Finn
FINN
I dropped my bag on the floor of my hotel suite before I closed the door behind me. I was officially broken, but it was worth it. One last dance for Bobby. I tilted my head up to the ceiling, holding back the tears that filled my eyes as I remembered the loud, funny, quirky man who changed my life. With his colourful shirts and ridiculous handlebar moustache. Without him, I’d have never gone to dance school, never had the life I did. He took me in when my parents believed that my sexuality made me so disgusting they didn’t even want me in the same house as them anymore.
Bobby saved me, and tonight, through Jax Cartright’s charity, I knew we had enough to keep Bobby’s legacy running as the halfway house I’d lived in for two years, would have enough to fix it up and to pay a full time manager to run the place in Bobby’s absence.
“I hope you’re looking down at me with a smile, Daddy Warbucks.” I chuckled at the nickname I’d given him and, like he was giving me a message, my phone beeped. Reaching down into the outside pocket of my bag, I took it out, groaning at the effort to stand back up, my muscles screaming at me to get in the bath.
Kicking off my trainers, I looked down, surprised to see who the message was from.
Professor Fischer: Hi.
I stared at the screen, butterflies dancing in my stomach.
Me: Hi. Everything ok?
Professor Fischer: I guess.
Professor Fischer: Sorry, that was weird. Yes, everything is fine.
I waited for his next message impatiently.
Professor Fischer: Full transparency. I was there tonight.
I moved through the large room, not noticing anything about the luxury of the suite I’d booked to relax in this weekend, my bath and aching body forgotten as I perched on the edge of the large king-sized bed.
Me: Tonight?
Professor Fischer: Jax Cartwright is my mum’s husband.
My mouth fell open as the meaning of his words sank in. I’d spoken to Jax a bit, but only about Bobby’s legacy and the plans for the evening. I’d never mentioned my new job, and he didn’t ask about what I was doing with my retirement.
Professor Fischer: Your dancing!
Professor Fischer: Wow.
Professor Fischer: No wonder you’ve been so exhausted recently. I guess you’ve been rehearsing a lot for tonight.
Professor Fischer: But I just wanted to say that I was there. I had no idea you would be, but I didn’t want things to be weird. I didn’t want you to think I was hiding it from you.
My hands trembled as I tried to type a message back. I’d danced in front of audiences all over the world. I mean, I’d danced for the President of the United States, royalty; I’d danced on TV and some of the most famous stages in the world, but there was something oddly unsettling at the thought of Jasper watching me.
Me: Sorry. I probably should have told you I had an alter ego. Even if I have officially retired him. Tonight, I wasn’t Finn Wells. Arlo Garcia was definitely on that stage.
Professor Fischer: Why the stage name?
Me: I liked the idea of being someone else when I’m up there. Made me feel more confident when I first started dancing.
Professor Fischer: Well, I don’t care what you want to call yourself. You have such a talent.
I lay back on the bed, groaning as my body sank into the soft mattress.
Me: Had a talent. I only came out of retirement for one night, and from the way I ache, I will need a year or two to recover.
Professor Fischer: Are you ok? Do you need anything?
Me: It’s fine. I’m sure you have things to be doing. Family to catch up with.
Professor Fischer: I don’t. Have you eaten?
I licked my lips because I was starving, but I wasn’t sure I was thinking about food right now.
Me: Not yet, but I was just going to order room service and watch a film.
Professor Fischer: Of course. I’m totally overstepping.
I tapped my fingers against the side of the phone as I tried to decide if I was about to make a terrible mistake. It didn’t take long to decide I was, but I did it anyway.
Me: You’re welcome to join me.
…
…
The three dots appeared and disappeared, and Jasper didn’t reply, so I figured I had overstepped and made him uncomfortable, but then my phone beeped again.
Professor Fischer: Send me the name of your hotel and I’ll be there as soon as I can.
* * *
“Professor.” I held out my arm, groaning from the movement, before dropping it to my side again. I had planned to shower, but Jasper’s hotel was literally two streets away, so I hadn’t had time to do much more than spray some deodorant on.
Jasper stepped inside, and my eyes raked over him shamelessly. Wearing gray sweats and a black hoodie, with a Deil Project cap pulled over his eyes, he looked delicious, but he was my boss and straight.
