Page 113 of The Valiant Knight

Kitchen

Private Talk

Ravensmire

Arriving in the kitchen, Bark Twain was following at his heels. When he saw Graham behind the counter, he was looking off. Now, Finn was concerned. His friend was struggling with something.

It was time to find out what.

“Hey, are you good?” he asked. “You look all worked up, Laddie.”

He laughed.

He was anything but good. Again, watching people find their other halves was wearing him down. Only, how did he say that?

Graham wouldn’t, so instead, he lied his ass off.

“Yeah, I’m good,” he said, changing the subject. “I was just here with Gabby. She sat with the doctor, and he cleared her. You did a good thing saving her.”

Oh, well, he believed he’d saved her for himself, so he was no one’s valiant knight on this one.

It was done with intent.

“I’m glad she’s good. Did she head off to play with old bones with Tony?”

He nodded.

“She looked better. Is she okay after her dip in the lake?”

Finn knew she was okay after going into the lake, but he was the one struggling.

And he needed to talk.

“I think I’m in love with her, and I’m falling apart inside,” he admitted, keeping his voice low.

Well, that was interesting.

“I want to sleep with her in the worst way, but I’m torn. I don’t do random bedhops, Graham. That’s not me. I’m a monogamous kind of a guy, and I don’t think I can handle being with her and watching her walk away. Worse, if she asks for a long-distance relationship.”

Yeah, he knew his friend was a mess after Rosie left. She didn’t just steal his cat, but she took his masculinity and kicked it around too as she headed to the airport.

“Well, what do you think you should do?” he asked, pretty sure the man could figure it out for himself.

Finn sat.

“I think I should go home, stay there, and stop tormenting myself. She’s a doctor, Graham. She’s a hacker for the US government. She’s not giving that up. Not for me, anyway.”

Graham leaned on the counter and gave him some advice.

For him, it was turning out to be always the bridesmaid, andNEVERthe bride.

And that sucked.

“Why can’t you follow her?” he asked. “You’re a cop, and if it works out, she would likely be okay with you trying to find a job there.”

He was honest.

“I can’t leave here. My parents are elderly. I’m the baby and have sisters. Who do you think they call when they need help? I’m torn.”