Chapter 11 #2
Finn chuckled, his chest lifting up and down. “I’ll keep that in mind. So you’re making your living as a songwriter these days? You made it sound like you traveled a lot. Is that necessary for being a songwriter?”
“No, thank fuck. But Dirk and I were touring up until a couple of months ago, when he got a part in a movie. He wants to be an actor. I was planning to just work from home, but Wesley—that’s Jake Lord to you and everyone else—asked me to come here and help Zeke out.”
He toyed with my fingers. “I’m glad you agreed.”
“ Mmmm . Me too.”
He frowned. “I’ve been meaning to ask, is Zeke sick or something? It’s none of my business, but in the past he’s always seemed to run the music festival with a sort of my-way-or-the-highway method. I’m shocked at how he’s hardly been around since you got here.”
“He hasn’t said anything to me, and Wesley didn’t really give me a reason.” I kind of wanted to complain about getting the entire festival dumped in my lap with no preparation, but I kept my mouth shut. That was between me and Zeke.
Finn brought my hand up to his lips and kissed the tip of my thumb. “I may not be able to help you with the festival, but I can certainly help you relax in your free time.” He eased my thumb into his mouth.
I grinned as I slid my leg over his hips. “I’d love to take you up on that.”
“ Ew ! Finn! You can’t clean up after yourselves? I don’t want to see your... sex clothes all over the house!”
I came awake to Charles marching past the open doorway with one hand over his eyes. With the other hand he threw the shirts Finn and I had left on the floor last night on our way to the bedroom.
Kirk and a teenager I’d never met peered in and waved at us as they followed Charles toward his room. I tugged at the sheet covering me and Finn to make sure we weren’t flashing anyone.
Finn groaned in my ear. “Aren’t teenagers supposed to sleep until noon?” He was spooned around me, his morning wood pressed against my ass. What a waste of a good boner.
“What time is it?” My phone was in the pocket of my shorts, which were on the floor.
He heaved a sigh before twisting his upper body, presumably to look at the clock on the nightstand. “Not even 10:00 a.m.”
“Fuck.” I burrowed my head into the pillow. “I suppose we need to get up and find out why they’re here.” Then I sighed. “I need to go feed the chickens and Dolores anyway. They’ll be pissed about how late it is.”
“Wait a few more minutes. Maybe they just stopped by to pick up a game or something. I’d prefer not to get arrested for exposing myself to teenagers when I get up to close the door.”
But they didn’t leave.
I looked over the side of the bed. “I can’t reach any of our clothes from here. Why don’t we both get up with the sheet held in front of us?”
“Yeah, okay.”
Holding the sheet firmly against the front of my body, I sat up. Finn scooted around me until he was also facing the open door. We pulled the sheet off the bed and held it between us and the hallway as we rushed over to shut the door.
When we were safe from accidental eyes, Finn dropped the sheet and rubbed his face. “Want to grab a quick shower?”
“You go first, since you’re the one who has to see what the kids are up to.” I picked up my shorts to get my phone.
“Lucky me.” Finn grumbled under his breath all the way to the bathroom.
I unlocked my phone, which thankfully still had a charge. Zeke had texted.
Zeke:
Got home this morning. Took care of Dolores and the chickens, so no need to rush back. I tried to check on the eggs you told me about – figured out right quick why you put that one in her own coop. FYI, those egg drawers don’t open so well when the hen is trying to peck you through the opening.
Zeke:
Thanks for handling everything while I was gone. You’re doing a great job.
Why did the compliment make me tear up? Fuck, this was the second time in less than twelve hours. What was happening to me?
I took a deep breath. Okay. I was fine. Maybe I just needed to eat something. Heck, now that I didn’t have to run back to Zeke’s compound, I could take Finn out for brunch. We could spend the day together, if he was free.
Though I was pretty sure that wasn’t what friends with benefits usually did.
Of course, friends with benefits also didn’t usually cuddle while they talked about grieving processes and awful fathers in the middle of the night.
But this was casual. Finn and I had agreed on that, no matter what Charles was thinking. I’d go back to Texas, and Finn and I would one day remember our fling as a fun, temporary romp.
Except the thought of going back to Texas held zero appeal. I wanted to stay in Maplewood longer. I wanted to stay with Finn longer.
Look who’d gone and gotten emotionally invested.
Fuck. My. Life.
Me:
Thanks, Zeke. I’m happy to help. I hope everything went okay with your trip.
After checking to make sure the shower was still running, I opened my text thread with Dirk.
Me:
I fucked up. I’m falling for the veterinarian.
His reply was almost instantaneous.
Dirk:
Goddammit, I can’t leave you on your own, can I? You want to come visit me after the festival is over? You can’t come on set, but I can still help you drown your sorrows.
Me:
I’m considering hanging around here for another week or so
Dirk:
The fuck? Can you call me? I don’t have to be on set today.
Me:
Not right now. Later.
The shower stopped. I grabbed my backpack and took it and my phone to the bathroom. Finn had stepped out of the tub, and he was toweling off his sexy, naked body.
I shut the door behind me so the warm air wouldn’t escape. “Good news. Zeke’s home and he fed Dolores and the chickens.”
He looked up in alarm. “He didn’t take the eggs, did he?”
I laughed. “No, I’d told him about them. But he did say he understood why Aragornette has her own coop.”
“Good. So we have extra time together.” He eyed me up and down. My cock was immediately interested. Then he groaned. “Fuck. Right. Check on Charles first.”
“And I need some food. Can I take you to breakfast? Or brunch, I guess?”
He smiled a slow, sinful smile. “Only if I can take you to bed afterward.” He scowled. “Unless Charles and his friends decide to hang out here all day.”
“We can always go to the cabin. I don’t think Zeke will say anything.”
“Perfect.” He left the bathroom to get dressed.
I stood there staring at the door he’d shut behind him.
Friends with benefits didn’t spend twenty-four hours together at a time.
But I hadn’t been the only one suggesting it. Could Finn be interested in me romantically? How would I be able to tell? It’s not like I’d ever been involved with anyone before. Dirk wouldn’t know either.
But Steve would know. He was married and everything. He’d tell me what to look for, and then I’d know whether Finn thought what we were doing was just casual or if he wanted more.
Whew. I picked up my phone again. I felt so much better having a plan.