“You’re like a walking advert for your work, you know.” I laughed as I pointed to the cap.
He shook his head, offering me a smile, before he took it off and ran his hand through his short hair. “All I could find.”
I pulled a disbelieving face. “Right. Come in. Make yourself at home.”
I placed the do not disturb sign on the door in case I forgot later, because I had no intention of getting up early tomorrow. In fact, I planned to do as little as possible until my train home on Sunday afternoon. Then I closed the door and locked it.
“Nice place,” Jasper mumbled as he looked around.
“It’s not bad,” I replied with a smile. I knew how stunning this place was with its amazing view across the river.
Jasper threw his cap onto the chair in the living area before unzipping his hoodie and taking that off too. “How famous are you, Finn?”
I pursed my lips and tilted my head. “In the dance world, I guess I’m a little bit famous, but in the real world, I’m a no one.”
Jasper let out a gasp. “Tell me that was a terrible joke and you don’t really think that.”
I let out a chuckle and shrugged, trying to play it down, but it was exactly how I felt. I’d spent my life trying to find a place I fit with people who cared about me unconditionally.
Not offering him any more than that, I took a couple of steps towards him so we could sit and order room service, but my body had completely seized up, and a cramp burned through the muscle in my calf.
“Shit,” I muttered, bending down a little too quickly, pain shooting up my back. “Oh my god, I’m too old for this.”
Jasper was in front of me in a second. I looked up at him from my half-bent position, trying not to think about how similar the view would be if I were on my knees for him.
I groaned at the thought.
“Come here,” Jasper said, wrapping his arm around my waist and helping me limp to the sofa. “What do you need? Painkillers?”
“I need a bath, lots of Epsom Salts, and I need to stretch. I should have done more after I finished, but I just wanted to get back here.”
“Understandable,” he said as he hovered next to me. “People are a lot.”
I laughed. “Yes, they are. I guess I can understand why you like being underwater so much.”
He gave me a look like I should have understood this long before now, then he pointed at the closed doors across the other side of the suite. “Which one is the bathroom?”
“Middle one.”
“Give me a second.”
He vanished, and I rested my head back, taking a deep breath as I tried to build up the motivation to get up, deciding that I’d make do with a shower because it would be rude to soak with a guest here.
My hands were braced on either side of me on the sofa, about to push myself up, when Jasper appeared, drying his hands on the towel.
“Right, bath is on. I found all sorts of potions and salts lined up, so I’ve added them all.” His expression turned to one of panic. “Oh God, is that okay, or have I just recreated George’s Marvellous Medicine ?”
I spluttered out a laugh at the reference to a book I’d loved as a kid. Then his words hit me. “You ran me a bath?”
“Yes. You’re in pain, and I want to help. You go and relax. Take your time. I’ll order room service. But I have one condition.”
I raised my brow. “Which is?”
“I get to pick the movie.”
I let out a fake huff of annoyance. “Fine. I guess that sounds okay. Now, I just have to force my legs to carry me to the bathroom.”
Jasper threw the towel over his shoulder, stepping in front of me. “May I?” he asked.
“May you what?” I replied, confused.
“Carry you?”
I rolled my lips inwards as I tried to mask my shock.
“Think of it like a scene in Bridgerton. I’m trying to save you from a shame-filled walk in front of the Ton. Now, would you like to be carried bridal style or flipped over my shoulder?”
I widened my eyes. “I don’t think a shoulder carry is very appropriate, Professor. What would people say?”
This time, it was him who laughed. “Come on, you.” He reached forward and hooked his arm under my legs and the other around my back, lifting me like I was as light as a feather.
“Oh my god,” I shrieked. “I can’t believe you’re carrying me.”
He walked through to the bathroom and set me down before turning off the taps of the almost full bath.
“What would you like to eat?”
“Carbs… and cheese… and a milkshake. Strawberry.” My stomach growled in reply. “Please,” I added, because I was coming across less than polite.
“Can you get in okay?”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m not letting you undress me, Professor.” Be still my beating heart.
With a nod, he left me alone, closing the door with a quiet click.