Page 6 of Forever Finn
“I will,” I promise her as the call disconnects and the music resumes, filling the car with the sound of Imagine Dragons. The song that's playing is Demons, and if that isn’t some sort of sign as I round the curve of the road and the bay comes into view, then I don’t know what is.
The bright sunlit sky has given way to a dreary grey mirroring my mood as I drive the familiar roads, glancing out over the headland, and the crash of the waves brings a wave of nostalgia and a vague sense of longing.
I’ve never been homesick in all the years since I left. Even though I was born and raised here, my parents left not long after I did, and I’ve never had a close relationship with them anyway. They were always more of a couple with a child than we were a family. But driving back here now, I’m suddenly assaulted with a kaleidoscope of memories, and my stomach churns alarmingly.
I wind through the narrow roads and past quiet cul-de-sacs until I find the road I’m looking for. Although I’ve never visited before, I know where I’m heading. Finally, I pull up to a nice-looking detached house with a dark blue front door and a neatly trimmed lawn.
I sit staring at the house, my fingers tapping out a restless staccato on the wheel, but before I can chicken out, I swallow hard and open the door, climbing out and heading down the drive toward the door. Nerves churn in my belly, unsure of my welcome after all this time. Rubbing my damp palms on the thighs of my jeans, I raise my hand and knock.
Several long, painstaking moments pass, and my stomach tightens even more. It didn’t actually occur to me he might not be here and just as I’m about to turn and head back to the car, the door suddenly opens, and I’m greeted with a face I haven’t seen in a very long time.
For a second, he looks confused, but as I slide my sunglasses off and tuck them in the back pocket of my jeans, his eyes widen in shock. I pull the baseball cap off and run my hand nervously through my shaggy, dark hair.
“Finn?” He exhales loudly. “Oh my god!”
“Hey, Reed.” I try for a smile, but I’m certain it looks more like a grimace. “It’s been a long time.”
He steps down from the doorway wordlessly and envelopes me in a bear hug. He’s always been slightly taller and broader than me but gone is the lanky body of the teenager I once knew and in its place is a man who is still every bit as familiar to me, despite the time and distance.
He hugs me tightly, and I sink into his embrace, breathing him in. This right here is everything, the bone deep affection of my oldest childhood friend. It’s like no time has passed. His calming presence is still the same, soothing all my rough edges, and I relax for the first time in I don’t know how long.
“Son of bitch.” He pulls back with a grin. “It’s good to see you. Come in.”
He steps back, and I follow him into the house, looking around curiously. We step into the hallway, which is decorated in soft beiges and earthy tones.
“So, this is where you live, huh?” I say awkwardly.
“Yeah.” Reed tilts his head, studying me intently. “Not that I’m not pleased as hell to see you, Finn, but what are you doing here? I haven’t seen you in what… fifteen years? And you suddenly show up out of the blue.”
“Would you believe me if I said I’ve got no fucking clue?”
“Finn, are you okay?” He frowns in concern.
I try to smile, but it falls short, the flippant response dying on my lips. Maybe it’s because Reed is my oldest friend, but I can’t lie to him.
“No,” I reply quietly. “I don’t think I am.”
“Do you need a place to stay?” he asks sincerely and suddenly I can’t swallow past the hot, hard ball of emotion burning at the back of my throat so I just nod.
“Come on,” Reed says as he turns and heads down the hallway. “You look like you need coffee.”
I almost cry in relief at the word coffee, and I trail after him like a kicked puppy. If I’d had a tail, I’m pretty sure it’d be tucked between my legs. He enters the kitchen and flips the switch on the kettle as I take a seat at the breakfast bar.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Reed glances across at me as he lifts the mugs down out of the cupboard.
“Not right now.” I shake my head. “I haven’t quite got it figured out. Do you mind if we talk about you instead?”
“There’s not much to tell.” His mouth curves. “I’m really not that interesting.”
“Are you kidding?” I shake my head. “Doctor Ainsley, isn’t it?” I grin. “I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks.” He chuckles. “But it’s really not that glamorous.”
“Sorry to hear about your dad,” I say with a pang. “Everyone loved Sully. I can’t believe he’s gone.”
“Thanks,” Reed replies quietly. “It’s been difficult, but it was mercifully quick for him. Although we felt like we didn’t have enough time to say goodbye. I’ve seen what cancer does to some people. I can only be grateful his suffering was minimal.”
“I saw Jesse got married.” As Reed raises his brow, I think of his younger brother. “I may have stalked your social media over the years,” I admit. “Jesse and Deak? Gotta admit I didn’t see that one coming.”