Page 34 of Ignite

It was supposed to be one night. We didn’t even finish the damn night.

I have to get her out of my system.

I throw one more punch. It rattles up my arm, white-hot pain flashing through my shoulder.

“Fuck!”

“I thought you were told not to train. You’re supposed to be healing that wound.”

I steady the bag and glance over. Finn.

Grey eyes, unreadable. Hair perfect. Suit pristine, like he stepped out of a mafia funeral and not my gym.

“It’s healed,” I lie.

“Bullshit,” he says flatly. “Also, did something happen with Hallie? She’s been skittish around me. I’m blaming you.”

He walks closer, adjusting his cuff like he’s about to interrogate me.

“No. Nothing.”

Finn narrows his eyes.

“Don’t lie to me, brother.” He points a finger like Dad used to and my jaw tics.

“Nothing happened. I helped her with something. She got called into work. Rowan picked me up. That’s it.”

“Then why is she asking me to check your stitches instead of doing it herself?”

That fucking stings. She doesn’t want to see me?

“I don’t know,” I admit, voice tight. But I want to.

“Declan’s back from his honeymoon this weekend. We’ll finalize the details for the Decadence Chase. I assume you’ve confirmed all your contestants?”

Shit.

“I haven’t checked.”

Finn gives me a look like I’m already on thin ice.

“Finish up and shower. I’ll meet you at your cabin to redress the wound. You good?”

I nod. But my thoughts are stuck on her.

Why is she avoiding me? I liked her. I thought she liked me too.

I don’t want her avoiding me. I don’t want her career fucked up because of me, either.

As Finn reaches the door, I clear my throat.

“Finn?”

He pauses.

“If you, uh... wanted to see a girl more than once, would you text her?”

He blinks.

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