Chapter 1 #2
Finn takes my hand and instead of shaking it, he holds it, bringing it to his knee.
“I won’t say it's nice to meet you, baby, because I think we can both agree there's something more here than just a ride on the Ferris wheel. But I will say thank you to my best friend for taking his cousin’s offer to invite us tonight. Without him, I wouldn’t have met the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. ”
“That's pretty smooth.” My smile falters for a second while my head processes what he said and examines it closely.
Finn shakes his head slowly. “It’s not smooth, or a line. Just the truth. Tell me you didn’t feel something between us the second you saw me.”
My heart hammers in my chest, and a blush covers my cheeks. “I might have felt something.”
He laughs, and I watch mesmerized, while warmth fills my veins from the sound. Our bucket soars higher up until the rest of the fair is far below us. The sky is darker at this height, and the stars are shining brightly. I turn to Finn and find him already watching me.
“What’s your favorite color?” he asks, his head tilting to the side.
“Blue,” I respond automatically without meaning to. I like blue, but my favorite color has always been lilac, until now, until tonight, when my eyes collided with his. “How about yours?” I ask, trying to divert the attention from me.
Finn’s gaze searches mine. “Red. Cherry red, like the tank on the motorcycle I’m going to get someday.
But also…” His hand touches my jaw, and his fingers ghost over my bottom lip.
I don’t have any lipstick on due to the fact that my lips have always been naturally a shade more red than pink, which is why I usually opt for just gloss or Chapstick.
The fact that he’s noticing though, makes me feel like I can’t breathe, and I realize for the first time that I hope he kisses me. I hope tonight is the first time I’ll feel someone’s lips on mine, and I want that someone to be Finn.
He shakes his head and glances down before looking back at me. “Favorite food?”
I laugh at his change of topic. “Ah, like regular food or fair food?”
“Interesting. Regular food.”
“Pasta,” I answer easily, not at all ashamed of my carb choices.
“Okay, fair food,” he quizzes again, and this time I really have to think.
“That’s hard. I’ll go with funnel cake, I guess.” I sigh dramatically and he grins.
“What’s yours?” I lean closer, really interested. I want to know everything about him.
Finn’s thumb moves over my knuckles while he holds my hand. “Fair food, I’ll go with a snow cone. I can easily put any flavor on it I want; it's the best. Regular food, a burger. I love anywhere I can go and get a huge cheeseburger.”
“So, you play lacrosse?” I ask, and watch his eyes light up again.
“Yup. I’m a middie. Or midfielder. Do you know a lot about lacrosse?” he asks, his gaze questioning.
My shoulders shrug. “I watch Jered and Russ play. Mostly to keep Angel company, so I know some things. Your position always looks the most exhausting.”
Finn laughs, and he nods his head in agreement. “Yeah, it's a lot of work. I love the rush, though.”
We fall silent for a moment, and a dark look passes over his face before he speaks again. “So, Jer is with Angel. Are you seeing Russ?”
My brow lifts, and I go to tug my hand back. “Would I be here with you if I was?”
Finn tugs my hand back, and my body slides across the bench and into his.
Finn’s arms wrap around me, caging me in the small space.
“I’m just glad to hear it, Daisy. I don’t share, and Russ seems like a good guy, so I’d hate to hurt him if I was stealing you away.
But since you aren’t with him, I don’t feel bad for doing this. ”
“Doing what?” My eyes widen after his speech, and my stomach swoops all at once. “And why did you call me Daisy?”
His eyes drop to my lap, and his fingers pinch the material of my dress. It's a soft, baby blue and sprinkled with daisies.
“Oh,” I mutter, and he looks back up at me.
“I noticed the dress first. The daisies stood out, looking sweet and angelic. Then I looked up and saw you,” he admits, while his hand moves to caress my jaw, then my face. “Can I kiss you, Winnie?”
My heart stops, and I drop my eyes to his lips. Can I do this? Can I kiss a guy I just met when I’ve never given much thought to anyone else? This feels so right to be with Finn. My heart and body are screaming yes.
