FINN THOMPSON
“Honestly, JJ,” I exhale as I study his computer screen. “You have some serious talent, man.”
JJ stands back with his arms over his chest and a bright grin on his face. “Thanks,” he says gratefully. “Ivy is a great test subject.”
Considering all the video shots he’s taken are of my sister—and how in love he is—they’re sensational. The beach, the waves, the sand. I study Ivy as she laughs, her entire face lighting up as she presses a hand to the camera lens.
My heart swells because she’s happy, the happiest she’s been in years. I know JJ, I trust JJ. He’d never hurt my sister; he’d rather hurt himself than even think about it.
“Do you think she’s gonna like it? I can’t wait to show it to her,” JJ says giddily as he leans against his dresser, and I nearly roll my eyes at how head over heels he is for her. “Been working on it for the past few weeks, and I think it’s finally ready.”
I scoff. “Love it? It’ll probably make her cry.”
JJ smiles and glances up at the ceiling. Oh, he’s in so deep.
My head swivels back to the computer, and I click through a few more clips until I stumble across something that makes my stomach churn. The sound of Ivy’s moans fills the air, and the sight before me is something a brother should never witness his sister doing. She’s riding him. Riding. Him.
JJ scrambles to the computer, and I leap off the chair, stumbling over it in the process. My ass hits the floor as I attempt to crawl away and scream into the depths of hell at the same time.
“Oh my god,” I heave. “Oh my fucking god.”
“Shit,” he curses. “Ah, fuck, you weren’t meant to see that.”
I slap a hand to my mouth and turn away as the sound stops, and all I can hear is my thundering heart inside my eardrums. “What the fuck, JJ? Oh my god. I think I’m going to be sick.”
My eyes squeeze shut, but I cannot get the horrific image out of my head.
“Why the hell do you have that on your computer?” I manage to stand up but purposely face away from him. “I need to go and bleach my eyeballs.”
“It was her idea,” he starts. “It was consensual. She knew about it, Finn. I promise.”
I gag. “JJ, please shut the fuck up. Just…stop talking.”
“Where are you going?” JJ asks when I start to leave his bedroom.
“As far away from you as possible.”
I slam his door intentionally on the way out. As soon as I reach the bathroom, I splash my face with cold water and grip onto the basin of the sink before trying to think of anything but that video.
When I head downstairs after gathering my thoughts, I hear the front door open. I poke my head out of the living room window to find Ivy stepping out of a car. She rushes towards JJ, who meets her halfway. She leaps into his arms, and he catches her, their mouths crashing against one another.
I lower my gaze for a moment, and when I look up again, he’s placing her back down onto the ground. He cradles her face between his palms and looks at her as if she’s his entire world—and honestly, I don’t want anything less for her.
I try not to think about what I just saw on JJ’s computer because it makes my skin crawl, and I vow to erase the imagery from my mind forever. But she’s happy, and I can’t be mad about that.
After a few minutes, I pluck up the courage to go outside and make my presence known. It’s the first time I’ve seen Ivy in almost two months, and the second she sees me, her face lights up.
“Hey, Finn,” she says with a grin before taking a few large steps to meet me.
“Hey, Iv.” I wrap my arms around her as she collapses into my chest. “It’s so good to see you.”
She holds onto me tightly. “Good to see you, too.”
When we pull away, JJ wraps an arm around her shoulder and takes her bag from the ground. “Come on.” He beckons with his head. “I’ll put your bags down and show you around.”
I wander back to my bedroom after hearing them laugh with each other. My legs hit the bed, and I fall onto my duvet before reaching for my phone. I instinctively pull up my messages with Maya and sigh.
I’m not due to see them until tomorrow, but it can’t come soon enough.
Finn:
How are my girls?
I don’t even think twice about the text. They are my girls. They’ll always be my girls.
For a minute, I stare at the screen until a message pops up, but it has no words. Just a picture. I melt at the sight of Maya holding Skye in her arms, both of them cuddled up on the sofa, looking all cosy.
I sink further into my pillows as I take in every inch of the photo. Maya is smiling, eyes looking brighter than they have done over the past few weeks. Even Skye’s eyes are open, but they’re not looking at the camera.
They’re both so beautiful, breathtaking, mine.
Well, Skye is mine. Maya…I’m yet to show her how serious I am about them.
I don’t hesitate to save the photo and make it my lock screen. Yeah, I might be a man in deep for both of them, but I am not afraid to show it. It’ll be a reminder every time I look at my phone, the reasons I’m staying sober, bettering myself, and being the best father I can.
