friends quickly departed.
“Hale, I do apologize, I had no idea that those ladies would be so discourteous.” Major patted Hale’s arm.
She looked at his hand on her forearm. “No need to apologize for their behavior.” She flashed a quick smile.
“But they shouldn’t be impolite in public,” Major continued. “I will say something to them.”
“Don’t bother,” Hale said, but her eyes were on Finn. “Some people aren’t going to be happy that I’m back and plan on sticking around.”
Like he hadn’t been at first, Finn realized. He flashed a grin. “You handled it.”
“But you don’t have to like it.” Jasmine was loyal to her friend. “We don’t have to accept rudeness, either.”
“True but I’m going to have to learn to deal with people like that.” Hale’s voice was stronger with conviction.
Finn watched her. This Hale was strong, but rudeness in front of friends hurt her.
A waiter approached the group with fresh drinks. “Ah, perfect. I would like to make a toast. To good friends who take care of one another.” Izzy lightened the mood.
Glasses clinked. Finn didn’t like that Major was included in the toast, nor the way he looked at Hale.
****
Hale woke to the sound of her phone ringing beside her bed. She squinted to read the time as she turned on the light. “What the fuck, its two forty five.” Miller readjusted at her feet, and opened one eye to see what was going to happen. She tapped the answer button as a bolt of worry shot through her body.
“Hello.” Her voice was gravelly from sleep.
“Hey. Hey, Hale. It’s Finn.”
“Finn? What’s wrong?” Her heart pounded. Why was he calling?
“You left early, I couldn’t find you.”
She paused and rubbed Miller with her foot to signal he could go back to sleep. “Yeah, I thought it was a good time to leave.”
“You didn’t stay to watch the fireworks with me. I asked Jasmine and she said you took off.” He actually sounded sad.
“I wasn’t sure how Miller would react, so I wanted to be here for him.”
“Is he OK?” His words were a little slurred.
“Yeah, he did fine. Finn, have you been drinking a little bit?” She smiled as she relaxed back into her pillows.
“I wouldn’t call it drunk, but I’ve had a few. I just got home from Izzy’s, it’s late.”
Poor Jasmine, her plans for a quiet night with her husband were shot to hell. “So you ended up at the Benton’s.”
“Yeah, I missed you.” His voice had dropped an octave lower.
Finn had to be drunk for that admission to slip out. “Well, I had all the fun that I could stand, so it was time to go.” She tried to tease and not focus on the fact his voice was making her toes curl.
“Those bitches were out of line, but you handled them.”
“Bitsy was always mean, even back in school.” She liked that he sided with her, even if it was only the alcohol talking.
“You went all Hale Storm on them.” He laughed and her pulse raced.
“Hale Storm? What’s that mean?”
“I always called you that when you got mad. Well not to your face, but behind your back. You know, back when we were together. You got so mad about stupid things.”
Oh God, how to respond? She didn’t want to walk down memory lane in the middle of the night with a drunken Finn. “Well, now I only get mad about important things.” She fought to get control of her emotions.
“I see that. You’re all grown up.” The heat in his voice made her pussy clench.
“Well, I’m older,” she replied, ignoring her body’s reaction.
“No, it’s like you’re smarter and centered. That’s what they call it. You have focus.”
“I, well, um, thank you. I guess I have matured. I had to.”
“I like it, it’s sexy. You’re sexy.”
This talk had to stop right now. “Hey, Finn, you probably need to go to sleep. You sound sleepy.”
“No, I don’t want to go to sleep.” She heard him sigh. “I wish you were here, that way I wouldn’t be in bed alone.”
“Why would we be in bed?” Christ, the words tumbled out before she could stop them.
“Because you’re so hot. I can’t stop thinking about you riding me. I’d play with your tits with my dick buried inside you. God, you have great tits.”
There was silence. She didn’t want to answer, but his words were getting to her. She slid her free hand to her breast and kneaded its fullness. How long had it been since she’d had a phone call like this?