Chapter 5
Another pebble hits my window, and my lips curve in the darkness.
I’ve been in bed for the past two hours, per my parents' rules for my curfew, waiting and biding my time until I hear the telltale sign that my boyfriend is outside waiting for me. It's Thanksgiving, and instead of spending the day with him, I arrived back in town late with my parents after being at my aunt's home for the afternoon. As much as I like spending time with my family, I missed him. The day was busy with food and catching up with my cousins that I barely even had time to look at my phone. I also spent a lot of time fielding questions about my boyfriend from my family, and it hurt to know he had been invited, but my parents had not extended the invitation. Three months together and they still act surprised that we’re dating. Finn never lets it get to him though. I make sure to attend all his lacrosse games, and he sits through Sunday dinners with my family, taking all their criticism in stride. I have yet to visit the Kinsella mansion, but with what Finn tells me about his family, I have no desire to meet those people. They sound horrible, and I know Finn’s dad treats him like he’s the help rather than his son.
Despite all of this, Finn and I are standing strong.
Finn has gotten creative in his ways to see me.
Since we live in different towns and go to different schools, our time together is already limited, but he makes every attempt that he can to see me.
I can’t go a day without talking to him; seeing him smile is my favorite thing in the world.
Anything I can do to ease his burden and take his mind off the darkness that takes over when it comes to his family, I do gladly and with a smile on my lips.
We’ve become inseparable, often using social gatherings and group activities to sneak off and be alone.
I thought at first that Angel would be mad at me for bailing now and then, but instead, my wild child friend shakes her head, smirking and often aiding our time alone.
Like last weekend, when I told my parents I was sleeping at her house, but we stayed out at the movies with Finn and Jered instead.
I crave Finn. I need his blue eyes staring at me with that silent intensity I can’t name.
I want his arms around me, being able to breathe in his scent, to feel alive.
I’m so in love with him. I’ve been waiting for the perfect time to tell him, to let him know how much I want and need him with me forever.
We’re both in our senior year of high school, and real life is creeping up fast. I thought I had my life all planned out, but now that I’m with Finn, I want something different.
Wherever he goes, I’ll follow. As long as we’re together.
Another pebble hits my window, and I hear him whisper my name, my nickname, the one he usually uses when we’re lost in each other. “Daisy!”
I giggle to myself and hop out of bed, pulling on my leggings and grabbing my favorite sweatshirt, one I stole from Finn, off my desk chair and throw it on before moving to my window and sliding it up.
“Romeo, Romeo,” I whisper to him, and he frowns. I can’t help but laugh at the almost jealous look he has on his face.
“Romeo was a pussy,” he argues, his brow arched.
I shrug. “Maybe. But he also stood outside the window of the girl he wanted.”
“Mmm, but I plan to do more for my girl rather than just stalk her window,” he whispers and smiles at me, my favorite smile, the one that’s a little crooked and a lot of a smirk.
“That so?” I giggle quietly, my hand covering my lips. He nods and raises his arms to where the trellis is against the side of my house.
“Yup. Now get down here, Daisy. I need you.” He climbs up halfway to meet me while I climb out my window and shimmy over the trellis top, hopping on quietly and grabbing for Finn’s offered hands.
We’ve done this far too many times, and I know if my parents found out, I’d be grounded until graduation.
Still, I risk it all for Finn and the time with him.
Once he lifts me to the ground, he takes my hand, and we sneak between the houses to the next street over, where his car is usually parked.
Only this time, in its place sits a cherry red Harley-Davidson Dyna Glide Super Glide Sport.
And yes, I know the whole name of the body and build because it's Finn’s passion, and he’s been saving for this bike for a few years now.
“When did you get it?” I turn to him, excitement flowing through my system. He watches me, knowingly.
“A couple of weeks ago. I wanted to make sure I could ride it safely and do all the things I need to for it to be road-ready before I took you for a ride,” he answers, shoving his hands in the pockets of his jeans.
