37. Henri
Chapter 37
Henri
He’s not going to come back, my wolf complains.
It’s been barely five days, and the house seems quieter. It’s not like his presence is normally very loud; he mostly keeps to himself, but without him, there’s a lack of something. I can hardly stand working here with how strange the feelings are.
I’m stuck looking longingly down the hallway toward the staircase that leads upstairs to his bedroom.
A rogue thought crosses my mind. I highly doubt Revecca is going to kill him. Right? He wouldn’t be going there to die.
“He’s on a flight, not tomorrow but the next day.” Finn’s deep Irish voice comes from behind me, startling me.
“Oh.” I find him carrying two steaming cups.
“Thought you and I could have a chat?” He raises a cup he prepared for me.
Begrudgingly, I agree to his offer, feeling like there’s a choice in this but not knowing for sure. “Your office or mine?”
“I was thinking the back deck?” Finn cants his head back in the direction he came.
“Oh-okay. ”
As I make my way down the hallway, my stomach isn’t settled. While the back deck is significantly less formal, it doesn’t ease my mind that this isn’t a business chat.
Did I screw something up?
Being mid-morning, the only people at the main house are the cleaning staff and various support staff members—fulfilling one of their two mandatory in-office days a month—so it’s private enough that we won’t be bothered.
Through the glass doors and on to the deck, Finn sits at one of the tables.
“Henri,” Finn says in the soothing voice he uses on Lena, and it’s ridiculously comforting. “This isn’t meant to be a stressful conversation. I want to know how to best support you.”
“I’m not sure I understand.” I take a sip of my tea, forcing my hand steady.
“Well, as Lena would say, I’m being an ‘overprotective arse’ and ‘not letting her fight her own battles,’ but I’ve sent away a few shipments of flowers from Nathan on your behalf, telling the florists he’s used there’s no one here by that name.” Finn looks a little guilty as he ducks his head, but he’s quick to carry on. “I also know he’s been calling and texting you more than a little regularly.”
I don’t have to ask how he knows. I’ve started switching my phone to silent because of the incessant buzzing during meetings.
“I’m worried about your well-being. Not because you can’t handle him, but because I think you feel like you need to handle it alone.”
Finn’s words give me pause.
My shoulders drop only slightly. “I know I should block him, but if I block him...” How do you explain this ?
“If you block him, he’ll call from different numbers. He’ll text you with new phones. You won’t know what is or isn’t him.” Finn eloquently puts words to my feelings.
I nod and find words for the other thought that’s been weighing on me. “And it’s not like we can change my number because of the people who need to get ahold of me on a daily basis.”
“There are options, Henri.” Finn takes a sip from his cup before he sets it on the table between us. “There are options to make this stop.”
“Why does that sound like you’re planning on killing him?” I shake my head. “Why do wolves always make quick jumps to murder?”
“You’re the one who went to murder, I was thinking restraining order.” Finn’s lip twitches with a smile, but he schools it back. “I can have it filed the minute you say the word.”
“Can I...” I chew my bottom lip. Why? Why am I even thinking about this? The logical thoughts don’t mesh with my emotional ones. “Have some time to think about it? Maybe he’ll stop if I just answer him.”
“The offer doesn’t have an expiration date.” Finn eyes his cup for a moment before picking it up and bringing it to his mouth.
“I appreciate it.” I sip more of my tea. Pretending this isn’t an awkward conversation between the two of us, I change subjects. “How’s married life?”
“With Lena?” Finn laughs, and it lightens the dark, somber mood between us. “An adventure, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Finding my mate has been everything I’d hoped it would be. And as much as she drives me mad, I get how Ma and Da have always said there’s no explaining it.”
I want that, my wolf tells me. That’s not Nathan. She pushes back New Year’s Eve, and I cross my legs immediately, feeling the memory of Deacon’s body clinging to mine.
Deacon might not be our mate. I’m sick of arguing with her. It’s this same old song and dance. Finn’s ‘warning’ about Nathan is quite literally telling me someone loves me and wants me back. Deacon didn’t even seem all that thrilled about me. Remember?
You’re. Wrong. She’s adamant.
“I’ll let you get back to your day. I’ve got to rip some teenagers new arseholes over being respectful to other people’s property.” Finn seems far too cheerful for that task.
“Good luck.” I smile.
The fun flask is in my desk, left over from when I was working with Deacon. Maybe I just tuck her away and get the rest of my work done. I can go home early and watch a movie or something.
“Thanks.” Finn laughs and stands from his chair, taking his cup with him. “This is gonna be fun.”