Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Finn
I stood, leaning back against the side of my SUV, when Sophie rolled into the parking space beside me.
Instantly I notice the way she looks at everything other than me.
I could see the way she worried her lip as she climbed out and then reached for her bag.
Reaching out, I pulled the strap off her shoulder and she finally looks up at me.
“I got it,” I assure her and watch as she carefully lets it slide down her arm.
“I would just like to say that I was backed into a corner and needed something to knock him down a few notches. I’m sorry I used that,” she widens her eyes when she says the word that, “as a way to get at him.”
“I’m not here about that.” She stares at me. “I’m here to make sure that I don’t need to go have a talk with him myself.”
“It’s handled.”
“Are you sure?” What I don’t say is that I was hoping she’d give me the go-ahead and say that she thinks hearing it from me might put an end to this shit. She nods her head, then looks down at her feet.
Placing my finger beneath her chin I lift up and make eye contact with her once again. “Has he ever hurt you?”
“Only emotionally.” Her confession is like a stake to my chest, it triggers a burn and I fight the urge to rub it. Shrugging, she again bites the inside of her cheek and I can’t pull my eyes from hers.
“Sweetheart, you tell him and any other person anything you want. I’m in this with you.
” She nods but just slightly. I get the sense she isn’t buying my words.
Fuck I never expected this to be this hard.
I never expected to be so wrapped up in this charade that it’s getting hard to separate fake and real.
But right now, standing here with her as she continues to look at me with those big beautiful green eyes, I’m having a real hard time remembering this is all fake.
It doesn’t feel fake.
I feel like I should drive to Montgomery right now and wait outside for him, like he did her. I don’t like knowing that she was forced to deal with him at all, and alone makes it worse.
“I shouldn’t have allowed him to get to me,” Sophie confesses. “I can’t understand why he even cares. When we were actually together he barely knew I was there, but now, I can’t seem to get away from him.”
“Realized what he’s lost,” I tell her and she rolls her eyes.
“You don’t see it.” I know I should shut up but I can’t.
“Baby you are beautiful and so kind.” Her eyes go wide with my endearment, but I don’t let it stop me.
“Your love and affection for others, how compassionate you are, it’s always amazed me.
You see the good in everything no matter how bad it is.
And that, it’s contagious. Whenever you are around, all of us, we can’t help but feel better. ”
“You do know that fake dating doesn’t really mean you have to give the sweet supportive feel better talks too. Especially when it’s only us here,” she adds with a smile and I slide my hand around, cupping the back of her neck.
“This isn’t a game, Sophie,” I say and she quickly closes her mouth, pressing her lips together tightly.
“This is me, being one hundred percent honest with you. You have always been the one in the group that is like the bright shining light. You make sure everyone knows they are great, that they are strong and can and will always come out the other side on top. But what I want to know is when are you going to realize you deserve the world and that you too, are strong and courageous.”
She shrugs, her eyes filling with tears and she attempts to look away only I hold her steady.
“Now again I’m gonna ask, do I need to take a drive and have a chat with Ryan?”
“No,” she assures me.
“Okay.” I let go but don’t step back, not quite ready to distance myself from her.
I don’t know what the hell is happening, but part of me wants to pull her in and hold her close.
I get why she’s felt nervous, because right now I feel like a anxious fool.
The lines are blurring and like I said, the objective isn’t as clear anymore.
Clearing my throat I lift my hand to run it through my hair when my fingers itch to touch her.
“One more question,” I say and she arches her brow, waiting for me to continue. “I’m just curious. How exactly do wild monkeys screw?”
Her eyes widen, she opens her mouth to speak then closes it quickly, only to repeat the movement a few times. I try to hold back my laughter but watching her stumbling over how to respond is too fun to watch.
This time I do reach out, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her in close to me. My chest vibrates with laughter as I hug her while she fights me.
Instantly I am surrounded by the scent of flowers and I use my position to my benefit. Burying my nose in her hair I breathe in the scent and decide it’s now my new favorite smell. Somehow this game we started out playing was turning on me.
“I’m going to kill Kendall,” she mumbles and her words are muffled as she buries her face in my chest.
It strikes me how much I like having her in my arms.
It also hits me that I am playing a dangerous game.