Page 37 of Whispers of Wisteria (The Garden of Eternal Flowers #5)

Bianca POV

Miles met me at the car and took me back to Damen’s house. Only Julian and Finn were there when we arrived. At first, they barely glanced up from their books.

“Hello, darling.” Julian pointed a finger in the air while he used his other hand to trace a line in his book. “Just give me one moment, and I’ll…” His words trailed off as his quick look turned into a lingering stare.

I still held an ice pack to my cheek. Julian’s attention was riveted to the spot.

The shock wore off, and the necromancer jumped to his feet, which caused Finn to drop his homework as well.

“What happened?” Julian had crossed the room within a second. He pulled my hand from my face. “It looks like someone punched you!”

Finn stood as well, expression ashen as he hovered. But I couldn’t be bothered by him. I was more concerned about Julian’s reaction.

Miles and I were going to have to stop him from murdering Damen. Miles had even stated such on the way home.

“They did.” I winced as he touched my cheek. My jaw tingled where his fingers lingered, and a soothing coolness radiated through the place.

“Issnot so bad,” I told him. Whatever he was doing caused my mouth to feel funny.

“Not so bad?” Julian was furious. “This has an onmyoji’s touch to it. Who?”

“Now, Julian.” Miles stepped closer to me, voice soothing. “There’s no need to make this a bigger deal than it is. He feels horrible. We both lost control for a little bit. Bryce already went to deal with it.”

“Damen.” A wave of deadly intent radiated from Julian as he looked toward the door. “He hit you.”

“Actually,” I mumbled. “He didn’t see me. He was trying to hit Miles. I jumped in front of him.”

“It’s true.” Miles nodded. “He thought he could take me. It was fun until Bianca got hurt.”

“You two were fighting?” Julian asked, then looked at me accusingly. “And why?” he began. “Why would you jump in the middle of a fight between two men?”

I wanted to point out that they had been acting more like teenagers than men at that moment, but Miles still looked excited, and I didn’t want to burst his bubble.

“It’s not like it’s anything new.” Finn had returned to his seat. He sounded bored, but his leg bounced. I knew him well enough to know he was upset. Julian and Miles both glanced at him, and he continued, “She’s always jumped into my fights.”

“Why are you fighting people?” Miles asked.

Finn didn’t answer his question but continued talking about me. “She won’t listen and stay away.”

Julian was frowning at him. “When—”

“There were a few memorable occasions.” Finn crossed his leg over his knee. He appeared to be deep in thought. “The school roof, another during swimming lessons, then another when she ignored me and tried to befriend someone who held less than pleasant intentions toward her.”

“Wait,” Miles seemed confused. “Were you starting these fights?”

“You know he did,” Julian glared at him. “Why do you think—”

“Wrong,” Finn replied. “Nobody’s stupid enough to try anything with me.” He looked at me, and my breath caught. “They were trying to hurt her.”

Julian and Miles leveled their gazes at me, and I could feel their questions.

“Why—” Julian began, but I cut him off, glaring at Finn.

“How could you tell them that?” I wanted to scream at him. “I was trying to help you!”

“I didn’t ask for your help.” Finn shrugged. “I don’t want your help. It’s my responsibility to protect you. And if it takes them seeing it for them to intervene, then so be it. Stay out of other people’s fights.”

Miles and Julian stared at Finn, eyes wide.

It was too similar to something he’d said once, something that’d shaken the foundation of our friendship: ‘She’s my responsibility.’

And that was how he’d always seen me.

“I hate you!” I snatched the ice pack from Julian’s hands. My vision was blurring, and the only indication that he was affected by my words was the way his leg suddenly stopped moving. But he didn’t even look at me; his gaze was stubbornly set on the wall.

I fled from the room, ignoring Julian and Miles’s attempts to call me back.

The air shifted as my silent retreat was disturbed. I didn’t even have to look to know who it was. No one else would have dared to bother me out here. They’d pretended not to notice how I crawled onto the roof to be alone.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, not turning my attention from the dusky skyline.

The sky was streaked with red, orange, and purple, and the white, round moon was already high in the sky. There were no clouds, and the temperature was dropping quickly.

“We need to talk,” Finn said, sitting next to me.

I sighed. I was too tired to care anymore.

Besides, this was the umpteenth time he’d come to me with this line, and unless I finally gave in, it would probably not be the last. I might as well get it over with.

“What do you want?”

“You can’t avoid me forever. I’m an Officer—I’ll always be around. Can’t we…” he started, then paused. His shoulders tightened, and he touched the bridge of his glasses. “What?”

