Chapter 36
Riley
O ne thing I’ve learned about Finn Hart in these months that I’ve known him is that he always comes for me. Any conflict or misunderstanding we’ve had, he has come to me to work things out. To show me that he isn’t going anywhere. That he can’t be scared off. So, this time, it’s my turn to show up. To show him I’m not leaving. He may have gone to Seattle, but I don’t blame him for needing to get out of Evergreen and clear his head.
He had just poured his heart out to me about not feeling good enough all his life and then I left him, so it’s my job to show up for him this time around. I was able to get the address and passcode to his penthouse in Seattle from his brother, Jackson. I took it as a good sign that his brother didn’t hate me. Unless Finn didn’t tell him what happened, but by the look on his face, he did. He encouraged me to go get him, so that’s what I’m going to do.
I take this three-hour drive to Seattle to think and clear my head to realize I have lived so much of my life being scared of rejection, being scared of not being enough. I guess Finn and I have even more in common than I thought. We are two broken people who have slowly done the work to heal and be there for each other in the process. All I can do now is show him how hard I’m trying and assure him that, in the future, I won’t run. I will stay and work things out.
I find it pretty ironic that I have lived my life being closed off because I was scared people would leave, and then in the end, when it came down to it, I’m the one who left. I left that sweet man standing there with an empty jewelry box and an empty heart.
I finally arrive at his high rise and enter the garage code Jackson gave me and park in the guest spot he told me to park in. I see his truck, and my chest seizes up as the worry comes back. What if he tells me to take a hike? That I had my chance and now it’s gone? I guess I’ll just have to put my foot down and tell him I’m not going anywhere. I put in the code for the penthouse elevator and hold my breath.
The door opens, and I step into his apartment. My senses are bombarded with the scent of him, and my heart literally, physically, aches for him. I look around, and all I see are moving boxes, and I freeze. Oh no, where is he going? Did I really hurt him or make him so angry that he took a job somewhere far and plans to never see me again? No, I have to push that thought out of my head and know that even if that’s the case, I’ll change his mind one way or another.
Finn comes walking out of his bedroom and freezes. He is the most beautiful man in the world, and he looks like he hasn’t slept in days. His facial hair is longer than usual, and his hair is unkempt, the way I like it after we wake up in the morning, and it’s all mussed from sleep. I miss him so much, and he’s standing right in front of me.
“Riles?” his brow is furrowed in confusion, and he has a weary look on his face.
“Hi.” Great opening, Riles, really enthralling.
“What are yo—”
I step forward and put up my hand to stop him. “Finn, no, listen. This is me trying,” I say, shrugging my shoulders. “I’m so sorry that I reacted the way I did. You ripped yourself open, and I stood there and watched you bleed. I should have said something in the moment, but as you know, I freaked out, in typical me fashion, and I bolted. I did the thing to you that I’m most scared of others doing to me, and I’m sorry. So, can I please respond to you now the way I wish I would have then?” I look at him hopefully, trying to show him every bit of emotion on my face.
“Okay,” he whispers.
“Finn, you are enough. You are more than enough, and I want to junk punch anyone who has ever made you feel like you’re not. You have been there for me in ways that no one in my life ever has, and I am so thankful for you. I have fought how I feel for you, but I truly can’t because it’s too strong. I love you, Finn Hart. I have loved you for a while, but I have been too scared to even admit it to myself. I love every part of you because you are you. Not because of what you do or your achievements, but you. The amazing, caring, smart, loving, strong man that you are.
“I know I screwed all of this up, but don’t leave. We talked before about what you would do now that Evergreen Flats is done. Let’s stick to that plan, and I promise to be there and support you every step of the way while you figure out what you’re going to do. If you have to go on short trips to work on new projects, that’s fine. We will figure it out.” I let out a long breath and wait for his reply.
He steps closer to me and grabs my hand. “Riley, I’m not going anywhere.”
“What about all these moving boxes?”
“I’m moving to Evergreen Ridge.” He smiles down at me and tucks a stray piece of hair behind my ear.
“Even after I left?”
“Yes, Riles, even after you left. Was I hurt? Yes.” I wince.
“Finn, I’m so—”
“Shhh, Riles, I let you have your monologue, which was very good, by the way.” He winks at me and I melt. “But now, it’s my turn. I was hurt, but I understood. Riley, I know you. I know it hasn’t been that long, but I know you. I could see in your eyes, feel in your touch, that you loved me. Your head just had to catch up to your heart, and I understand why that is. I understand and I love you, so I was willing to wait for you.
“I came here to pack up the rest of my things so I could sublet the apartment like we talked about. I was going to give you a couple of days to get your head on right, then I was going to come and bang down your door to make you talk to me. I’m very flattered, though, that you drove all this way to tell me.”
He gives me that sexy smirk of his, and I fling myself at him. I jump into his arms and wrap my legs around his waist. I grab both sides of his face. “I love you, Finn Hart.”
“I love you, Riley Fields.”
“Now, should I help you pack up the rest of your stuff so we can go home?”
“Home. I like the sound of that. Let’s do it, but first, I have something else in mind.”
I lean down and kiss him softly on the lips. “Oh yeah, what’s that?”
“I want to kiss you senseless in the same spot I kissed you last time we were here before I leave this place for good.”
“Sounds good to me.”
He leads me over to the spot and makes good. This time as two people who are a bit broken, but helping each other mend the cracks.