Chapter 26
Vee
Opening the door to my condo, my expression was tempered by the flood of memories and sense of betrayal. Fourteen years ago, Fin broke my heart; now he was back. The same cocky grin. The same glimmering stare. The same self-assured saunter.
Fourteen years was way too long to pick up where we left off.
Lives changed in that amount of time. Ideals and aspirations morphed.
People came and went. Decisions created pathways that only time could explore.
I wasn’t the same woman I was at twenty.
Fin wasn’t the same man he’d been at twenty-two.
It was time to face our younger selves.
“You made it,” I said, taking a step back and allowing Fin entry.
He handed me a bottle of wine. “I come bearing gifts.”
“Thank you.”
Like me, Fin had also changed his clothes. No longer wearing the workout clothes from Maker’s Mark, Fin was wearing low-riding faded blue jeans, a solid blue t-shirt making his eyes even more vivid, and leather loafers.
His grin widened as his gaze scanned slowly and precisely from my hair to my sandals and back. “The more casual Vee. Absolutely spectacular.”
“I don’t recall inviting you in last night.” I gestured with my arm. “Welcome.”
“Since I was inside, I guess that confirms I’m not a vampire.”
“Ugh.” I was in my Twilight phase fourteen years ago. “That black eye also confirms it. You would have healed by now.”
His sharp chin remained tight as he scanned the condo. “This is really nice.”
“A little larger than my college apartment.”
“No roommate?”
“I’ve been thinking about a cat.” We entered, passing my home office and stepping into the large open kitchen, dining, and living room area—one big room differentiated by cabinetry and furniture.
Fin turned, taking in the two walls of windows. “This puts my two-bedroom apartment to shame.” He shrugged. “I suppose your contract has a better guarantee than mine.”
I set the wine on the kitchen island. “I suppose. I’m not going to be traded anytime soon—or decide to bolt.” If my words hit a target, Fin wasn’t letting it show.
Walking toward the balcony door, I said, “It’s a nice night. I thought we might want to sit outside.”
Fin reached for my hand, spinning me back until I was facing him. My breath caught as I stared at the blue of his shirt, pulled tight across his chest. Swallowing, I lifted my chin.
His deep voice affected me more than I wanted to admit.
“I was hoping to repeat last night. One kiss.”
Tugging my hand away, I feigned a smile. “You said we needed to talk about shit. Let’s do that. Whatever happens after will depend on our conversation.”
Fin followed me out onto the balcony where we were met by warmer temperatures and a gentle evening breeze.
Tendrils of my long brown hair fluttered around my face.
In the distance, beyond the skyline, the western sky was a kaleidoscope filled with fire: reds, oranges, and purples changing and glowing on the horizon.
The sun was still at least a half an hour from disappearing.
“I already opened this wine, but if you want the one you brought…?”
Fin motioned toward the far chair.
Tucking the skirt of my dress around my legs, I sat.
It was only slight, but I noticed the way Fin grimaced as he took the other chair.
“Your shoulder?” I asked.
“I’m fine.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be icing and warming it?”
“I think I’ll be good. I’ve gotten nothing but ice since I arrived.”
Pressing my lips together, I sat taller and reached for the wine bottle. “This is a sweet red, but at the same time it’s dry. It’s from a winery not too far from here. I know most people associate Kentucky with the Bourbon Trail, but really, we have some amazing wineries too.”
After pouring wine into both glasses, I looked up. “What?”
Fin’s expression was difficult to read.
“You’re rambling, Vee. That isn’t like you.”
“Honestly, Fin, you don’t know what I’m like anymore. Don’t make assumptions.”
He nodded. “That’s fair.” He took a drink of the red liquid. “You were right. Sweet, but still has that dry bite.” Setting down the glass, he met my stare. “Today in your office, I thought…” He shook his head. “Did I read you wrong?”
Tears I wasn’t expecting stung my eyes. Blinking them away, I clenched my jaw.
“I told you that I trusted you or that I did. That was past tense.” I felt my nostrils flaring as I tried to breathe.
“What happened when you left for Tennessee? I thought we had…” I picked up my napkin and covered my face.
Shit.
Standing, I went to the balcony, turning my back on Fin.
“Ignore me,” I managed to say between attempts to fill my lungs with air. “This is stupid and ridiculous.”
Fin didn’t speak, yet from the radiating warmth on my back and the scent of sandalwood in the evening breeze, I knew he was now standing behind me.
If I leaned back only a little, I would feel the hardness of his chest. Instead, I spun and looked up. “I can’t trust you. I don’t.”
“Fuck, Vee. You were the one who lied to me. I thought we had something, something I’d never expected. And through it all…” He took a step back and ran his left hand through his hair. “You couldn’t be honest with me.”
My eyebrows knitted together as I tried to make sense of what he was saying. “I never lied to you.”
“You didn’t tell me the truth.”
My voice was raised more than I wanted, yet there was no stopping now. “Shit, Fin. I told you things I haven’t told anyone else. I talked to you about my mother.” Even saying the words caused my chest to ache. “I told you about my dreams. I gave you…you were my first. You fucking knew that.”
There was no stopping these emotions, the crack was growing in a dam I’d had in place for too long. Tears continued as the blockade broke to smithereens, the hurt and betrayal now a raging rapid no raft could survive.
I reached for my suddenly aching temples. “I trusted you with my secrets, my thoughts, my body…I gave you everything I had, and you ghosted me. You said you’d call. You said it was separation in distance only.”
“Vee.” He reached for my shoulders.
“No.” I screamed louder than I should. “I texted. I called.” I wiped my nose on my arm. “I saw the pictures, Fin.”
His forehead furrowed. “What pictures?”
“You at Tennessee. You and some spunky, big-boobed blond cheerleader. She was hanging all over you. You were smiling. Don’t you dare lie to me and tell me you weren’t happy. I saw them. They crushed me.”
Fin took a step back and lifted his hand to his head. His bicep bulged beneath his sleeve. “Fuck, Vee.”
My napkin was in shreds, yet I used what was left to wipe the tears and snot from my face. “Thank you,” I said, standing taller. “Thank you for not denying it. I’d hate you more than I did that day if you tried to gaslight me.”
“Shit, I’m not denying it. I don’t remember who the fuck she was, but I’m not denying.”
A scoff came from my throat. “I figured she was the ex-Mrs. Graham.”
“No.” He went back to the table and sat. “Her name was Abigail.”
Blinking, I did a quick shake of my head. “Are you serious?”
“You didn’t look?”
“No. You’d already hurt me enough. I lied when I said I didn’t follow your career. Your personal life, I avoided.”
“I met Abigail when I was at Green Bay.”
“Cheerleader?” I asked with a raised eyebrow as I took the other chair.
“Public relations.” Fin shook his head. “At Tennessee, there were a lot of girls. I honestly don’t remember them. I wouldn’t know them if they walked in here today. I know I sound like an ass, and I probably was. I used them, every one of them, for one purpose.”
“What?”
“To get you out of my system.”