Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
OAKLEIGH
Just as I thought he would be, Finn is waiting by the door to the hospital, this time surprisingly wide awake.
I take a second to take him all in—the way he towers over those sitting down as he stands with his back to me.
He’s in his usual unbuttoned shirt with a loose tee underneath.
Loose clothes and yet you can see the way the top of it drapes over solid muscle—a testament to years of physical work and dedication to his business.
He shoves his hands into his pockets as he simply stares out of the hospital doors and watches the sun rise.
He does that a lot, Finn. He simply just admires the world and the beauty of it that others usually take for granted.
Usually, I just rip into him about it, make fun of the fact that he has nothing better to do with his free time than to stare out at a sky that has existed for longer than any one of us ever will.
But the truth is, I know he does it because it calms him.
I see it in the way his shoulders relax as he sways slightly with the wind.
I feel as if it’s my job to destroy this moment of peace for him, to not just pull him from this moment but to shatter it into a million pieces until only frustration and anger remain.
It’s almost my responsibility. But honestly, I’m simply just too tired to even raise my voice higher than a quiet murmur.
“I’d bet money that you’re staring at my ass.”
I’m the one who ends up jumping. “How the hell did you know I was here?”
He chuckles softly as he turns around and reaches for my bag. He surprises me even more by wrapping a single, muscular arm around me and pulling me close. “It’s impossible not to feel when you’re around, Cherry.”
Well, okay, then?
I can swear that he sniffs my hair before he pulls away.
“Are you high?” I ask, stepping back into my own personal space.
“No?”
“Are you drunk?”
His head tilts. “Not last time I checked. Why do you ask?”
He motions for me to walk ahead of him.
“Because you’re acting weird.”
“Am I?”
“Finley.”
“What?” He asks on a chuckle.
I turn to watch him; his crooked smile, his questionable energy this early in the morning.
“Never mind,” I end up saying.
I continue heading to my car, the summer sun slowly illuminating the hospital parking lot until I can see the red of my car clear as day. How Finn fits in my tiny car, I have no idea. The little Fiat 500 isn’t necessarily known for its abundance of space. He has to put the seat all the way back.
He opens the passenger-side door and waits for me to hop in, but I pause.
“You do know I’m more than capable of driving home, right?”
“First of all, no. You’re not. Look at you, you’re five minutes away from keeling over. Second of all, just because you are capable, doesn’t mean you have to.”
“But—”
“Cherry, I know you’ve had to do everything yourself for a while, but I’m here now. So, you can argue with me if you want, but can you please do it while you get in the car?”
There’s something seriously off about Finn. He’s acting so … nice. He has been acting nicer for a while, but now it’s different somehow. There’s almost an active sense of enjoyment coming from him as he does it.
Slowly, I duck into the passenger seat of my car and watch him closely as he makes his way over to the driver’s side, pushing the seat all the way back before getting in completely.
“I’m surprised you weren’t asleep this time.”
He shrugs as he starts the engine. “I had a day off, so I took a nap and woke up around two.”
“Why do you always wait from three?”
“Your shift ends at three, doesn’t it?”
“Well, yeah, but I never finish at three.”
He backs out of the space and begins the drive to my house. “Yeah, but now what will happen is that the one time I come at five, you’ll finish at three.”
“And I’ll just drive myself home like I always did.”
His shoulders shift in a move that screams discomfort. “Um … no,” he says slowly.
“No?”
“No.”
“You’re saying I don’t have permission?”
“What? No! That’s not what I— I would never say that. I just mean that I can’t have you do that.”
“And that’s different how?”
My blood is heating now, a fresh wave of energy overtaking my body, because how dare he try and tell me what I can and can’t do.
We reach a red light and he stops, resting his head on the steering wheel. “This is coming out all wrong.”
“Yeah, no shit.”
“Just … forget I said anything.” He sighs and carries on driving.
I turn in my seat. “Happily.”
The rest of the drive is silent, and even though Finn’s words riled me up and have me still pissed off at him, I find myself falling asleep, head resting on the window.
The next thing I know, I can feel myself swaying slightly, and instead of the cold window, my head is now against something hard, but warm. Hands squeeze my side and my knees, and I groggily open my eyes.
“Shh,” a deep voice blows out. “Go back to sleep, Cherry, I got you.”