“Yes,” I breathe and watch as his eyes turn dark and flash with something that looks like triumph.
His fingers glide through my hair, gently angling my face up toward his.
He leans in, my eyes close, and his lips touch mine.
Finally. Like everything else since I met him tonight, Finn takes control of our kiss.
His lips are soft yet hard, and move against mine slowly like he’s savoring the feeling.
My hands grip his wrists, and I can feel the thud of his pulse beat in time with every glide of his warm lips.
My lower belly clenches when I feel his tongue drag against my bottom lip, and I gasp.
He eases away, and slowly his face comes back into focus.
Finn’s lips are red and parted slightly, like he’s breathing heavily.
His blue eyes are darkened, the same color as a midnight sky, and hooded as he watches me.
He takes in every inch of my face, his gaze lingering the longest on my mouth, where I can feel my lips tingling.
As far as first kisses go, that must have been one of the best. I swear my world spun and everything faded around us.
“Sorry, guys, we need the bucket,” a new voice calls to us, and I notice we’re stopped back at the bottom of the Ferris wheel. My cheeks instantly heat, and I hear Finn chuckle lightly as he helps me up and takes my hand in his.
“Thanks, man.” He nods to the guy and helps me down the steps, never once breaking contact.
Once we’re through the crowd, Finn pulls me into him, my front to his, and his hands hold my hips. I can feel the heat of those hands through the material of my dress. Everything inside me wants to mold myself to Finn and soak up that warmth.
“I’m going to need your number, Daisy.” His voice is gritty as he brushes my lips with his. My hands move to his chest, and his heart beats strong and steady under my palms.
“Will you call me?” My voice comes out unsure and a little husky, which I blame on him for kissing me breathless.
Finn lifts his head, and his hand comes up, his fingers brushing my hair back behind my ear. “I’m going to call you, Win. Text you. Take you out on dates. I don’t think I could let you walk away from me now that I know what your mouth tastes like.”
My whole body heats and feels like it could combust right here. My core aches, my heart feels like it wants to beat out of my chest and jump right into his. Everything screams how right this feels, even when I know logically it's happening too fast. “Hand me your phone.”
Finn reaches into his pocket and hands over his device. I tap in my number, and he watches me call myself. “Now I have yours too.”
He leans in and kisses my forehead before pocketing his phone again. “I should get you back before your girl thinks I ran off with you.” He looks at my screen, where at least three texts from Angel sit.
“She’s my best friend. She worries.” I shrug and smile. Finn takes my hand in his again, and we start walking over to where our group of friends are gathered around a food booth.
Angel sees me first and waves over her head.
I wave back and watch as she says something to Jered, who turns to find us too, an easy smile on his lips before he wraps his arm around Angel’s shoulders.
Before we get any closer to the group, Finn tugs my hand, and we stop walking, turning to face each other again.
“Before we get back and I have to share you with everyone again, let me get you your favorite treat.”
A giggle leaves my mouth and I shake my head. “I don’t think I could eat anything right now, honestly.”
His head tilts to the side, and his eyes move over my face, like he’s memorizing the way I look.
It causes a mixture of feelings, and my stomach swirls with happiness, unease, and those damn butterflies again.
I like him. I want to know more about him.
Part of me is scared that I might not see him again when we live in different cities and attend different schools.
“You’re going to see me again, Win,” he says, as if reading my thoughts. It sounds more like a promise he’s making to himself, and I wonder if he has the same concerns.
“I know I will, Finn.” I smile up at him, my fingers lightly touching the edge of his jaw. His eyes soften, and he brings my hand up between us, placing a gentle kiss on my wrist.
“Alright, let’s get back,” he murmurs, and there's a hint of irritation in his voice that makes me laugh. He glances at me and smirks. Whatever worries either of us has about our meeting being a one-time thing vanish once we reach the group.
“Oh, hey, lovebirds,” one of the guys jokes and laughs, ribbing Finn in the side. Without ever letting go of my hand, he takes the brunt of the interrogation from our friends, answering their various questions about where we were and how the Ferris wheel ride was.
