the conversation with Daphne. That was hours ago, so it’s safe to say the amount of distraction I’ve dealt with today is unheard of. I’m not this guy. I’m focused and prepared all the time, and I don’t like being off kilter.

I shift the coffee in my hand, still half full and lukewarm, untouched since my last lecture ended. I don’t even know why I brought it home with me.

The wind picks up, sudden and sharp, and I glance up just as the first lash of rain cuts across my cheek. Great.

The storm comes quickly. Within seconds, the sidewalk gleams with water, and the sky opens up like it’s been holding its breath all day. I curse under mine, shoulders hunching as the cold water makes its way down the back of my neck, soaking my shirt. The one day I forget my coat.

Then a pair of headlights sweeps across the wet street. A beat-up truck pulls up beside the curb and the passenger window lowers.

“Hey,” Finn calls out, grinning from behind the wheel. “You’re missing your Ryan Gosling moment. Want me to run toward you and jump into your arms?”

I blink at him, water dripping off the end of my nose. “I’m— What?”

He chuckles, just as a rumble of thunder rolls through the air. “Never mind,” he says leaning over and opening the passenger door. “Get in.”

“What are you doing here?” I ask, hesitating, opting to stay in the horrible weather when I know I should just jump inside his truck.

“Just left Daphne’s house, been with Rosie all day.” He looks at me, tilting his head. “You don’t want a ride?” The glint in his eyes tells me that’s probably an innuendo, and I fight the urge to let my lips twist into a grin. Instead, I take one final glance around me. It’s not like anyone can see much in this rain anyway, let alone who’s car I’m climbing into. It’ll be fine. I shift my satchel from my shoulder, pull the door open more, and get inside. It’s warm and dry, unlike me, and the heater’s blasting enough to fog up the windows. I could sigh in relief.

“You always drive around picking up stray professors?” I ask as I buckle my seatbelt.

“Only the cute ones,” he says, throwing me a wink.

I roll my eyes, but the tension in my shoulders starts to ease.

He laughs and pulls onto the road.

“Was Rosie okay today?” I’m not even sure why I asked that. Maybe because I want to know more about his day, how he spends it, see how much he enjoys being with her.

He doesn’t disappoint me. “She was a little menace,” he says fondly. “She’s been trying to roll over, right? Hasn’t done it in front of Daph or Huds yet. But she did it today, so now Hudson and I have to keep it secret from Daphne forever. She can’t know she didn’t see the first roll.”

I huff a laugh. “Guess you’re already wrapped around her little finger, huh?”

“Without a doubt,” he says with a smile. He taps the wheel with his thumb, eyes still on the road. “Daph’s had a front-row seat to every one of Rosie’s firsts. She deserves this one, too. I didn’t want her to miss it, let alone rub it in her face.”

The idea that he’s pretending something hasn’t happened to spare someone else’s feelings tells me a lot about the person he is. A really good guy.

“She’s lucky to have you,” I say before I can second guess it.

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