I hum as I close my eyes again, listening to the man with the nice voice.
The next time my eyes open, daylight is gently warming my face and my arms, which are resting outside of my bed sheets.
I’m still in my scrubs, but that’s nothing new.
But I can’t really remember how I made it from my car to my bed. The car that I wasn’t driving…
Oh, yeah.
I get up and quietly change out of my scrubs and into a pair of shorts and a top with a pair of cherries on the front. I tie it up at the back and tuck the extra fabric inside the top. I run a quick brush through my hair and head to the kitchen.
Much to my surprise, I find my living room empty. No Finn, not even his sheets that are usually folded on the couch. But I can hear my washing machine running, and when I duck my head into the laundry room, I can see his red blanket turning round and round in the drum. He must have left recently.
I walk to the kitchen and find a plate that’s been covered with another plate, and a note written on a Post-it beside it.
Something came up at one of my job sites.
Make sure you eat something.
There’s lunch in the fridge.
Love, Dumbass xx
Love. Such a basic word to use at the end of a note or a letter, and yet it’s so out of place. It stands out like a sore thumb, and I don’t know what to do about it. All I know is that it leaves my chest in disarray and I don’t appreciate it.
I peek under the plate and find four pancakes, some cherries and some maple syrup on the side.
My stomach flips in happiness, but my chest tightens with consternation.
Why is he doing all of this? Why is he acting like this when no one is around to witness his actions.
They can’t possibly be for my benefit, not when I’m his nemesis, and he is mine.
And yet when I’d read the note, a small smile begged to tug at my lips when I read that he’d signed it with “Dumbass.” I felt relief when I realized that I didn’t need to cook anything for myself. I feel taken care of for the first time in I don’t know how long.
My phone buzzes on the island and I lean over to check it.
Dumbass
I need to take you out on a date ASAP.
I frown down at the message for what feels like minutes.
Elaborate?
Dumbass
I live in Eaglewood now, Cherry.
The gossip capital of Lake Carlow.
People are starting to ask me why I never bring my girlfriend around them. Nigel even cornered me last week to ask if we had one of those friends-with-benefits situations.
He asked you last week and you’re only asking me on a date now?
Dumbass
Yes, because now my mother is getting involved.
Oh boy. Wanda getting involved means more of the town getting involved.
Okay, so then why don’t we just go to the Locke and be seen having a few drinks?
I’ll need them if I’m going to have to pretend I like spending time with you.
I heat up my pancakes and by the time they’re done, there’s a reply.
Dumbass
You’re hilarious.
Correct.
I eat my pancakes while ignoring my phone even as it buzzes beside me. I feel this urge to start an argument; to bring us back to normality, because right now too much is changing between us and it’s bringing us closer to how I felt back when he drove me home all those months ago.
I spend the rest of my day locked in a state of constant unrest. My mind whirs, my heart thrums and my thighs clench at each memory in which Finn is close to me.
By the end of the day, I have reluctantly messaged him back and agreed that we need to go on a date this weekend.
My first weekend off in forever and I need to spend it with Finley Southwick.
Tell me again what’s wrong with going to the Locke?
Dumbass
Over my dead body will I be taking my woman on a date to a dive bar.
My woman.
And when did I become your woman? You remember this isn’t real, right?
Dumbass
Don’t push me, Cherry. I will leave work right now and not think twice about making you take those words back.
My entire body stops. The air in my house disappears.
I don’t respond. How can I when my brain can’t even remember how to breathe properly?
Normal Oakleigh would tell him to fuck off. Normal Oakleigh would tell him that he’s an asshole, and normal Finn would give me a taunting laugh.
Whatever and whoever this new duo is … it’s starting to go against the rules I set for myself.
* * *
The dreaded day arrives, and I’m nothing but nerves and shakes. Finn said to let him plan everything, and being the new idiot I am, I didn’t argue. Now, I’m here waiting in my living room, my leg bouncing uncontrollably.
I made an effort for some unknown reason, most likely because it’s something that a loving girlfriend would do.
That’s the role that I need to play tonight—the girl who has put aside her dislike for the boy who once upon a time made fun of her for eating her favorite pie, and has instead fallen for the man who picks her up from work at sunrise.
My hair is curled, the dirty-blonde loops falling over my shoulders. A white, cherry-print milkmaid’s dress shows off my figure and highlights my breasts.