Page 30 of Where We Belong

“I’m fine.”

“Here.” I remove my suit jacket—I don’t think we’ll have any more trick-or-treaters at this hour, but I keep that quiet. I’m not ready to leave yet. I go to drape the coat on her shoulders, but she shuffles out of the way, taking it in her hands.

“Thank you,” she says, wrapping herself in the too-large jacket.

I nudge my chin toward her dress. “Where’d you get that anyway?”

She looks down and drags a hand down the skirt of her dress. “I got it for the end-of-year gala at my old gym a few years back.”

I want to tell her it’s gorgeous—she’s gorgeous—but I have a feeling that would make her close up. Talking with her feels a little like playing with fire sometimes. Instead, I say, “Do you miss it there? The gym, I mean.”

“Yes and no.” She shrugs. “I liked my team, and I liked practicing there, but no one believed anymore.”

“Believed what?”

She turns to me, her irises blending with her pupils. “That I could do it.”

“And why would they think that?” You’d have to be dumb not to see this girl’s talent.

“It’s complicated.”

I hum. “But you’re going to prove them wrong, I assume?”

“Hopefully.” She starts scratching her wrist again. “First competition of the unofficial season in two weeks. I guess we’ll see.” A heavy sigh escapes her lips, one that sounds like she’s carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders.

“You sound ecstatic.”

She huffs. “The stakes are high, and I haven’t always thrived under pressure.”

“Why are you going then? You look like you’re in pain just talking about it.”

“Being a gymnast is kind of like being a martyr.”

“Yeah, I’ve heard that before. So I repeat my question: why do it?”

She leans forward, her weight on her hands. “Have you never asked anyone else at the gym?”

“I don’t care why other people do it. I want to know whyyoudo it.”

She licks her lips, gaze lost in the stars above us. “That sport gave me stability. A reason to get up in the morning. Discipline.” Her gaze falls to my hands splayed on my knees. “It’s been the biggest pain in my ass, but it’s also been my salvation.”

She falls silent, and I remain still for a moment, waiting to see if she’ll give me more. It feels as if I’ve just opened a Pandora’s box, and now that I’ve gotten some information, I can only want more.

Lexie exhales loudly as she gets to her feet. “Anyway, I think our service is no longer needed here.”

She’s right. The street is now silent, no kids in sight.

I shouldn’t be this disappointed.

“Right. I should get back to the maze anyway.”

She nods. “Good night, Finley.”

I laugh. “Night.”

Even though I do need to get to the rest of the activities at the farm, I stay seated, and for a moment, do the same thing I did before: watch her make her way toward the cabin. This time, though, I find myself thinking back to what happened tonight. She came to me. I don’t know what made her change her mind, but she did. And more than that, she opened up. Let me in, if only for a moment. Somehow, it makes me feel like I’ve just won the lottery.

When was the last time I felt grateful to be let in by someone? It makes no fucking sense.

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