Page 84 of Finn Rhodes Forever

“I have a theory.”

My brow arched. “Okay.”

She tapped her finger with her lip. “In the past, when Finn would be in town, either living here during the year when you were away or visiting, he’d keep his distance.”

I frowned.

Hannah nodded at Avery. “Yeah. That’s it.”

“He spent a lot of time on his own or working. At family dinners, he’d usually leave early. It felt like…” She shook her head. “I don’t know, like he didn’t want to get too attached. And he’d be kind of mopey in the weeks before he shipped off to the interior of BC.”

Sadie pointed at her. “That’s totally it. He’s not like that this time around. It feels like he’s trying more.”

The three of them turned to me and I frowned down at my hands.

I couldn’t hear this kind of stuff. My defenses were already weak with him, and now this?

I had caved and let myself fool around with him, but I wasn’t going to fall in love with him. If he was trying to put roots down here, he was fooling himself.

I’d been fooled once—it wouldn’t happen again.

“Let’s talk about the baby shower invite list,” I said, changing the subject.

* * *

We stayedat Sadie’s until she started yawning and Hannah had to get home to help with Cora’s bedtime. Avery and I, the night owls, headed to her place to finish planning Sadie’s baby shower, and by the time I got home, the bar was closed.

Perfect.

I unlocked the door from the alley, expecting darkness inside, but the lights were still on. I frowned and walked down the hallway to the bar to turn them off.

In the empty bar, Finn sat in his usual spot, watching the TV above the bar. His easy gaze rested on me while I stood there, confused and frozen.

“What—” I started, shaking my head.

“I told your dad I’d turn the lights off.”

“Were you waiting for me?”

He nodded. “Wanted to make sure you got home okay.”

Liquid warmth wove through my chest. “Are you worried about me or something?”

“Always.” The corner of his mouth hitched. “When I’m not here, I’m thinking about you.” His eyes glittered and I shivered under the full weight of his attention. “You’ve been avoiding me.”

I cleared my throat and broke our eye contact. Sometimes, the way he looked at me, it made my pulse act like I was on a rollercoaster. “How are you feeling?”

“Great. Full health, thanks to you.”

I shrugged. “I didn’t do anything. Beck said it himself, you’re young and healthy so you would have recovered anyway.”

His eyebrows shot up. “You called Beck?”

I blinked. Busted. “No.”

Keeping his unnerving, knowing gaze on me, he walked around the bar counter until he was in front of me, towering over me. His cruel mouth turned up and his eyes were so bright. “You called Beck. You were worried about me.”

My face was going red. “Whatever.”

---