Page 38 of Forever Finn
“What about you?” he asks.
“Me?” I huff self-deprecatingly. “Finn and I burned too bright too fast, we were never going to last.”
“Bullshit.”
“It was only ever meant to be casual,” I reply, not sure whether I’m trying to convince Reed or myself. “Both of us went into this knowing he’d leave eventually. We made no promises.”
“Yeah, but things change.” Reed frowns. “Sometimes feelings change, even if you never meant it to happen.”
There’s something in his eyes, something in the soft contemplative tone of his voice that makes me wonder if he’s not just talking about me and Finn.
“Look.” He shakes of his strange mood. “All I’m saying is, maybe you and Finn deserve a shot at seeing if there’s something there.”
How I wish that were true.
“Reed, he’s already gone, and he didn’t even say goodbye.” I try to ignore the sinking feeling in my chest at that thought. “I’m pretty sure I can read between the lines.”
“But—”
“Reed, I know you want to help him.” I sigh. “You’re feeling some sort of misplaced guilt that you never saw what was going on with him, but that’s not on you. You didn’t know because he didn’t want you to know and trying to matchmake between me and him won’t magically make everything better. As much as I hate it, this is something Finn has to work out for himself.”
“That’s not it at all.” He shakes his head. “I mean, yes, I do feel pretty shitty for not knowing what was going on with Finn, and I wish I’d been a better friend. But I talked to him last night before he left, we talked about you.”
“You did?” I wince inwardly at how hopeful my voice sounds and clear my throat. “I mean… you did?”
“Finn’s messed up right now, and it’s coming at him from all angles. Being back in the bay shook loose a lot of painful memories for him that have never been resolved. Now knowing what I do about what happened between Finn and Cody that night, I think his issues with coming out—
hell… just being comfortable in his own sexuality—is tied up in that whole Cody mess. I know he’s got a way to go to resolve all of that, but… Wyatt, you didn’t see the way he looked when he talked about you.”
“How did he look?” I whisper, almost holding my breath.
Reed shakes his head. “Wyatt, there’s something there between the two of you. Something I’m pretty sure you’ll kick yourselves for if you let it slip by.”
“This isn’t a fairy tale, there is no happily ever after in this scenario.” I swallow tightly, even though a wave of longing washed over me at his words. I want nothing more than to find Finn and tell him how I feel about him, but I won’t do that to him. He’s got too much coming at him without me making demands of him too. Besides, I think he made it pretty clear when he left without saying goodbye that he doesn’t want to talk to me.
“Can I ask you just one thing? And you can tell me to fuck off if you want.” Reed studies me carefully.
“What?” I ask warily.
“Do you–”
“Who’s that?” I cut him off abruptly as I stare out the window and see a stern looking man marching toward Reed’s door. “He looks like he means business.”
“Bloody hell, I think that’s Finn’s manager.” Reed frowns.
A second later there’s a loud pounding at the door, and as Reed leans forward to open it, the man stalks right through like he owns the place.
“By all means, come right in,” Reed says dryly.
“Are you Reed Ainsley?” he demands.
Reed nods, his eyes narrowing warily at the jackass barking at him in his own home. “And you are?”
“Simon Turner, I’m Finn’s manager,” he sneers dismissively. “I’m here to collect Finn’s passport. He left it here by mistake.”
“Finn’s still here? In the UK?” I blurt out, a sudden burst of misplaced hope lighting up my chest.
Finn’s manager turns to me as if only just realising I was standing there, his eyes widening in fury. “What the fuck are you doing here?” he barks.