Chapter 27 Finn
FINN
The ding of my phone wakes me with a start from where I had fallen asleep against the headboard, with a book in my lap.
I see Alexis’s name and check the time—it’s nearly one in the morning.
I drop the phone twice before I get it unlocked, sheer panic flooding my veins.
What if something happened to her or Marcee? I'm hours away.
Opening the message, I find a picture of her at a club.
Her sultry red lips are pulled into a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes.
I zoom in and note the large crowd, and that she's in some sort of cage. What the hell? She's wearing a red skintight dress that hugs every curve. Jealousy boils in my gut. She’s obviously at a club, and in that dress, no way is she going home alone. Then it hits me. I recognize the logo in the background. She’s in Huntington Beach.
Hastily, I type out a response. Not bothering to flirt or attempting to play it cool.
Me:
Alexis, call me.
I stare at the phone, tapping my finger against my thigh impatiently. It stays unread.
Me:
Alexis, just let me know you’re safe.
Still nothing.
Me:
Please don’t hook up with anyone.
I stare at the screen, not sure what I want to say next.
That’s not true. I want to beg her not to find someone else, beg her to wait for me in my bed and tell her I'm coming for her. I hop out of bed and start getting dressed. I can’t decide which emotion is driving me at this point, but there is a jumbled mess of fear, anxiety, and jealousy like I haven’t felt since I saw that guy grinding on her weeks ago.
Just thinking of someone else with her, touching her, tasting her in the way I didn’t get the chance to.
It drives me beyond rational thought. I need to get home.
I send a quick email to the team I was meeting with in the morning, telling them something came up and I need to head home early. I’ll have my lawyer look over the contracts and get back to them within seven days. Next, I call the front desk and ask them to get me a flight booked tonight.
In the end, I charter a private jet and am buckling my seatbelt in just a couple hours.
I’m dead on my feet as the car that picked me up at the airport drops me off at my house.
My heart hammers in my chest as I search for either of their cars but not seeing them.
It’s past closing time, they should be here by now.
Adrenaline spikes in my veins, chasing away the tiredness that was dragging me under just minutes before.
I storm into the house. It’s silent, but I see two purses on the island and fast-food wrappers littering the kitchen.
I can’t help but smile when I spot the greasy taco stand bag in front of me.
The girls had quite the night, and if I was to venture a guess, they will be sleeping in very late today.
I make my way to my room, ready for a shower and my bed when a sobering thought slams into me.
What if they aren’t alone? What if they brought guys home with them?
Marcee knew I was out of town and the house would be empty all weekend.
I take the stairs two at a time and burst into the room set up for Alexis without knocking.
The bed is empty. I head to Marcee’s room and stand there debating if I want to open that door.
Nope, not going to risk that. No dad wants to see their daughter in bed with someone.
Instead, I walk to my bedroom, taking deep breaths and trying to calm the nerves about possible guys in my house, doing God knows what.
I notice that a couple of my dresser drawers are open, and a red dress that I recognize is on the floor of my bathroom along with a matching G-string.
I pick it up and smell it, unable to resist. I still have her little black thong in my nightstand.
Ugh, even I’m tired of myself these days, pathetically pining for a girl I have no business being with.
I sit on the edge of my bed and drop my head into my hands, resting my elbows on my knees. I’m bone tired but can’t relax, pent-up energy and stress are making my skin tingle and feel tight.
Then an idea sparks and I make my way downstairs to the living room.
There she is, my girl, passed out on the couch in one of my surf competition T-shirts, with Schitt’s Creek playing on the TV.
I look over my shoulder to make sure Marcee isn’t coming down the stairs before I crouch down in front of Alexis.
Brushing her hair away from her face, I kiss her forehead then cover her with a blanket.
Damn, she's perfect, and an ache deep down in my heart starts when I realize how much I love seeing her in my shirt.
Why does she have to be Marcee’s best friend?
I let my hands drift over her body, relishing in her warmth and the relief that she's safe and alone. I kiss her one more time before standing and heading to the door.
“I didn’t hook up with anyone,” comes from the goddess on the couch and I smile at her from the doorway.
“That’s my good girl,” I whisper, but her eyes are already closed again.
Unable to sleep, tossing and turning for a few hours, I finally get up around seven and head out for a run.
My head is filled with memories of the morning Lexie and I ran together, and how much I wish she were by my side now.
Is there any conceivable way that we can be together and it doesn’t blow up in both our faces?
I debate that question the rest of my run.
When I step through the French doors, I'm brought up short at the sight of Alexis.
Her hair is a wreck, and mascara is smeared on her face, but she's still devastatingly beautiful in the soft morning light.
She's sitting at the table, clutching a steaming mug of coffee like a lifeline.
She gives me a sheepish smile, and I note she's still in my shirt, then I wonder if that fact has registered for her yet.
“Good morning.” Her voice is scratchy and she winces.
I try to hide my laugh behind a smile but the glare she sends my way is proof that I didn’t fool her one bit. “Sorry, Alexis.” I put both hands up in front of me in mock surrender.
“Ugh, I need a shower. And brush my teeth ten times. Your daughter tried to kill me last night,” she moans.
I lean against the counter, watching her. “Yeah? It looked like you were having a pretty good time to me.” My words have more edge than I meant them too, but fuck, I'm jealous right now.
“I guess I deserve that, Finn. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.
I had way too much to drink, and I was missing you, and it was stupid, I know.
But there it is…” I just stare at her. She was missing me.
She was missing me. It feels good and horrible all at the same time, because I was missing her too.
The silence stretches between us while my eyes are still locked on her.
“Okay. Any who.” She breaks the silence that was getting awkward.
“I guess, I'll go take a shower.” She stands then looks down at herself like she just realized what she's wearing. And I stand there staring at her, like a total douche. But I know if I open my mouth right now, I'll say something I shouldn’t. Her shoulders slump and she spins. I watch her disappear up the stairs, the round globes of her ass peeking out of the bottom of my T-shirt. The sight a is reminder that she isn’t wearing any panties.
The red G string I found on my floor is now in my nightstand drawer with the other pair I kept from our night together.
I don’t let myself think about it anymore. I follow my instincts and chase after her. I step into the room she's using and close the door behind me. She whirls on me, her face flushed and fists clenched at her sides, like she's ready to fight.
“I chartered a fucking plane and raced home as soon as I saw that picture, Alexis.” She searches my face, her eyes darting between mine. Looking so vulnerable like she's ready for me to tear her down and hurt her.
“It drove me crazy thinking about you at that club dancing and drinking. Imagining other guys putting their hands on you.” I close the distance between us until we’re standing toe to toe, and I gaze down at her.
“It drove me out of my fucking mind, Lex.” The words are a whisper, my lips just inches from hers.
“I didn’t dance with any guys. I couldn’t stand the thought of anyone else touching me.
Not after I’ve felt your hands on me.” Our lips meet and I reach a hand up to gently tilt her head back for better access as I deepen the kiss.
It isn’t a particularly long kiss, but it feels so heavy.
Like we’re both saying all the things we have left unsaid—all the things we can’t say.
I press my forehead to hers, holding her loosely. “I’m glad you’re here, Alexis.”
I give her one more chaste kiss before pulling back, noting the mix of shock and relief on her face.
Heading for the door, I toss out over my shoulder, “You’re welcome for the shirt, by the way.
” The shirt smacks the back of my head, and I laugh as I watch her naked backside disappear into the bathroom.
Looking around, I spot a notepad and pen on the desk. I scribble a quick note then leave it and the shirt on the bed before heading back downstairs to make breakfast with a huge smile on my face.