Chapter 4
A Pilot’s Field Guide to Romantic Self-Sabotage
Finn
I made my way back to the house, my jaw tight with frustration. The cool interior was a relief from the harsh morning sun and the pressure building at the base of my skull—either from the brightness or from whatever the hell had just happened by the pool.
One minute she’d been looking at me like—well, like she was interested. The moment I’d mentioned Alex, she’d gone arctic. I replayed the conversation, trying to figure out exactly where I’d stepped wrong. All I’d done was ask about one of my brother’s friends.
A friend who was apparently involved in all their lives but was conveniently never around when I was.
Camila was working at the stove, the sizzle of eggs and the warm scent of breakfast filling the kitchen. I leaned against the island, grateful for the solid surface, and pulled out my phone.
It buzzed in my hand.
Lou: How was the fancy Hollywood engagement party? Did you survive all that glitz and glamour?
I found myself smiling despite my headache. I pressed the microphone icon to respond via talk to text.
Me: Survived. Barely. You know how I am with crowds
Lou: Oh honey, I know exactly how you are Are you taking care of yourself? Getting enough sleep? I worry about you in that crazy city.
The sound of Camila humming softly behind me mixed with the gentle bubbling of whatever she was preparing. Through the open patio doors, I could see Dom and Enzo’s other guest still stretched out by the pool—hat pulled low.
Me: I’m fine. Dom and Enzo are making sure I don’t do anything stupid unfortunately
Lou: LOL good. Though I bet you’re still trying. Some things never change, Finnigan Walker.
I smiled at her use of my full name, a habit from our youth she’d picked up whenever she was exasperated with me.
Me: Says the woman who tried to fix the ice machine by herself the other week
Lou: That’s different and you know it! When are you coming for another visit? I’m still sad I missed you before and the ranch feels too quiet without any Walker boys around.
I glanced toward the pool again. She’d taken off her cover-up, the blue of her bikini catching the light. I licked my lips.
Me: Not sure yet. Depends on a few things
Lou: Well don’t be a stranger. Penny keeps asking when she gets to meet you properly. I’ve told her so much about you.
Me: Tell her I’ll bring her something from California
Lou: You don’t have to do that. Just come home soon, ok? We miss you.
I stared at the last message, Lou’s safe and uncomplicated warmth radiating through the screen. It felt familiar, comfortable—like slipping into well-worn boots—everything I should want after months of uncertainty and upheaval.
Through the patio doors, the woman was adjusting her position on the lounger.
The way she moved was something else—all grace and control as she reached for her coffee.
She crooked one knee up as she leaned back again, wrapping her lips around that damn lucky straw. I forced my attention back to my phone.
Lou gave me nothing like the electric confusion from asking the wrong question to the woman by the pool. The woman who was clearly devoted to someone else—someone I’d apparently been an ass about without even meeting—she had no time or patience for me.
“Mr. Finn?” Camila’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. “?Café?”
“If it’s not too much trouble, Camila.”
The sound of car doors slamming in the driveway announced Dom and Enzo’s return, their voices carrying through the house as they entered.
Camila handed me a mug of coffee, and I nodded my appreciation before taking a long sip—the black, bitter liquid seeping into my bones and pushing back against the ache in my neck.
The two men appeared around the corner. Dom’s hair was still damp with sweat as he pulled a water bottle out of the fridge.
Enzo grabbed a banana from the counter and started peeling as he hummed to himself.
Camila picked up a tray of breakfast that made my mouth water and headed in the direction of the pool. Talk about service.
“There you are,” Dom grinned, twisting off the cap of the bottle. “How was your run?”
“Fine.” I took another sip of coffee, still processing the pool encounter. “Finally met your sister, Enz.”
“Oh good!” Enzo perked up. “What did you think of Sasha?”
Sasha. Finally, a name. “She’s...” I paused, trying to find words that wouldn’t reveal how infuriating she was or how much I’d been thinking about the way her bikini fit her curves. “Interesting.”
Dom raised an eyebrow at my tone. “Interesting how?”
“What’s her deal?” I asked instead of answering.
“Sasha?” Dom exchanged a look with Enzo. “Why? What’s going on?”
“I asked where Alex was, and I swear the temperature of all of LA dropped twenty degrees,” I set my mug down harder than necessary. “All I want to do is meet the guy. Size him up a bit after everything I’ve heard.”
Enzo nearly choked on his banana. “I mean, you probably shouldn’t bad-mouth Alex to her face.”
I stared at him. “To her face?”
“Well, yeah,” Enzo wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Sasha’s pretty protective of people she cares about.”
I forced myself to sound casual. “How long have Alex and Sasha been together? They live together?”
“Oh, they’ve been together forever,” Enzo nodded solemnly. “Practically moved in together from day one. Super serious.”
Dom shot him a look I couldn’t quite interpret before adding, “They’re... very close.”
“Must be nice having someone so devoted,” I muttered, taking another drink—the coffee suddenly tasting too bitter.
“Sasha would do anything for Alex,” Enzo continued, and I thought I caught the edge of mischief in his voice. “Totally protective. Gets upset when people criticize.” He lifted a shoulder. “But who doesn’t?”
The pieces clicked into place with uncomfortable clarity. She was involved with Alex as more than friends, so of course she’d gone cold when I started talking shit about her boyfriend.
All that time I’d been tracking details I had no business noticing—the way she comfortably inhabited the world, how her laugh changed the energy around her, that razor-sharp tongue that drew me in even when it was aimed directly at me.
Meanwhile she was probably annoyed that a stranger she was just being nice to was asking invasive questions about her personal life.
Stupid. I should know better than to let myself get distracted by someone clearly off-limits. This wasn’t a “no-strings-attached” situation like when I was on shore leave. There were strings—so many strings. Two of them were currently looking at me like I’d lost my mind.
“Right,” I rubbed my left temple in an effort to assuage the sharp edge of pain. “That makes sense.”
Dom studied me a moment, his eyes moving as if he was assessing what to say next.
“You should come to dinner with us tonight,” he decided.
“We’re taking Sasha out, and there’s something important we want to ask you both.
” He glanced at Enzo who was grinning around the last bites of his banana.
“It’ll be perfect. You can meet her properly and get to know each other better. ”
I thought about Sasha’s abrupt frosty demeanor when I’d mentioned her boyfriend. “I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.”
“Come on,” Enzo nudged my shoulder. “Sasha’s great once you get to know her. And Alex... well, you’ll see.”
Something in his tone made me look at him more carefully, but his expression was innocently blank.
“Alright,” I gave in. “Dinner sounds good.”