Page 5 of Forever Finn

The ring of my phone suddenly interrupts the low hum of music, and I reach across to disconnect the call until I see who it is and instead hit connect.

“Finn,” a familiar voice breathes heavily in relief. “Finally, I’ve been trying to get hold of you for the last twenty-four hours. Your asshole manager told me you walked off set in the middle of shooting, and he’s furious. What the hell’s going on? Are you okay?”

“Sky.” I release a slow breath, the tension in my belly slowly uncoiling at the sound of her voice. “I’m sorry. I should’ve called you.”

“That doesn’t matter,” she replies. “I just need to know you’re okay.”

“I don’t think I am, Sky,” I admit.

She’s the only one I can talk to, the only person in the entire world who knows my secrets. The only person I trust one hundred percent, and yet the entire world believes the lie we sold them—that she’s my girlfriend. It’s the only way we can protect each other. The world wouldn’t understand the true nature of our relationship.

“Finn, talk to me,” she says softly. “What happened?”

“Nothing,” I reply, as I focus on the road in front of me. “I guess it’s been building for a while. I was standing on set, in the middle of a take, and I froze. The director was saying something, but I couldn’t take it in. It felt like I was drowning, and suddenly, I couldn’t breathe, and I had to get out. I was heading back to my trailer, but somehow, I just kept going. I got in my car, drove to LAX, and got on the next flight.”

“Where are you now?”

“England,” I answer after a long, drawn-out moment. “Cornwall,” I admit with a reluctant sigh.

There’s silence on the other end of the line and for a moment, I wonder if I've lost the signal.

“You’re going back to the bay?” she says contemplatively.

“Yeah.” I frown. “I don’t even know why.”

“I do,” she exhales. “Whether or not you want to admit it, you’ve needed to do this for a while.”

“Do what?”

“Go back to where it all began,” she says gently. “Finn, you can’t go on like this. It’s time to face your demons. It’s time to put them to rest.”

“I don’t know if I can,” I admit.

“You got on the plane, didn’t you?” she says emphatically. “That’s a pretty big step. You’re a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for, and I’ll be here for you every step of the way. Whatever you need.”

“I’ll always need you, Sky,” I mutter.

“Do you want me to get on a plane? I can be with you by tomorrow.”

“No.” I blow out a breath. Even though my mind is screaming yes, I know I need to do this on my own, but it doesn’t mean she won't get caught in the fallout. “I want you here, but the last thing we need is for you to walk out in the middle of a shoot. I’m sorry, Sky.”

“What for?”

“Because you’re going to get caught in the crossfire, no matter what I do. When the press can’t find me, they’re going to go after you.”

“Too late,” she snorts. “They’ve been encamped on my doorstep since the moment you disappeared.”

“God.” I clutch the wheel tighter. “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be,” she says easily. “This is not my first rodeo. I know how to deal with these jackasses, and besides, my manager isn’t a dick like yours. He’s got it under control. I’ll try to keep them off your back for as long as I can.”

“I don’t deserve you,” I murmur.

“Yes, you do,” she says firmly. “You’re my best friend. You mean more to me than anything or anyone in this world, and I’ll protect you no matter what, just like you’d do for me.”

“You’d better believe it.” I smile for the first time in days. “I love you, Sky.”

“Love you too,” she says softly. “Look, I’ve got to go. They need me for the next scene. Call me and remember no matter what, I’m here for you.”