Whirlwind

14. Finley

Chapter fourteen

Finley

“You’ve got one year left of school then?” Joey asks as he adds an obscene amount of cream to his to-go coffee.

“Yeah. I thought about taking extra classes so I could graduate earlier, but I’ve been paying for everything out of pocket while helping my dad out at the farm.”

Joey nods. “College is expensive. I swear I’ll be paying undergrad loans off until the end of time. But since I’m a glutton for punishment, maybe I’ll go back and get my master’s now that I’m no longer at the station. Think Tornado Daddy would like having me in his classes?”

I snort. “Maybe. Unless you wore that shirt.”

Joey smirks and takes a sip of his nearly white coffee before placing a lid on it. “I would for sure wear this shirt and sit in the front row.”

“He’d love that.”

Joey sips his coffee again then turns his body fully toward me, his gaze intense as he stares at me. After a long moment, I blush, bringing my hand up to my mouth.

“What? Do I have something in my teeth?”

He pops a hip out and places his hand on it, a slow smirk forming on his charming face that makes his dimples pop out. I start to flush under his attention.

“I need to use the bathroom,” he says abruptly.

Joey tosses money on the counter and grabs my hand, pulling me up from my seat. I let out a surprised yelp as he guides me out of the diner, brushing past Hawk on his way in. I shoot Hawk a small, puzzled smile, but his attention shifts to Joey, and I swear his cheeks flush like earlier. Before I can look closer, warm air meets my already heated skin as Joey leads me around to the side of the diner where the old bathrooms are tucked away.

“Joey!” I finally say as he tugs me again, this time inside the dingy single bathroom with chipping white walls that probably have lead paint. “Why did you bring me in here?”

He closes and locks the door without answering me then turns to face me again. “Spill it, Fin-Fin.”

I stare at my friend, the overhead light casting a yellowish glow over us. This is a very old bathroom, one that would definitely make a person lay toilet paper over the seat or hover to use it.

“Spill what?”

He grins that sly grin again. “You and T-Daddy have a thing going on.”

I bristle. “We do not.”

“That’s a big ol’ fat lie.”

I cross my arms over my chest. “And you don’t have something going on with Hawk?”

I expect Joey to balk or deny his relationship, but he grins wider, if that’s possible. “We’re having fun together. You should see his di—”

“Whoa!” I hold up my hands. “Please do not finish that sentence.”

He chuckles. “Okay, I won’t. But at least you answered my question.”

“I didn’t answer a thing.”

“Come on, Finney. You don’t have to lie to me. A tornado wasn’t the only thing you got twisted up in last night, was it?”

I press my lips together, staring into Joey’s blue eyes. They’re nothing but kind, and I don’t see any judgment in them—only his natural curiosity with a hint of playfulness.

“Is it that obvious? ”

He clucks his tongue. “As obvious as sweet tea at a picnic. The man’s been glaring daggers at me since the moment I hugged you.”

I bite back a groan. I should’ve talked to Ryker earlier, told him he was being too obvious with his feelings for me—whatever they are or aren’t. “Do you think the others know?”

He shrugs. “I asked Hawk if Ryker was angry with me to get a feel for if he knew something. I think he does—and Ezra might—but I haven’t had much time with him. Besides, Hawk kept me busy with his mouth after we talked briefly so I don’t know.”

I smile wryly when I think of Joey’s kiss-swollen lips when he came back from “examining the rocket” while the rest of us ate in the diner. I’m happy to know I’m right about him and Hawk. It also makes me feel a little better about sleeping with Ryker, even though Hawk and Joey have nothing to be concerned about. Yes, Hawk is older than him, but that doesn’t matter in this circumstance.

“How long have you and Hawk had a thing?”

Joey shakes his head. “Oh no, Fin. You’re not changing the subject. I want to know what’s going on.”

I groan. “We don’t have anything going on.”

“Finley—”

“Fine, I should say we don’t have anything going on any more . Ryker stopped it before it went any further than it already had.”

Joey studies my face before continuing. “So you aren’t together?”

