Page 9 of Forever Finn

“He’s a vet now, isn’t he?” I say absently, making conversation as I cast my mind back to the few details of the bay I’d gleaned from Reed’s social media over the years.

“Yep.” Deak smiles. “You know Jesse and animals. He was always trying to rescue every stray cat and injured bird when we were kids. He’s even worse now. I’m surprised we haven’t got a whole menagerie of pets at home. As it stands, there’s just us two and Peanut.”

“Peanut?”

“Our American Pitbull puppy.” Deak’s expression softens affectionately. “He’s a cute little shit, constantly gets away with murder.”

“Jesse’s too soft on him, I take it?” I smile slowly.

“Not Jesse, me…” Deak sighs. “The little git has me wrapped around his paw, and he damn well knows it.”

“Sounds like you have a good life here. I’m happy for you,” I say genuinely, ignoring the brief flare of jealousy. Not because it’s Deak or Jesse. They deserve to be happy. I suppose deep down, I just want someone of my own. I wish I could be honest just for once about who I really am. I wish I could be seen.

As we head down the street and turn the corner, I find myself standing outside a small single storey building, squat and neat. It’s constructed of brown-coloured brick, and my gaze wanders to the nearby sign.

“This is Jesse’s veterinary practice?” I take it all in curiously.

“Yeah, come on.” Deak heads toward the main entrance. “I know Jesse is looking forward to seeing you.”

We step inside and approach the reception desk where a young, attractive woman in scrubs is tapping away loudly at a keyboard.

“Hey, Laurel,” he greets, and I hang back, keeping my head down, hoping that no one will recognise me. “Is Jesse ready?”

“He’s just finishing up. Go on back.” She throws him a distracted smile and turns back to the screen in front of her.

“Thanks.” He waves as he moves past the desk and through a wide door, and I follow along obediently in his wake.

“Jesse built all of this up on his own?” I ask, eyeing the place inquisitively.

“Yeah, he did,” Deak answers, and I can hear the hint of pride in his tone as he opens another door and I follow in behind him.

“I can’t believe you guys are all grown up and acting responsibly.” I shake my head.

“Some of us more than others,” another voice says as we step into the wide, sterile room.

“Jesse.” My mouth breaks into a wide smile as my gaze lands on the blonde man in scrubs who bears a definite resemblance to Reed.

“Finn.” He crosses the room and envelopes me in a hug. “Urgh, you’re all wet.” He pulls back sharply.

“Got caught in the rain,” I shrug as I shoot Deak a cautious look, hoping he won’t mention that he found me at the cemetery bawling like a baby.

“It’s good to see you, Finn.” Jesse smiles warmly. “I’m not going to ask you what brings you back. It’s your business, but we’re really glad you’re here.”

“Thanks,” I reply. “I–”

The door swings open, and I freeze, the words dying on my tongue as I take in the six-foot wall of deliciousness wearing scrubs with his blonde hair scraped back off his sinfully handsome face and tied in a messy top knot.

“Hey, Jess, Mrs Bryant is back. Her Pekinese tried to eat a toilet brush again. I told her we would…” He freezes as his gaze lands on me, his eyes rounding in recognition.

My stomach swoops and my heart starts to tap dance like Fred Astaire on speed as I stare helplessly into the face of the gorgeous man that I’d left half naked in a Newquay hotel room.

5

Iblink slowly, certain I can’t be seeing what I think I’m seeing because I’m pretty sure I’m staring at my drunken fantasy from the other night, only he’s not a hallucination, he’s real.

In fact, he looks like he’s about to throw up or pass out. His face is pale beneath that sexy stubble and his eyes are wide and glassy with shock.

“Hey, Wyatt.” Jesse grins and I realise I’m standing halfway through the door with my mouth hanging open. “This is Finn.” He introduces breezily with an impish smile. “He’s made some movies or something, but he’s not that big of a deal.”