Chapter 19 Finn
FINN
We race the last bit of the way to the gate, both gassed and sweating when we drop to the grass.
Lying on my back, I work to slow my breathing.
After a few minutes, I sit up and start stretching out while Alexis does the same.
Her long, lean legs are on full display, slightly glistening in the morning sun.
I have to fight the urge to let my hand wander from where it’s holding my own foot and follow the sculpted contours of her thighs, the muscles honed and exposed in such an enticing way.
Instead, I move us to a safer topic than my current train of thought.
“I’m sure Marcee has told me, but what’s your major again?”
“Kinesiology. I’m still debating between going on to get my physical therapy degree or going more the athletic trainer route. I guess we’ll see where this next year takes me and what options are available.”
“That’s no easy degree. And you said you’re maintaining a 4.0? That’s pretty impressive, Alexis.” She beams at my praise.
“I love it, that’s why my job at the gym is so perfect. If things go well, I'll move on to being a personal trainer in the fall, which will give me great experience. Well, that is if I don’t get fired over Jax’s stunt.”
“Jax? Like with an X?” She just nods. “Even his name is douchee.” Alexis nods again and I huff out an exasperated breath. “Geez. Okay, I need pancakes after hearing that.” She laughs loudly and I pull her to stand, our bodies close as she glances up at me with a small smile playing at her lips.
“I could go for some pancakes.”
We head in and find that Marcee is still asleep, so we both decide to shower before getting breakfast going.
I hear music coming from the kitchen when I get to the stairs after cleaning up.
I make my way down, finding Alexis in the kitchen already with her wet hair piled on top of her head.
She’s back in her shorts from last night and the sweatshirt from earlier.
It’s so long it looks like she isn’t wearing any pants, and the image of her in nothing but a shirt is something I find very appealing.
She’s busy whisking eggs, her hips swaying to the music, so I indulge for just a minute, watching the effortless way her body moves.
“This doesn’t look like pancakes,” I tease as I join her by the stove.
“I didn’t see any flour or pancake mix, so I made a judgement call and started some French toast. Is that okay?” She looks almost vulnerable when she asks and it tugs at my heart. What has happened to this beautiful and vibrant girl to make her so unsure and on guard for criticism?
“Sounds good to me. How about I make some juice, I have more oranges than I know what to do with from the tree out back.” I move to squeeze past her but end up bumping into her a little too hard.
She gasps, sounding as dramatic as my daughter.
Then I look down and understand why. The whisked eggs are dripping down the front of her shirt.
“Oh, shit!” I grab a towel and start to blot her, mopping up the eggs. Her laughter catches me off guard.
“Uh, I think at this point you’re just smearing it around, Finn.
Here, I’ll just ditch the sweatshirt. Can I toss it in the laundry?
I didn’t pack much since it was so last minute,” Alexis trails off as I stare unblinking at her.
She’s wearing a pale pink cami, and nothing underneath.
With her standing in front of the window as the sun spills over her, I can see straight through it.
Those nipple piercings shimmer in the light.
My feet move me a step closer to her as if controlled by someone else.
The way her breath hitches has my head spinning.
Taking my gaze from her chest, I meet her eyes, and the look she's giving me nearly snaps the final thread of my control, like she's every bit as desperate for me as I am for her. Her ruined shirt hangs from her fingers, but she takes a step in my direction as well. We’re so close I can feel the swell of her breasts against me with each deep breath she takes. Reaching up, I gently tilt her chin up and gaze into her gorgeous brown eyes, noticing little flecks of green and gold sparkling from the sun’s rays.
Closing the distance slowly, giving her time to protest before I feel the ghost of her breath on my lips.
“Finn,” she breathes my name as I wrap my arm around her waist. The smell of lavender and something floral floods my senses with her this close, driving me closer, desperate for more. A door slamming upstairs has us ricocheting apart, both panting for air.
I open my mouth to say something, but nothing comes out.
Feeling like a fucking idiot, I turn to meet Marcee, pasting a big smile on my face.
Alexis makes a beeline for the stairs, telling Marcee she needs a new shirt now.
By the sound of the laughter I hear from my daughter, I’m betting she's finding great pleasure in her friend's egg incident.
If only she knew that her dad was less than a second away from kissing her best friend.
Fuck, a second away from doing a lot of things to her best friend.
I turn away from the pair to clean up the mess we made and finish making breakfast. How the hell am I going to stand two more days of that temptress in my house? Grinding my molars, I mentally list all the reasons I can’t go there and throw myself into making the damn orange juice.