I shake my head. “We never were. Yesterday was the first time we—” I want to say crossed a line but that isn’t really true when I think about it. “The first time we acted on anything.”

“Fin—”

“I know, it was dumb. Ryker has already made it clear he regrets what happened.”

“That man doesn’t regret it. ”

I almost roll my eyes. “You’re wrong about that. After we had se—” I cut myself off with a blush, making Joey grin despite himself.

“Wait, so did you, like—do it in the tornado?”

“Joey!” I laugh. “Did you really just ask that?”

He shrugs. “It’s a valid question.”

I shake my head. “You already know the answer, so stop being a lech.”

The corner of his lip tugs up. “That’s impossible for me, but in all seriousness, he doesn’t regret it. If he did, he wouldn’t be acting like a jealous man every time I touch you or look at you. He thinks I’m flirting with you to get in your pants.”

“And you’re not?” I tease.

He chuckles. “I tried a long time ago, and you shot me down. You know I’m playing with you.”

“I know you are. But he’s right to regret it. If it got out that anything happened between us, he would lose his job, and other students will think the only reason I got this chase position is because we slept together. The last thing I want is for people to think I slept my way to the top.”

Joey takes my biceps in his hands. “When have you ever given two fucks about what people think? I call you a shark for a reason. You go after what you want and fucking kill it every time.”

I cock my head at him. “Thanks, I think?”

He shakes me a little. “Do you like Ryker?”

“Of course I like him. He’s amazing at what he does, and he’s a good professor.”

Joey gives me a what the fuck? look. “You know that’s not what I meant.”

I groan. “I wouldn’t have slept with him if I didn’t like him.”

“Well, it’s obvious the man is obsessed with you.”

“He’s not—”

“He is. ”

Joey drops his arms, and I run a frustrated hand through my hair. “None of it matters, Joey. In the end, it’s better if we keep the line between us drawn firm. We’re not on this chase to chase some tail, we’re here to chase storms. That’s what I need to focus on.”

“That last part may be true, but if you like him and want more—”

“It can’t happen.”

Joey shrugs. “Again, who says?”

“The school and, of course, Ryker.”

“Taking the school out of the equation, do you really believe that about Ryker? Especially with how he’s been acting? And don’t think I didn’t notice that new camera around your neck.”

“Did you hear our conversation?”

He smirks. “Maybe.”

I want to growl in frustration. “It’s not important. Like I said, we should focus on the chase.”

“Finley—”

“I need to use the bathroom.”

He stares at me for a long moment before he exhales. “Alright, I’ll let it go. But Fin-Fin, no matter what ends up happening between you and Ryker, remember that you’re here because you deserve it. I don’t need to be in your master’s classes to know that—you’ve always been a natural at this stuff. Plus, you’re smart, you know weather, and you survived a fucking tornado last night.”

“I did,” I affirm. I know everything he’s saying is right, even if part of me still questions it.

“You did. Also, Ryker wouldn’t have given you a spot on this chase if you didn’t deserve to be here, so don’t question yourself.” We hold our gaze for a long moment before he leans down and kisses me on the cheek. “I’ll see you back out there.”

Once Joey’s gone, I close and lock the door, gripping the porcelain sink while staring at myself in the water-stained mirror. I consider pulling out my cell and calling Jake for a pep talk, but then I’d have to explain to him why I needed one. Instead, I let Joey’s words tumble in my sleep-deprived and overused brain. He’s right—I do deserve to be here, regardless of my relationship with Ryker. Whatever that relationship is.

Knock! Knock!

The sharp rapping on the door jolts me, and I squeeze my eyes shut. “I’ll be out in a minute.”

I use the bathroom and wash my hands, giving my appearance a once-over again in the mirror. I look tired, but beyond that, I look exactly like I did yesterday. Not that I should look differently—it’s not as if I have a tattoo on my forehead that says, “I slept with my professor.” I snort at myself.

Knock! Knock!

I groan in annoyance and yank open the bathroom door, expecting to see an angry stranger on the other side.

Instead, I see a grumpy-looking Ryker.