“What do you want?” I asked. “I guess I’ll listen.”

Finn blinked and pressed his palm flat against the roof. “Oh.” He looked away and tapped his finger against the tiles. “Well…”

His words trailed off, and his voice was rougher when he spoke next. “Give me a moment.”

I glared at him.

How many more moments did he need? He’d been the one harping about this for weeks!

“Don’t look at me like that!” Finn’s shoulders tensed, and his mouth dipped; still, he could not look me in the eyes. “I expected you to ignore this conversation for at least another six months.”

Really?

“You can see the future,” I pointed out. “You had to know this would happen at some point.”

“It doesn’t work like that.” Finn was frowning at his feet. “Especially not with you.”

I lifted my temples from my knees, my interest piqued. “What do you mean?”

He clenched his jaw, voice tight. “I knew you’d hate me, but that was about it.”

“You… knew I’d hate you?” A pang shot through me.

“Yes,” he replied, lips thinning.

“But you did it anyway?”

“I didn’t know what else to do.” Finn shrugged, his words quickening. “I never had any friends, and I had no idea how to help you otherwise.” He slumped his shoulders, and a lock of his light hair fell over his eyes. “But I should have refused to lie. I never wanted to hurt you.”

A breeze passed over us, and my breath caught as his words rang around my head.

I squeezed my fingers into my blanket. “Last time we had this discussion, you refused to acknowledge you were wrong.”

And that’s what had hurt the most.

“What changed?” I asked.

Finn’s reply was instantaneous. “Damen.”

I blinked at him. “How?”

“He’s been treating you like you’re an idiot.” Finn’s tense expression morphed into a glower. “It makes me feel like I’m looking into a mirror. I get what he’s trying to do, but he’s starting to act on our worst traits. I didn’t realize I’d been doing the same thing.”

“What do you mean?”

“Jealousy,” Finn replied with a shrug. “Aggression, impulsive behavior, not being completely honest. When we become obsessed, we tend to overlook the details in order to focus on long-term goals. It was my job to keep you safe. That was all that was important. It took being on the outside to see it. I’ve been an asshole. ”

“Yeah,” I agreed. “You have been.”

“You could at least deny it a little,” he muttered.

“It’s okay.” I elbowed him lightly on the side and leaned in, whispering, “I can be one too.”

“Oh?” He raised his eyebrow. His voice was softer now as he responded. “I already knew that. You’re a little bit terrifying sometimes.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. He could at least look surprised at my admission.

“I guess that’s why we’re friends.” Finn’s mouth curled up ever so slightly, and my heart skipped a beat. “We’re two peas in a pod.”

Suddenly, I couldn’t breathe. Finn’s tone had been slight—joking—but the stressed line of his shoulders gave away his nervous tension.

During the entire duration of our relationship, he’d never once called me his best friend.

I wasn’t even his friend anymore. Wasn’t I still angry at him?

But for what—and why? It didn’t matter anymore. Not in the grand scheme of things.

“I thought I was your responsibility?” I asked, resigned. “At least, that’s what you said.”

He blinked at me, confused. “Well, yeah. You’re my best friend. That means I get to keep you safe.”

I studied him for a minute. Finn sometimes had trouble finding words, but now that I wasn’t upset anymore, I could see from his expression that, to him, they were one and the same.

And he’d been my best friend too.

“Yeah…” My attention returned to the sky, and I pressed my cheek against my knees again. “I guess we are.”

“Good.” He reached beside him and pulled a bag onto his legs. “I guess I can give you this now.”

My chest grew warm as he placed the small, paper-wrapped cake into my lap.

“I had to fight Miles for the kitchen,” Finn explained, pulling out a thermos of hot chocolate. “But he finally left me alone. Eat,” he said, twisting the lid.

I held the neatly wrapped treat between my hands. “Honey cake.”

“Well, yeah…” Finn sounded slightly unsure. “Do you not like it anymore?”

Why was my vision blurring? I wiped the wrist of my sleeve over my eyes. “It’s my favorite.”

“I know.” His brows furrowed as his mouth twisted. “That’s why I made it.”

He didn’t look at me while I ate, which I was thankful for. The two of us sat in silence as I nibbled on the cake and watched the sunset over the horizon.

“Today we’re going to have a lesson about control,” Uncle Gregory began sternly. He steepled his fingers near his chin and addressed us with an even gaze.

It felt like we were children sent to the principal’s office.

“And the consequence of not wielding it properly.”

My breath hitched.

“I was extremely disappointed to learn about yesterday’s events,” he continued, looking between us. “Especially as Bryce had to be the one to enlighten me.”

I knew it!