Page 45 of Making Home with You (The Rockport Beach #3)

I take a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm because as much as it pisses me off that I’ve been kept in the dark about just how fucked up this whole situation is with her boss, I haven’t exactly been honest about what’s been going on me either.

Exhaling, knowing now is not the time for that, I turn to Joe. “Are you gonna want her statement tonight?”

He nods. “That would be best,” he says. “We can swing by the station now and I’ll make it quick, I promise.”

I turn to Ryan who nods.

“Okay,” I reply. “Let’s go.”

Ryan, Sarah and I follow Joe over to the station.

Joe makes good on his promise and takes Sarah straight through to the interview room to take her statement.

Ryan disappears to no doubt catch up with his old work colleagues, leaving me standing like an idiot in the middle of the station, wondering what the fuck I’m supposed to do now.

“Finn.”

I turn at the sound of my name, see Ryan standing by the door. “Come with me,” he says nodding his head.

“But…”

“They know where we are. It’s not far.”

I walk over, follow him out of the station and across the road to an Irish bar. Ryan opens the door for me and when I walk inside, I see a room full of cops and immediately feel at ease.

“What are you drinking?” Ryan asks, slapping me on the back as he gestures toward the bar.

I shove a hand through my hair. “Something strong.”

He nods and we walk over. I take a seat and wait and when Ryan returns he hands me a beer and a shot, clinking his coke against my glass.

“So,” he starts, as he takes a seat on the stool beside mine. “Let me just start by saying I did not know all the details about the boss and the shit he’s pulled.”

I glance sideways and see Ryan watching me.

“I’m serious, Finn,” he says. “This whole rape thing is news to me and I’m fucking pissed about it, okay?”

I nod. “Yeah, me too.”

“She knows how to handle herself though and I’m glad for that.”

I smile, remembering back to the night she handed me my ass in that community center. “Yeah, she does. I should thank you for that.”

Ryan shrugs as though it’s no big deal, even though we both know it is. “Look,” he continues, exhaling hard. “I know I gave you a lot of shit about all the stuff that went down with Erin, the way it was handled…”

“Ryan,” I start, but he holds up a hand to silence me.

“I was wrong about that, Finn,” he says, meeting my stare. “You took care of her for me. You took care of her before me and I’ll always owe you for that.”

I open my mouth to speak but something in the way Ryan looks at me silences my words.

I’m not sure I deserve it, this thanks for taking care of Erin.

Sometimes it feels like I did absolutely fuck all and even if I did somehow help, she still wound up in trouble, still almost died because her fucking ex found her.

“I owe you for taking care of Sarah too,” he continues, quieter now.

“What?”

He nods. “She’s in love with you, you know,” he continues, his face impassive.

“What?” I repeat, struggling to make sense of what he’s saying right now.

He nods, a half smile tugging at his mouth. “I’m glad it’s you though,” he continues. “Glad it’s you that’s going to be looking after her now.”

“Ryan, I…” I pause, not sure what to say.

He chuckles. “And god knows she’s gonna keep your ass in line, that’s for damn sure.”

I feel my jaw drop, unsure what to say or how to comprehend what he’s saying to me right now.

“There you are,” a voice I would recognize anywhere suddenly says, as a pair of arms slide around my waist from behind.

I turn in my stool, see Sarah smiling up at me, Joe standing behind her. I automatically lean down, press a kiss to her lips. “Hey,” I whisper. “You okay?”

Her smile widens. “I am now,” she says, kissing me again.

“We’ve definitely got enough to hold him,” Joe says. “Eliza has agreed to make a formal statement, too. And while we can’t get him for what he did to her, it will add to what we have from tonight. The fucker’s going away for long time, I promise.”

“Thank you, Joe,” I say, standing as I reach out a hand. “I really owe you.”

He shrugs, his gaze turning to Sarah. “Nah, it’s all good. Besides, she’s kinda worth it, isn’t she?” he adds, winking at her.

I glance down at Sarah, find her smiling face looking up at mine. “Yeah,” I say, my words quiet. “She is.”

Sarah pushes up on her toes, and presses her mouth against mine.

“You should let Greenwood know,” Ryan says, nudging me and kinda killing the moment.

He’s right though, and as I pull back a little and grab my phone from my pocket, Sarah asks, “Who’s Greenwood.”

Swallowing I say, “Yeah, about that. There are some things I need to tell you too.”

Sarah glances at her brother, who just shrugs as if he’s got no idea what I’m talking about, before she looks back at me, a confused look on her face. “Tell me what?” she asks.

I offer a small smile. “We’ve got a long drive ahead of us,” I say. “Talk in the car?”

“Okay,” she says, nodding before turning to hug Joe and thanking him for everything he did tonight.

“I’m just gonna text Beck,” I say. “Let him know we’re all good.”

Ryan nods and pulls out his own phone as if he’s going to let Erin know too.

“Alright, let’s bounce,” he says, sliding his phone into his pocket. “Joe, always great seeing you,” he adds as he shakes Joe’s hand. “You should come up and visit us sometime.”

Joe returns the shake. “Yeah maybe I will,” he says, grinning. “Come visit this pub you now work at, have you serve me for a change.”

Ryan rolls his eyes, but he’s laughing. I watch as Sarah kisses Joe on the cheek, telling him he definitely has to come and visit before all of us head outside to the car.