Page 44 of Forever Finn

“Peanut, stay!” Deacon commands, and although he isn’t happy about it, he plops his butt down on the floor, his tail thumping rhythmically against the laminate.

“Is he going to be okay on his own?” Colin asks as they heave my body over the threshold like they’re carrying a log.

“Mum’s stopping by in a little while to pick him up. He’s got a doggy playdate at her house with Nat and Beck’s lab Ursula.”

“Hmmmnnmhugh…hurghmmnnun….”

“I don’t think he’s happy.” Colin frowns looking down at me.

“He’ll get over it,” Jesse says cheerily as I glare at him, but he glances at his watch again. “We’ve got to go. Kyan will be waiting for us… Colin, check the coast is clear.”

Colin goes first, checking up and down the street then lifting his hand and signalling like he’s directing traffic.

Poking their heads out, the four of them make a deal for the street following Colin like he’s the Pied Piper. They waddle down the street with all the co-ordination of a pair of divorced parents in a three-legged race at their kids’ sports day, all the while jostling me to the point where I’m getting motion sickness. I grit my teeth and hope I don’t puke considering my mouth is still duct taped.

“Morning, Mrs Tilbury.” Jesse nods and smiles innocently as they bumble past carrying me like a plank of wood.

“Lovely morning.” Deak nods, and Nat and Beck smile awkwardly as if they’re not kidnapping a six-foot man cocooned in duct tape.

Poor Mrs Tilbury has paused in the middle of pruning her rose bush and is just staring wide eyed and slack jawed as we disappear from view.

We reach the bottom of the hill where the street opens out into the road that eventually joins up with the coast road.

“Where the hell is he?” Jesse looks around frantically. “He’s supposed to be here.”

“Whhmughppphnnmn….Mmnghhughnnnugh…mmmummmnnn…ughgghmuuun,” I mumble in resignation. Which roughly translates toI hope you idiots strain something and require the services of a chiropractor.

“What’s going on?” A new voice intrudes, and I feel all four of them tense up as they turn and come face to face with Deacon’s hottie uncle, Garrett.

They all glance down at me and then back up at him.

“Nothing,” they chorus innocently.

Garrett’s gaze slides across to Colin who’s turned bright pink. He looks down at the incriminating roll of duct tape he’s still clutching in his hand and squeaks loudly, thrusting it behind his back.

“Colin,” Garrett says softly, but there’s no mistaking the firmness of his tone. Christ, I’m not even into that, but if he looked at me like that, I think even I’d be replyingYes, Daddy.

Colin’s face turns even pinker if that’s even possible.

“We’ve kidnapped Wyatt and taking him to see Finn because they’re in love, and they should be together,” he blurts out, and my eyes widen at his confession. They’re taking me to Finn?

My heart gives anther traitorous knock against my ribs.

“You wouldn’t last two seconds in Sing Sing would you?” Deacon shakes his head.

“It’s in the name, babe,” Jesse replies easily.

“Wait.” Beck frowns. “Does Sing Sing actually still exist or is it like Alcatraz?”

“I think you guys are missing the point,” Nat interrupts.

“I can’t help it.” Colin frowns. “I fold under pressure. I’m not good with authority figures.”

“Omg!” Nat fumbles slightly. “Can we hurry this along. Wyatt weighs a ton.” He glances down at me apologetically. “No offence, Wyatt.”

“Hhhughnm, huphmnah,” I reply.

“That’s what I thought.” Nat nods.