Page 125 of Finn Rhodes Forever

With the turtles safely in the box, we hurried through town hall, which was empty since everyone was gathered in the hallway watching their mayor have a meltdown. We passed Anna at reception, still swiping left, and burst out the front doors.

“Mr. Volunteer, everyone,” Liv said, applauding me as we set the box in the backseat of my car. Her eyes danced with amusement.

I did a quick bow. “Thank you. I’m available to help where I can.”

We climbed into the car and I pulled out onto the street, heading in the direction of the turtle sanctuary.

“No mayhem, no chaos, no getting in trouble,” she listed off on her fingers, recalling my earlier words.

“Okay.” My chest shook with laughter. “Olivia. You were there. That wasn’t my fault.”

She shook her head at me. “Wherever you go, trouble finds you, huh?” Her eyes were so bright and warm, they made my throat tight.

She was perfect like this, laughing with me.

“Maybe it’s you,” I shot back, beaming at her. “You’re my little bad luck charm.”

Her eyebrows wiggled up and down. “You going to get rid of me?”

“No way.” My heart expanded in my chest, glancing at her as I drove. “Not a chance.”

Right now, it felt like everything was perfect, like everything was so simple, and even though today hadn’t turned out like I wanted, it didn’t matter. Where it counted, I was the guy Liv needed. I was there for her, I showed up for her, and I wasn’t leaving. Seeing her laugh until she couldn’t breathe had lit my soul on fire.

We felt like us again.

Her head fell back and she howled with a big laugh. “They can smell my blood!”

“They’re predators!”

We laughed all the way home, and I begged the universe for this to last forever.

47

Finn

Our boots crunchedas we hiked up the old path covered in fallen trees, leaves, and other debris from years without use. I slid a glance at Liv, breathing hard as we climbed the steep incline. Her hair was up in a ponytail and she pushed her bangs off her face with the back of her hand.

She turned to face me. “You keep looking at me.”

My mouth turned up. “Can’t I admire my beautiful girlfriend?”

I tossed the word out, waiting to see her reaction.

She rolled her eyes, turning to hide a smile. “I’m sweating.”

“I know.”

With her eyes, she shot daggers at me, and I grinned. “Want me to carry some of your pack?”

“Never,” she bit out, and I laughed. She grinned and stuck her tongue out at me.

I thought back to this morning, when we left at dawn. She had left her sample collection kit on the table. It was just a resealable plastic bag with more plastic bags, a few plastic tubes, a pen and a notebook.

She never forgot her kit, which meant she didn’t think we’d find the flower on this trip. While her back was turned, I had stuffed it in my bag.

Liv might be giving up hope, but I wasn’t.

“How’d you sleep?” I asked her.

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