Page 85 of Finn Rhodes Forever

Wow, amazing comeback. God, I was so fucking transparent. I probably had fucking hearts popping out of my eyes like a cartoon.

Finn leaned down so his mouth was beside my ear. “You held my hand and got me blankets. You bought a thermometer. You were worried about me.”

His fingers stroked the back of my neck, sending shivers down my spine. His other hand came to beneath my chin, tipping my face up.

“I missed you this week,” he murmured.

I stared back at him, worry creasing my brow. My gaze flicked toward the hallway behind him, my escape route.

“Don’t you dare.” He backed me against the counter. “Say it, Liv. Admit why you’ve been dodging me this week.”

My throat worked and his eyes flared with heat, something dark and pleased.

I shivered. “Things are weird.” I met his gaze, biting my lip. My stomach was tumbling like I was rolling down a hill.

“You have feelings for me.”

I closed my eyes. Defeat.

“Olivia.” He tilted my face up. “Time to come clean.”

“I know,” I whispered, keeping my eyes closed. A weight sank in my stomach and I nodded to myself.

It was time to stop pretending I was unaffected by him. That I was anything less than falling for him like he had planned. Thatmyplan wasn’t working in the slightest.

“I have feelings for you,” I whispered. My voice was so small and quiet. I opened my eyes to meet his gaze and the affection I saw there nearly made my heart stop.

“Baby. You say it like it’s a bad thing.”

I groaned in frustration.

“Was that so hard?” he asked, voice soft.

I turned away. The last time I told Finn how I felt, he left the next day.

“Hey.” He dipped his head to meet my eyes. “I know you’re scared.”

Alarm rose in me. Could he hear my thoughts?

“I’m scared too,” he admitted, a hint of worry in his eyes. “I’m scared you’ll wake up and realize I’m not even close to being good enough for you, and I’ll never see you again.”

I frowned. Why would he think that? “You are good enough for me. Don’t say that.”

Saying it out loud clicked something into place in my chest, and for the first time, I wondered if I was making a mistake, trying to get him to dump me.

When he smiled, I didn’t like how it didn’t reach his eyes. “I’m not, but I’m going to do everything I can to be that guy for you, Liv. We’re going to find the flower. I meant what I said about buying that house for us. Do you understand?”

I nodded. Showing Finn this tiny corner of my heart and him catching me like this filled me with confidence.

My heart beat like a drum in my ears and my gaze snagged on his mouth, the line of his lips. His eyes, so sharp and piercing and rimmed in thick lashes. My arms looped around his neck and my hand worked into his hair. His eyelids drooped when my fingers ran over his scalp.

“I understand,” I whispered, before I leaned up on my toes and kissed him.

34

Olivia

It had only beena week since I’d seen him, but Finn kissed me with a hungry urgency that made my skin hot. My pulse whooshed in my ears and the hesitation I felt earlier evaporated.

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