Page 118 of Finn Rhodes Forever

I sent a delighted, daring grin at Finn before I was off.

45

Olivia

He wasright on my tail.

The wind whipped my hair and that version of myself who’d woken up got out of bed, wandered to the window, and smiled at the sky. I glanced over my shoulder and locked eyes with Finn. Whatever was on my face lit him up like a sparkler, and he beamed back at me. No smirk, no roguish grin, no smug smile. Just pure happiness.

A laugh burst out of me as he gained on me. My thighs burned, my eyes watered from the wind, and my cheeksachedfrom smiling. I was so fucking happy and light, riding bikes and racing Finn Rhodes down the street.

This felt like where I belonged. I whooshed past the entrance to the beach a hair in front of Finn and let my bike slow. My chest shook with laughter as I circled back.

“Beat you.” I was breathing hard, legs, back, and lungs burning.

He smiled openly at me. His cheeks flushed pink and my heart flipped over. “You did. Do me a favor and don’t gloat about it, okay?”

I scoffed. “Whatever.”

He laughed and I followed him through the path to the beach. We left our bikes at the edge of the sand.

Finn tilted his chin at the basket on my bike. “There’s a treat for you in there.”

I flipped it open. A beach blanket covered a bag of Cheezies, and I wiggled my eyebrows at him. “Thank you.”

His eyes gleamed. “Those are disgusting.”

“I know. I still love them.”

“I know.” He smiled and tilted his head to the beach. “Come on.”

We set out the blanket on the empty beach, unpacking the food and opening the drinks Finn had brought. The salt from the fries burst in my mouth and I hummed, surveying the ocean as the evening sun dipped low in the sky. I watched the sand soak up the tide from the waves crashing in and out. A light breeze pushed my hair back and I caught Finn studying me, like he was trying to remember this. My heart twisted.

“Happy?” he asked, leaning back on his elbow as he ate.

I nodded, inhaling the fresh air and letting it out slow. I took another bite of fish, sighing with pleasure at the crunchy deep-fried batter. “They gave us extra tartar sauce. How could I not be happy?”

He chuckled, and his pleased expression made my heart beat faster.

“Thank you,” I told him.

His gaze lifted to mine. “For what?”

“I’m having a good time with you.”

His eyes softened. “Me too, baby.”

I chewed my lip, glancing at him. “I reached out to Cole.”

“Oh, shit,” he said softly, eyebrows going up like he was impressed. “How’d that go?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. Weird. I left him a voicemail. I haven’t heard back from him.”

His gaze roamed my face and the corner of his mouth quirked up. “That took guts, Morgan. I’m proud of you.”

My face heated and I hid my smile.

He opened his mouth to say something before closing it.

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