“A few weeks! Finn, this is amazing. It's what you always wanted.” I rush up to the bike, running my fingers gently over the black leather seat.
He comes to stand behind me, his arms wrapping around my waist. “Ready to go for a ride, Daisy?”
I nod and twist in his arms. “So ready!”
Finn’s smiling while he grabs a helmet and helps me put it on.
I wait patiently while he straddles the bike before he instructs me on how to get on.
“Put your foot there and swing your leg over. I got you.” I hold onto his hand and follow his instructions.
Once I’m seated, he turns, taking my arms and wrapping them around his waist. “Hold on tight. And just keep your feet on the pegs. I don’t want you to get hurt, and if you get close to the exhaust, it could burn you. ”
“Got it,” I tell him, keeping my feet planted on the pegs, the front of my body plastered to his, and my arms securely around his waist.
“Here we go.” He gives me some warning before the bike rumbles to life underneath us, and we’re zooming from where we were parked and heading toward the main part of town.
The wind chills my body, and I grip Finn’s jacket tighter, thankful that the helmet covers my ears.
I watch as we drive through my town and head toward the highway, with instant recognition when he exits off on the road that takes us to Noah’s house.
About a week after we started dating officially, things reached an all-time low at Finn’s house.
He packed a bag and arrived at his best friend Noah’s house.
Noah’s parents are never home due to their busy schedules, so Noah lets Finn stay in the pool house.
Off and on for months, when Finn can’t be at his house, he stays at Noah’s.
I’ve been to the pool house plenty of times, but usually it's with a crowd of our friends to chill or people from Noah and Finn’s school who are at Noah’s house to party.
The main house looks dark and quiet tonight as Finn parks next to the pool house.
“Noah isn’t home?”
Finn helps me off his bike, his hands gripping my waist. “Nah, his family goes on a vacation every year over the Thanksgiving holiday.”
For some reason, knowing it's just going to be Finn and me here alone sets butterflies off in my stomach, and I can feel my cheeks turning pink. Thankfully, it's dark enough out that I’m hoping he won’t notice. “So it's just us?”
Finn’s gaze holds mine, and he leans down, pressing his lips to my forehead. “Yeah, it's just going to be us, Win. Is that okay?”
I can’t speak; the words get caught in my throat from the sheer nervousness and longing that's going through my body. Finn and I have made out many times, we’ve touched each other.
He's taught me what my body can feel like when he uses his fingers and tongue to bring me to orgasm, but we haven’t taken that final step yet.
Not that we haven’t wanted to, but every time we’ve been close, Finn is usually the one to slow us down.
He knows it would be my first time and wants it to be special for us.
I love that he respects me and is considerate of how I feel about it.
I also wish he would lose control a little and finally make me his.
As if reading my thoughts, Finn pulls my body closer to his, his hands spreading across my back when he leans in and kisses me.
Like every time his lips touch mine, my stomach swoops, my knees feel weak, and he takes my breath away.
His lips are warm and soft as they tease mine, coaxing them open so his tongue can taste mine.
“Finn,” I whimper against his lips while we both fight for air. I should probably ask him to slow down, except having my lips on his feels right, like home, like love.
“You taste so good, Win,” he murmurs between kisses. “Fuck, I need you.”
“I need you, too,” I moan into his mouth, and his hands tighten on my sides with a fierceness that makes my knees weak.
Finn pulls back, breathing hard, and reaches above me for the key to the door. Without breaking eye contact, he unlocks the door and lets us inside. The room is dark except for the glow of the moon and the faint light from one of the lamps in the corner.
“We don’t have to do anything you aren’t ready for,” he says, his fingers running along my jaw. I stay still when he runs them over my shoulders and down my waist to the hem of the sweatshirt I’m wearing. “Tell me what you want, Win.”
My eyes open, fluttering up to meet his, and I’m mesmerized by deep blue pools of color looking up at me. “I want you to make love to me, Finn.”