Chapter 14
CHAPTER 14
Lou
“It really is amazing. I mean, the view, the way the light changes over the yard during the day.” I sigh, and I don’t mind how lovesick I sound over Finn’s office.
His smile tells me he wholeheartedly agrees.
Besides, seeing all the still-hanging twinkling lights around town shine down on his beautiful face just adds something to the whole day.
When he told me the drive to the restaurant was less than ten minutes I asked if we could walk so I could see the town, and it was a great idea.
Walking hand in hand down Main Street on a quiet though cold night, is probably the most romantic thing that’s ever happened to me.
“I know the rest of the house isn’t as impressive,” he says, twisting his face into a grimace.
“Your house is gorgeous,” I protest and cut him off, and I mean it too. “I think it really is, and I wouldn’t care if it wasn’t because... that office.”
Anyone else in the world would be looking at me like I’m insane or rolling their eyes at me, but Finn smiles proudly.
“I love that we have that in common,” he says quietly.
“Me too.”
I squeeze his hand once and he stops, looks at the building and I...
“We’re having dinner at Warm Heart?!” I demand, seriously surprised. Then it clicks. “Oh my God, you’re one of those Hearts!”
“I am,” he says happily. “Now, are you ready to make all your culinary dreams come true?”
“I am!” Now I’m the one pulling him inside.
Warm Heart feels exactly the way every review I’ve read of it has ever said... Warm.
It’s cozy, homey, and if the big stars gracing the wall of the entrance are any indication, it’s one of the best restaurants in the country—actually, maybe the world.
The host greets Finn with familiarity and leads us to a secluded booth near the back. Our waiter brings over menus and gets our drink orders, and this is already an unbeatable time when an older man with some salt in his dirty-blond hair comes over. He’s wearing everything I imagine a chef would, except the hat, and he smiles brilliantly when he sees us.
“Finn,” he says cheerfully.
We both stand, and I’m introduced after they hug.
“Lou, this is my uncle Leo. He’s the chef here.”
I’m tongue tied for a moment, but then reach to shake his hand with maybe a bit too much enthusiasm.
“It’s an honor to meet you, sir. I can’t wait to taste the food here.”
“It’s your first time at Warm Heart?” He looks delighted as he asks, like it’s weird that I’ve never been here before, as if it’s just any other restaurant—it’s fucking not. Any normal person would have to wait years for a reservation.
“It is,” I confirm.
“Hopefully it won’t be your last.” He winks at me and claps Finn on the shoulder, turning to him while I’m still reeling. “Ally and I were thinking about having everyone over tomorrow, give Lala the week off. You should come, and bring him.” He points at me, winks again, then he’s off to work.
The rest of the night is as much a whirlwind as the start of it, and all my culinary dreams do come true.
We get back to his place at a respectable hour to go to sleep, but we spend hours fucking and making love, so it’s a jolt when sunshine wakes me up.
I feel like I didn’t sleep enough, and Finn looks like he feels the same.
We make breakfast, drink coffee side-by-side, and just like he did yesterday, he leaves me his office and works at the dining table.
It all seems so normal. It feels right.
After a productive workday, we shower and share soapy hand jobs in his shower, then we’re again walking over to his uncle’s house. We arrive at a big house, bigger than any other I’ve seen in town, and Finn doesn’t hesitate to walk up the walkway and open the door without knocking, and that’s where I meet the Hearts.
Most of them.
One of Finn’s cousins, Sam, is missing since he lives in Chicago with his son, and of course Charlie’s missing too since he’s in the middle of the season.
But there are a lot of other Hearts to meet.
Charlie’s mom is possibly the warmest person I’ve ever met, rivaled only by Lala, the owner and original chef of Warm Heart.
My heart’s so full it almost bursts throughout the night. They’re welcoming, loving, accepting, and their hearts—no pun intended—are open.
It actually hurts, the stark contrast to my own family. To my life actually.
Finn’s life is full, and mine... isn’t.
Which is what leads me to make a hard decision.
“I need to go home,” I tell Finn when we’re back at his place before ten.
“What? It’s so late?—”
“I have to stop by the office tomorrow and help one of my managers deal with something.”
It’s not exactly a lie, I do need to do that, but not tomorrow. It’s not that urgent.
“Lou, it’s really late and?—”
“The freeway will be empty and I’m a good driver. Don’t worry so much,” I tell him with a teasing smile. God, I’m really acting my ass off.
Between his protests and my assurances, I’m ready to drive off less than twenty minutes later.
“Can I come see you during the weekend?” he asks, looking so much like a kicked puppy that I start to really feel bad.
But I need this.
Just a few days to get used to the idea... to the magnitude.
“Of course you can. And I’ll let you know as soon as I’m home.”
See? I reason with myself. I’m not ghosting him at all. I’m just taking some much needed space.
* * *
But I don’t feel any relief after I get home and send the promised text.
And the next day, when I make the trip to the office so I can assure myself I’m not a liar, I feel even worse. By Saturday, I know I’m losing my mind. I should be over the moon that I’m falling in love with a man who seems to get me.
A man who showed me off proudly to his family without even a millisecond of hesitation.
And what did I do?
Ran away, like a coward.
Before I can even begin thinking about traffic or second-guessing how much Finn wants me, I start packing a bag. I know I’m acting like a maniac, hot and cold and all over the place, but well... if he’s as amazing as he seems he’s gonna understand, right?
He has to.
I’ll explain and?—
Pounding on my door stops all of my thoughts and movements.
“Lou,” he shouts, and the sound of his deep voice makes my heart beat like crazy.
“Finn,” I shout back, and rush to open the door for him. We stare at each other for a beat, and then I jump on him. His lips are like magic for my frayed nerves.
“I hated sleeping alone,” he groans and pulls back. “I hated every second. I know it’s crazy and insane but I missed you, and I don’t want to miss you anymore. Even talking every day, it’s not enough. I know it’s fast but please let me be here with you. If you don’t like my house or Crushville—” He stops to swallow hard and my heart breaks for making him feel this way. “I can figure something out with my clients and?—”
I’ve heard enough now.
“No.” I tell him resolutely. “No, no, no,” I keep protesting. “I didn’t leave because I didn’t like it. I left because I liked it so much. Too much. I got scared that you’d get sick of me and I’d lose it all, and I just thought maybe some distance would be good for a few days but I was miserable too. I’m sorry.”
Finn lets out a manic laugh then covers me with his arms and crushes me to his chest.
“You don’t have to be sorry about anything, cutie. About nothing at all. It’s okay, just... please talk to me next time, yeah?”
“Okay,” I say, my voice muffled by his chest.
“So you wanna come spend the weekend in Crushville? We’re having a snowman building contest by the main square.”
“That... sounds perfect.” I lean back and smile at him. The world is back to rights now. “Just perfect.”