27. Finn
TWENTY-SEVEN
Finn
PAST
“Jaysus, lad. Do you know what the bloody time is?” Rian answers on the fourth ring, his voice drowsy and rough.
“Sorry,” I automatically reply, briefly forgetting where he is. But then, I pause to think about it. Seattle is at least eight hours behind us, right? I do a bit of quick math in my head. “Wait. What the hell do you mean, do I know what time it is? It’s like ten at night where you are. Since when did you turn into your Gran?”
“Since I started traveling time zones like I’m goddamn Superman. I’m fucking knackered.”
I grin, shaking out my wet hair. I woke up early this morning and am already showered and dressed. I’m not sure I slept much, to be honest. He isn’t the only one who’s tired. “Well, technically, if you were traveling as fast as Superman, I doubt you’d actually get tired because—speed of light and all. Plus, Superman doesn’t get tired.”
“Finn?”
“Yeah?
“Shut the fuck up.”
I snort a laugh as the sound of him shifting around fills my ears. He must be sitting up, knowing I wouldn’t call during a tour without a reason. He lets out an exhausted groan before saying, “Okay, what’s the story?”
“It’s—” I hesitate because although I called him to discuss this, the act of coming out and admitting it is more difficult than I had anticipated.
“I’m half a world away, and I can feel your discomfort—and I’m not going to lie, I’m enjoying the hell out of it. But knowing what I know, there is only one thing—well, two, but I’m going to go out on a limb and assume it’s not your da?—”
“It’s not my da.”
“Okay, so back to my original guess: Aisling Farrell?”
I would say I’m impressed that he remembered her name, but I’m not. That’s just how Rian’s brain works. It’s like an endless reservoir of information. I’m fairly certain he remembers every name of every girl he’s ever hooked up with—not because they were all special, but because once he learns something, it’s nearly impossible for him to forget it.
“Yeah.”
“God, I want to meet this girl. Less than a week, and you’re in bits over her. What happened now?”
“Nothing specific.” Unless you count the way she’s gradually chipping away at my heart with each passing hour. Our walks, the endless conversations, and the way she looked with that rose in her hair. That moment on the cliffs.
And then there was last night at the pub. I’ve never seen anyone dance like she does. When she left the stage and stepped outside to cool off, it took every ounce of willpower not to follow her to do some very unprofessional things with my tongue.
“I typically approach this final day with a significant sense of relief. Just one more day and I’ll be home. But this time?—”
“You’re dreading it?”
“Yeah.”
“Have you told her this?”
“Christ, no,” I answer. “We’ve both acknowledged we were into each other that first night, but we agreed it can’t go beyond friendship.”
“Agreed or settled?” he asks. “What if you weren’t her tour guide? Would that change anything?”
I breathe out a sigh as I sit on the edge of the hotel bed. I’ve already packed everything back into my suitcase, and all that’s left to do is head down to the dining room for breakfast. However, it doesn’t open for another thirty minutes. Hence, the early morning SOS call to Rian.
Lucky him.
“No. Yes?” I flop onto my back. “I don’t know. She was literally supposed to get married this week, Rian.”
“Damn. That’s intense. Who called it off?”
“She did. He cheated on her. Actually—” I sit back up and open my Google tab. “You might know him?”
“Why would you assume that? Do you know how many people live in the States? You know my mam does that, too, right? ‘Ri-Ri, Fannie at the salon has a client whose daughter lives in the States. She lives in Montana. Is that close to you? Maybe you could grab a spot of tea?’ I mean, Christ, Finn, I know she knows how to use a bleedin’ map.”
I roll my eyes, chuckling under my breath. I haven’t traveled as much as my globe-trotting friend, but his parents? I doubt they’ve ever left their small village in Kerry, even though Rian has offered to take them somewhere.
I find Theo’s picture on the Madrid team web page and send Rian the link. “He’s a football player. Look at the?—”
“Oh, shit. This guy?” he says, having already pulled it up.
“Yeah, they’d been together since secondary school.”
“That’s—”
“Intense, yeah. You already said that. Got anything else? ’Cause I don’t know what to do. Do I tell her and face possible rejection, or do I not tell her and live with the inevitable regret?
“What happened to ‘Finn doesn’t date’? I thought you didn’t want any distractions?”
“I didn’t,” I say. “I still don’t. But, shit, Rian. This girl is different.”
“I’m a technical guy, Finney. I work with numbers and absolutes. I’m going to need you to define the word ‘different’ because this is starting to feel like the plot of a cheesy rom-com.”
“I hate you.”
“That’s not what you said when you had your tongue down my throat in uni.”
“You’re the eejit who got in line at our own bleedin’ kissing booth!”
“It was for a good cause!”
“Really, and what was that exactly?”
Silence follows. “Um?—‘
“Exactly. And for the record, it was your tongue in my mouth, not the other way around. I really hope you don’t kiss like that when you’re sober.”
“I’ve never had any complaints, sober or otherwise. Why don’t you kiss Aisling, and then she and I can compare notes?” He snickers.
“That’s never happening.”
“Okay, so what makes her different? Out of all the other women on the planet, why does this one stand out? By the way, I’m still waiting on a pic.”
“I never said I’d send you a picture.”
“Context, Finn—wait, no need. I found her Instagram. Oh, look at my smitten best lad all cozied up with the American girl. Christ, she’s hot. Okay, proceed.”
I ignore that last comment because he’s not wrong. Also, I’m fairly certain her Instagram page is private, but whatever…Rian can get into anything.
“One of the first things I said to her was that bit of bullshit I made up about how you’re never really lost—just searching for something.”
“Still planning on stealing that.”
“Anyway,” I continue, “I said it in jest, but the more I think about it, the more I realize just how right I might have been because I found her. Not once, but twice. What are the chances of that happening? Every minute I spend with her, I’m wishing for another. I don’t know how I’m going to say goodbye to this girl.”
“Then don’t,” he says simply.
“But she lives?—”
He interrupts me. “You’re overthinking this. That’s a problem for another day, Finn. You said you just wanted more time. Start there. I know it’s tough for a guy whose life literally runs on a schedule, but not everything requires one.”
“Says the guy whose life also operates on a schedule.”
“Hey, do you want my advice or not? ’Cause, I’m wasting sleepy time here.”
“Right, I forgot. Sorry, Gran. It must be late in Seattle, yeah? Close to almost ten-thirty? My apologies.”
“I’m hanging up now.”
“Wait!” I call out, grinning. “So you’re saying I should chill on the proposal planning and delete this list of baby names I started on my phone?”
“Look, after your starry-eyed speech, I honestly can’t tell if you’re joking. But, yeah, maybe hold off on the baby names and start by getting her number, you psycho.”
I grin. “Good night, Grans.”
“Night arsehole.”
I stare up at the ceiling and mull over his words. I have one day left with Aisling.
Time to make it count.