Page 145 of Finn Rhodes Forever

55

Olivia

I stareddown the hallway to the bar. It was early afternoon and I could hear a few regulars chatting. The TV was on, playing highlights.

I stepped into the bar. Cole sat at the counter, in Finn’s normal seat. My pulse beat in my ears as I studied him. I had seen photos of him when he was younger. He was still handsome, just older, with gray blurring at his temples and lines around his eyes. He wore work boots, jeans, and a t-shirt. His arms and the back of his neck were tanned. There was a white tan line along his hairline at the back of his neck, like he had just gotten a haircut.

He turned and our eyes met. “Olivia.”

He had my eyes. His forehead was wrinkled and his skin seemed weathered, not smooth and freckled like my mom’s.

His voice was gravelly like a smoker’s. There was a glass of soda on the counter in front of him.

“Hi.” I didn’t move.

He shifted with discomfort before clearing his throat. He gestured to the seat beside him, where Holden usually sat.

“Do you want to take a seat?” he asked. “Or we can, uh.” He cleared his throat again. “We can go somewhere else. I can take you for lunch or coffee. Whatever you want.”

Behind him, Joe cleaned a glass, not looking at us, but I could sense his attention. He glanced up and gave me a quick wink, theI’m heregesture he had made a thousand times in my life. I nodded back at him.

“Let’s walk to the marina,” I told Cole.

He nodded once and reached for his wallet. Joe waved him off.

“On the house,” he said.

“You sure?” Cole asked.

Joe nodded again with a smile. “You bet.”

“Ah. I appreciate it.” He got up and gestured for me to lead the way.

We walked down the street to the marina in silence before he finally spoke. “I didn’t mean to surprise you like this,” he said again, rubbing the back of his neck.

“It’s fine.”

“You drove from Whistler?” I asked.

He nodded. “It’s nice there,” he continued. “Lots of trees and mountains.”

“Is that your scene?” I asked, keeping my eyes on the road. “Trees and mountains?”

He huffed a laugh. “Yeah, I guess it is. Didn’t use to be but it is now.”

I nodded like I understood what he meant. Like I knew anything about him. He said it like I knew his life.

We kept walking in silence. The streets were busy because of the Sunday afternoon market, with tables and booths out along Main Street.

Cole let out a low whistle when the marina came into view. “That ice cream place is still here? Shit. You still like ice cream?” His gaze darted to mine, unsure. Like he was nervous.

I nodded. “Yep.”

He tilted his head at the busy shop. “What flavor?”

“Anything chocolate, cherry, or coffee. You want me to come with you?”

He shook his head. “You take a seat. I’ll be right back.”

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