Page 43 of The Location Shoot
“Ditto!” they cheered.
FINN FOLLOWED ELLA TO HER ROOM.They kicked off their shoes, and she slipped her hands around his waist.
“That feels good,” he said, kissing her softly.
“I, I . . .”
“What, baby?”
“I missed you today,” she said. “I don’t remember having ever said that to someone. Is it too much?”
He tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. “It’s perfect. I missed you too.”
“Show me,” she whispered.
They began kissing but were interrupted by Finn’s cell phone vibrating in his pocket. He retrieved it, glanced at the screen, and turned it off.
“Where were we?” he asked.
Ella pulled away. “That was your girlfriend.”
“Ella,you’remy girlfriend.”
“Finn . . .”
He sighed. “Yes, that was Savannah. Before leaving on this trip, I made it perfectly clear that we needed time apart and that I would be assessing things. The breakup won’t be a surprise. The truth is that I already tried to end it, really, I did. She has a masterful way of tuning out what she doesn’t want to hear.”
“How can you treat someone you loved this way? It makes me wonder about you.”
“Baby, I cared about her, but I never loved her, not by a long shot. I traveled so much for work that we have barely spent any time together in our two years. Honestly, I think she likes the spotlight more than she actually likes me. If you knew more about her, what she is like, I doubt thiswould bother you so much. I’m not comfortable speaking badly about someone I’ve been with, so I don’t want to go down that road.” He paused thoughtfully. “And the truth is . . .”
“What?”
“I’m embarrassed. If you knew what she is like and how little she actually cares about me, you’d understand why I feel embarrassed that I’ve stayed with her for as long as I have. It reflects poorly on me.”
“She’s calling you. That tells me she cares.”
He shook his head. “She wants to be on the arm of a wealthy movie star. It has nothing to do with me. I’ve only talked to her once the whole time I’ve been here, and that was before you arrived. She called me, not the other way around, but only to try to mend what can’t be repaired. I want to be with someone I can’t live without, someone who feels the same about me. This thing with Savannah was over before I met you. I promise that I’ll unequivocally end it as soon as the film wraps.”
“So, you’re going to spend the next two months talking to her, texting her, lying to her?” Ella asked. “I don’t understand how you can do that.”
He took a deep breath. “You’re right. When I decided to end it with her, my first thought was that it was only right to do it in person. Now I see that it isn’t fair to you, and maybe even unfair to her.” He paused and stroked the side of her face. “Ella, I’m in love with you. I’m madly, desperately, hopelessly in love with you. I know it’s way too soon to say this, but I want to spend the rest of my life with you. In my heart, I’m certain we’re meant for each other. We’re soul mates.”
“Finn,” she whispered, looking down.
He took her hand. “Please don’t be frightened off. I promise I won’t rush you or pressure you. I just want youto know that all I want is for us to be together. This isn’t casual or a summer fling. I’m all in. I’ll FaceTime Savannah right now and end it. Then you won’t be uncomfortable anymore, we won’t have to think about this again, and she can start moving on.”
“Wait,” she said.
“I can call her from my room if you prefer,” he offered.
“It’s not about where you do it. It’s . . .”
“What, baby?”
“Maybe your initial instinct was right, and you should tell her in person. At least don’t do anything tonight.”
“Are you sure? Sweetheart, I can handle this right now, and then we’ll never have to think about it again.”