Angel is less loud and only slides up next to me, whispering in my ear, “You good?”
I turn to my bestie, giving her a one-armed hug. “I’m perfect.”
I spend another hour with Finn and our meshed group of friends at the fair, where we eat some cotton candy and play some games before my phone chimes and I know it's time for me to leave. Angel’s lips turn up into a forced smile. I can tell she hates this for me.
“Are you turning back into a pumpkin, princess?” Russ asks, and I nod my head, before slipping my phone back into my jacket.
“You know I have a curfew, Russ.”
He shrugs, and a few of the guys take interest in why we’ve stopped, but it's Finn who snares my attention. His brow is furrowed, and he runs his eyes over me. “You have to leave?”
“Yeah, uh.” I bite my lip and feel heat climbing up my neck. It's embarrassing to be a senior in high school and still have my parents expect me home before all my friends during the summer. “My parents like me to be home before they go to bed.”
“Oh,” he says casually, but I can tell by the way his body shifts that he’s surprised.
Silence stretches between us, and I’m about to bolt, feeling so embarrassed that tears are stinging my vision when he casually wraps his hand around my waist. “I think I’m going to head out. Weekend practice starts tomorrow.”
He announces to the group, and surprisingly, a few agree to get going too.
Soon we’re all walking to the parking lot area.
I could kiss him again; I’m so thankful for him not making this situation weird or making a joke about it.
Instead, he just decided to leave too. He’s leaving because I am.
Finn is still holding my hand while walking me to my car and talking to one of the guys that I barely notice when Angel slides to my side.
“Be careful, okay. Your parents, I know how they are.”
“What do you mean?” I glance at her, my heart clenching with worry. Her eyes slide to Finn, then back to me.
“That’s Finn Kinsella.”
His name hits me and almost knocks the wind from my lungs.
Kinsella. I’ve heard his family’s name around town even though they don’t live here.
Finn’s family lives in a neighboring town that is similar to mine in that old, southern money runs it.
Social standing is everything, as well as family legacy.
The Kinsella’s reputation has taken a tumble from grace in the past few years, with more drama than I care to remember. None of it good.
“You know I don’t care about that stuff,” I whisper back, and my best friend gives me a genuine smile.
“I know that. I just want you to be aware so that you can tell Finn that too when it comes up.”
She squeezes me tightly, but then goes back to Jered while Finn walks me over to my car. I hear him chuckle under his breath and I glance at him. “What?”
“Win, is that thing even legal to be on the road?” His chin lifts in the direction of my vintage classic, light blue Volkswagen Beetle.
“Of course,” I roll my eyes at his snickering. “You heard how protective my parents are, like my father would let me drive anything that wasn’t safe on the road.”
Finn’s smile drops at my words, and he moves closer when my arms wrap around my middle protectively. “Hey.” His fingers pinch my jaw lightly, moving my head so I’m looking up at him. “I want you to be safe, Daisy. Call me when you get home?”
“Okay,” I manage to get out before his mouth covers mine again. This time, our lips move urgently and are full of need. His fingers dig into my sides, and my hands wrap around his neck. Before I can climb up his body, though, he pulls away, breathing hard.
“Damnit, Winnie,” he breathes out, his hands running through my curls. “You’re fucking perfect. Call me. I mean it. This doesn’t end here.”
I can’t speak. My lips are tingling, and my body is warm from where his hands were holding me.
My brain is in a fog, and all I can think about is this man in front of me.
His scent, his eyes, god those eyes and how they darken when he’s just kissed me.
His taste and how I want him to be mine.
I barely manage to nod my head before he opens my car door and helps me inside.
“I’ll see you soon,” he says, his voice raspy when he knocks his knuckles on the top of my car before closing the door.
Only then do I manage to pull myself out of my thoughts and start up my car, trying my hardest not to look in my rearview mirror.
This whole night could have just been a one-off.
There is a chance I’ll wake up tomorrow and it won’t be as magical as it feels right now.
If I look and I don’t see him, my heart will break, but if I do see him…
My eyes lift.
Finn stands there in my tail lights, his hands in his front pockets, watching.