Page 22

Wyatt

I t’s been a couple of days since Finn and I had our fun chopping wood. We’ve spent very little time together since then, and I can’t shake the feeling that something is wrong.

Sitting at one of the many dining tables in the lodge, I sip my morning coffee.

Actually, it’s my third cup, and it’s closer to lunch than it is breakfast at this point.

I breathe in the aromatic blend of coffee and chocolate wafting from the cup.

I’ve added a touch of crème, and it’s filling the part of my soul that dies without a regular charge of caffeine.

Finn has been acting weird since getting back from town. Where did he go? Doris asked him, and he said something about running errands or meeting with someone. I shake my head. That seems out of character for him; he’s usually so much more open about his daily activities.

It’s been getting darker earlier in the day, and it won’t be long before the sun doesn’t quite make it over the horizon.

It’s been known to drive people mad, but is Finn simply feeling the pressure of the change in circadian rhythm?

Or the fact that we’re slow this time of year?

So many scenarios run through my mind that I don’t even notice Miranda standing next to me until she clears her throat.

“Wyatt, what’s wrong, honey?” she asks.

I shake my head. “Can you sit with me for a few minutes?”

“Oh, dear,” she says, grabbing a chair to sit. “You haven’t asked me for a sit-down talk since you were in high school.”

I sip my coffee, the lukewarm beverage suddenly bitter on my tongue. Swallowing hard, I face her. “I don’t know what to do about Finn.”

Miranda doesn’t respond immediately, but her eyes search mine for answers. Her furrowed brow slowly softens, and a sadness settles in her eyes. She takes my hand and squeezes. “My love. If you have feelings for him, it’s only fair if you let him know. Sooner, rather than later.”

Feelings ? “Wait, what?” I say.

How the hell does she know I’ve developed feelings for him? Is it that obvious? Maybe that’s why he’s acting weird—because he doesn’t feel the same way about me?

“I’ve overstepped,” she says, letting go of my hand and putting her own to her chest. “I misunderstood what you were asking me. It’s just that Doris and I…”

“Doris thinks I’m in love with Finn too?” I feel my face flush hot.

“Now, Wyatt. Doris and I love you very much. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. We’ve always been able to tell when you fancy someone. Now, it hasn’t always been a boy, but that doesn’t matter to us.” She reaches across the table and takes my hands into hers. “We just want you to be happy.”

I am happy. Or at least I was until Finn started acting strange. Part of me is worried he’s hiding something from me, and the other part is that he’s not interested in me. What kind of childhood bullshit is that, anyway? Not everyone is going to like me just because I like them.

I squeeze Miranda’s hands and smile. “Thank you, Miranda. I know I can always count on you and Doris. You’re family to me. Always have been.”

Tears well in her eyes. I know she feels the same way about me; she doesn’t have to say it. “If it’s not about the fact you’re madly in love with Finn, what is so important that you need to have this little chat?” She smiles again, wiping away a happy tear.

“I’m worried about him.” I sit back in my chair and look at the coffered wooden ceiling, trying to gather my thoughts. “We were having a good time the other day. You know, boy-stuff—chopping wood, competing for who was the best at it. That sort of thing.”

Miranda nods but remains silent.

“Anyway, he won, and everything seemed fine. It wasn’t like he lost and I made fun of him or something. It was a great time. We laughed, joked around, and had fun.”

“It all sounds wonderful,” she says.

“It really was, actually.” I go to take a sip of my coffee, but my stomach tightens. “The thing is, once we got back, he went into town, and when he came back, everything was different.”

“How, different?”

I shrug. “Quiet, sullen, to himself. I’m kind of worried about him.”

“Did you ask him what was wrong?” she says.

“Of course, right away.” I clear my throat of my rising emotions. “And just like his father, he said everything was fine.”

“When it’s clearly anything but fine.”

“Exactly.”

She tilts her head and crosses her arms, deep in thought. “I’ll talk with Doris. We will help you hatch a plan. If Finn is as much like his father as he seems to be, we will go about this like we would have with his dad.”

“Great idea.”

“In the meantime,” Miranda says, getting up from the chair. “Be kind to him. Maybe he just needs some support. The poor guy has been through a lot lately too.” She leans in and kisses my forehead before walking away in search of something that needs to be done.

Maybe what the guy needs is a stiff drink and some downtime.

There’s a skanky little bar in town. It’s not much to look at, but the beer is cold, and the pool tables are always racked.

I get out my phone and send Finn a text asking him to meet me at the front door at six tonight.

He replies with a thumbs-up emoji, and I hurry off to get some work done before I need to get ready for the night out.

