Page 49 of Finn's Solace

"Yeah?"

"Yup. Oi, Pads! Stop pulling!" There was a clatter, some growling—probably Pads, but it could also be Finn. He did that when he got annoyed—and then Finn was back, his voice a little breathless and harsh. "Sorry about that. Pads saw a squirrel that wasn't Neya and thought he could befriend it by scaring it to death."

"Aww, poor Padfoot. He just wants to make friends."

"Don't take his side. He made me drop my phone, and almost ruined another sweater. He's a jerk."

Padfoot whined pitifully in the background, and I laughed. If I didn't know better, I'd think he'd understood Finn perfectly.

"Don't worry, baby. I'm always on your side," I assured him, and he went quiet. It took me a moment to realize what I'd said. "Should I stick to Gin?"

"No, I...I liked it."

I smiled, then ran my fingers through Greta's fur as I imagined the expression on Finn's face. Why hadn't we done a video call instead? It was too dark outside for the camera to catch much of Finn's expression, but it would still be better than this.

"All right. Then I'll call you that, baby."

"I should come up with a nickname for you too," he mumbled, and I chuckled.

"You don't have to, but I'm sure I'd love anything."

"Oh, really?" Finn asked in a tone that told me I might've just made the biggest mistake of my life. But because I was an idiot and halfway in love with the man, I found myself agreeing.

"Yep. You could call me Darth Vader and I'd love it."

Finn snorted, and I grinned.

"Give me some time, and I'll come up with something good."

"I have faith in you."

Finn chuckled, then sighed. "I'm almost home. I should let you go. You have work tomorrow, don't you?"

"Yeah. So do you, I'd imagine."

"I do, but it's not a lot. I'll probably finish early."

"Can I call you once I'm home tomorrow?"

"Of course! I like talking to you," Finn said, and his earnestness made me smile. A lot of things about Finn had changed, but that stayed the same, and I was glad.

We wished each other good night, and then Finn ended the call.

I glanced down at Greta, who was happily napping, and sighed.

"Come on, my sweet familiar. Let's finish up here so you can sleep in a bed."

Greta made a grumbling sound as she stood up, then hopped off my lap.

"I know, I know. Just twenty more minutes, then we can go inside."

Together, Greta and I worked on the rest of my plants, then went inside to clean up and head to bed.

That night, I dreamed of Finn, of kissing him, holding him, making love to him. Of never letting him go.

It was the sweetest of dreams, and I woke up with a smile on my face, eager to get through the day so I could talk to him again.

Nineteen

---