Another message pops up soon after.
Maya:
I think she misses you
I release a noise. Those words mean everything.
My fingers clutch my phone tighter as I stare at the sentence for what feels like an eternity.
I miss her too
And you I almost consider texting, but her next message comes in.
Now we’ve got a schedule sorted, I spoke to student services and they said I can join classes this year if I didn’t want to do part time. It’s not too late as I haven’t missed any deadlines yet and my student loan is still rolling
That’s great
You don’t need to do it part time
We can work it out together and I mean it
As long as you’re sure?
I’m one hundred percent sure
You deserve to graduate
It’s a little daunting
Hey, everything is going to be okay
Jade and Alice said they’d help, too
That’s good. I’m glad they’re there for you and Skye, especially when I wasn’t
Her next messages take a while to come through, and I presume she’s sorting Skye out or doing something for herself. I wish I was with her, but at the same time, I don’t want to be overbearing.
We’ve sorted the schedule, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to see them every chance I can get.
What are you up to today?
My sister has come to visit
Well, she’s come to visit JJ because they’re together now
I saw a video of them doing it on JJ’s computer and I wanted to gouge my eyes out
OMG NO
That did not happen
Oh, it happened and I’m never going to be able to look at them the same again
Yikes, that’s rough
How are things with your sister?
A lot better
This summer was tough, for both of us. But we sorted things out
Does she know?
My heart hammers in my chest because I know she’s referencing the rumour.
Yeah, she knows
I didn’t tell her, she found out and it was a bad time.
I thought I was going to lose her for good
It’s better that she knows. Even if you weren’t the one to tell her. I’m glad you sorted things out
I was a coward
I’m just glad she has JJ
Skye is down now, gonna shower and take a nap
Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow
I’m really looking forward to it
I lock my phone and throw it down onto my bed before heading out of my door. That’s when laughter filters through my ears again, and I pause by JJ’s bedroom. Ivy is sitting on his lap as he murmurs something in her ear, and she giggles like a schoolgirl.
I do not need reminders of that video.
My head twists, and I walk downstairs to the kitchen. I grab myself a glass of water and down it all in one go. Footsteps alert me, and I glance over my shoulder as Ivy appears.
“Hey,” she says softly, her blonde hair tied up in a messy bun. “You okay?”
“Yeah. You?”
Ivy nods. “Yeah, how is everything? How’s Maya and Skye?”
“Yeah…” I trail off. “They’re good.”
“Not seeing them today?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Oh.” She raises her chin before playing with the hem of her hoodie. “I can’t wait to meet them both.”
“Soon,” I murmur. “I don’t want to freak Maya out.”
Ivy leans against the opposite counter. “Understandable. You been holding up?”
“I have to.” I shrug. “I don’t want to lose the chance to see my girl grow up.”
“Of course.” She smiles optimistically. “I know everything’s going to be okay.”
“Hope so.”
Ivy takes a few steps forward before wrapping her arms around me. I return the hug and wonder what I did in life to deserve her forgiveness, let alone her kindness and everything else that goes along with it.
“Why don’t you hate me?”
She holds onto me tighter. “Because I know you, and I know you’re not a bad person.”
My eyes close in defeat. “A good person wouldn’t have done what they did to you.”
Ivy pulls away and stares up at me. “But you’ve changed, Finn. Would you do anything like that again?”
“Never.”
“Exactly,” she whispers. “You fucked up, but you’re willing to put it right. And you’ve been through a lot. We’re both victims, and I want to see you shine, I want to see you happy, I want to see you live.”
Her words cut through me like a knife. I want to see myself live, too.
“I struggle with the idea of forgiving myself,” I strain.
“It’ll come with time.” Her voice is tender.
“I’d do anything for you, Ivy. You know that, right?”
“Of course,” she says with a softness in her expression.
My mouth tilts into a half smile. “Okay.”
“We were going to go grab some food, wanna come?”
“Na.” I fold my arms over my chest. “You guys have fun.”
Ivy frowns. “Why not?”
“I don’t want to intrude.”
“You won’t intrude. I want you there. Please?”
I release a silent sigh. “Okay, sure.”
She claps her hands excitedly. “Yay.” She beams. “I’ll go grab JJ, and we’ll head out?”
“Sure.”
Maybe I need some time out of the house. Some normality back in my life for once.