Finn's Fantasy (Maine Men #1) - K.C. Wells Page 0,75

“Hey.”

“Don’t you ‘hey’ me.” His eyes flashed and his cheeks were mottled. “You wanna know why I’m here? There was no way I was gonna wait till tomorrow. So I told Mom I was meeting a friend. Yeah, I lied. I wanted to hear what you had to say.” His gaze flickered to Finn and narrowed. “And now it all makes sense. Is he why you and Mom broke up? Is that it? You were cheating on her with him, and she found out?” The hard edge to his voice cut Joel to the quick.

“Hey, it’s not like—” Finn blurted out, but Nate’s eyes flashed again.

“I’m not talking to you, I’m talking to my dad.”

Joel held up his hand. “I don’t care how upset you are, you will not talk to Finn that way. I brought you up better than that.” He did his best to keep his voice even, as cold inched through his body.

Nate’s eyes bulged. “You expect me to be cool about this? When you lied to us?”

Joel’s heart pounded. “I never lied to you. I just… didn’t tell you guys everything. And for the record? I met Finn while I was walking Bramble—less than a week before you did.” When Nate let out a derisive snort, Joel saw red. “You don’t believe me? Ask your mom. Because why would she lie about that, if Finn was the reason we broke up?” He pulled his phone from his pocket and held it out to Nate. “Here. Call her.”

“Sure. She’ll back you up. The pair of you have been lying to us from the start. And for the record? I never believed that half-assed line you fed us.” Nate made no move to take the phone.

Joel didn’t break eye contact. “If you’re not going to call her, I am. She thinks you’re someplace else.” He hit speed dial.

Nate’s lips twisted into a sneer that sent Joel’s heart plummeting. “Yeah, that’d be right. Pass the buck, get Mom to do your dirty work.”

Joel had had enough. His arm fell to his side, the phone still in his hand. “You are going to calm the fuck down and get a hold of yourself. You’re an adult, so fucking act like one.” From his phone came Carrie’s voice, but he ignored it. Nate’s eyes were huge, his chest heaving. “Well?” Joel demanded.

Nate held out his hand. “Gimme the phone.”

Joel held up one finger as he brought the phone to his ear. “Hey. Nate’s here.”

She gasped. “He’s what?” There was a pause. “It’s bad, isn’t it?”

Joel looked at Nate’s flushed cheeks, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides. “Yeah, but that’s no surprise.”

“Put him on.”

Joel held out the phone. “She wants to talk to you.”

Swallowing, Nate took it. Joel’s heart ached to see how stiffly he held himself. He prayed Carrie could get him to see sense.

“You don’t have to lie anymore, Mom. I know the truth. I saw them, Dad and Finn.” Nate glanced in Joel’s direction, and his nostrils flared. “He can’t lie his way out of that.”

Finn dropped the shards of glass into the trash, then moved to Joel’s side. “Let them talk,” he said in a low voice. “Give him some space.” He gave Joel’s arm a tug. “Joel. Please.”

Joel’s heartbeat raced, and there was pain in his chest. He fought the urge to throw up. He tried not to listen, but it was hard to miss Nate’s accusatory tone. “You should’ve told us, Mom. You should’ve told me. I’m not a kid, all right?”

“Joel. Joel.”

He blinked. Finn’s gaze was locked on him, his hand on Joel’s arm. “Let Carrie do what she can, okay? Come into the living room, sit down and let them talk.”

Joel allowed himself to be led into the living room, where Finn walked Joel to the rocking chair and waited while he sat. Bramble was at his feet a moment later, letting out a soft whine. Joel stroked his head. “You know something’s up, don’t you, boy?” Out of sight around the corner, Nate was still talking, but at least his voice had lost its sharpness.

Finn crouched beside his chair. “Listen, I think I should go. When Nate finishes his call with Carrie, you both need to talk. And I don’t think I should be around when you do.”

“But—”

Finn stopped Joel’s words with a finger to his lips. “Look how pissed he was when I tried to explain. This is a time for a father and son talk. Me being here is