Somehow, I managed to get an entire day’s worth of chores done in half a day. I spent all afternoon psyching myself up for tonight, and now that it’s getting close to the time to meet, I’m getting nervous.

Stepping out of the shower, I wrap a towel around my waist and take a long hard look at myself in the mirror. I like the man I’ve become. Strong, kind, brave, and even a bit sexy. Damn, I’m conceited too.

Laughing, I open my towel and look down at myself.

My cock is big, but it would look even more impressive with a bit of grooming.

Once I’m done with that, I start getting dressed.

My belly is fluttering with nerves. I wonder what Finn will wear tonight?

Even more, I wonder what his lips would taste like, pressed against mine.

“Stop it,” I say to myself. Don’t get your hopes up, and don’t have any expectations. That’s how you get hurt.

I spritz on a bit of cologne and sigh. My red and gray flannel long-sleeved shirt has seen better days, but it’s the best I have on short notice. My watch buzzes with the alarm I’ve set to make sure I’m not late to meet Finn, and I hurry out of the room, snatching my coat off the bed as I go.

Even though I’m right on time, Finn still beats me to the front door. He actually has a smile on his face. First time in days I’ve seen it. My heart races and pounds in my ears as I get closer to him.

Should I go in for a hug when I reach him?

“Hey, Wyatt,” he says with a little wave.

Instantly unsure of how to respond, I simply wave and say, “Howdy.”

His powder-blue sweater looks soft and warm. The jeans he’s wearing hug his ass the way my hands ache to touch him. Even the way he combed his hair tonight is turning me on. Boy, I’ve got it bad. Dumbass, you should have hugged him .

“Have you been to the Loose Moose since moving here?” I ask him.

He shakes his head. “No, and I can’t believe someone would name a bar The Loose Moose.”

Nodding, I say, “I couldn’t agree with you more. Although, the name came to be because originally, they sold loose meat sandwiches made of moose. Later, the owner quit serving food and focused on pool tables and alcohol—paid better, I think.”

“Alcohol is definitely a better business model than moose-meat sandwiches, I would think,” Finn says with a chuckle. “I have to warn you, I’ve never been very good at pool. Played a couple of times in college, but that’s about it.”

“Really? Your dad was a pool shark. The guy could school just about anyone.” I laugh when a memory about his dad comes to mind.

“Your dad used to come and take advantage of the tourists who came to fish in the summertime. The men would come here in the evening and had no idea that your dad was so good at the game. Lucky for your father, the local guys never gave away his secrets. He would make a killing here every summer.”

“Huh, I never knew that about him.” Finn’s smile fades at the mention of his father. “Maybe I play so badly because I’m usually drunk when I start.” The newly forced smile on his face is uncomfortable to see, but I go with it—unsure of what else to do.

I laugh and put on my coat. “I’ll teach you. It’ll be fun.”

As we head out the door, Doris and Miranda pop their heads out of the kitchen and wish us a good evening.

We wave, and I close the door behind us.

Instantly, a whip of Arctic wind blasts us in the face.

We both pull our hoods up at the same time and run for the truck.

Once inside, I start the engine. We sit in silence while the engine warms up enough to get underway.

A few minutes later, we’re blazing a trail down the rocky path toward the main highway.

It isn’t until we reach the parking lot that Finn finally breaks the silence.

“Sorry, I’ve been so quiet the last few days.”

Oh, shit. I hadn’t expected him to bring up the subject, but this is great. It won’t look like I’m prying. “That’s okay, Finn. I knew something was bothering you and figured you’d open up once you were ready.”

“There’s something important I want to share with you, but I can’t at the moment.”

“Sounds very cryptic,” I say, putting the truck in park, but letting the engine idle so we can still get some heat. I reach over and put my hand on his arm. “If you’re in some kind of trouble, we can figure this out together. You’re… technically, family.”

Finn slowly turns toward me, his beautiful blue eyes full of pain.

What the hell is going on? My stomach aches seeing him like this.

I can almost feel the words he wants to say, his lips pressed together forming a thin line.

Frustrated and feeling powerless, I fight the urge to punch out the window or slam my fist into the steering wheel.

There’s nothing I can do to take away what’s bothering him because I don’t know what’s wrong—I’m too scared to push further.

Finn looks away once more and shakes his head. “Soon. I’ll have more information to share in a couple of days. No sense in hashing it all out twice.”

Makes sense, but I still don’t like not knowing.

“When you’re ready,” I say. “I’ll be here to listen.”

I watch as Finn swallows hard, evidence that he’s fighting back emotions. Something really big is going on with him and I want so badly to take away his pain and worry. “Shall we go inside and get fucked up?”

He chuckles and nods his head. We get out of the car and hurry inside.