another crisp bill to the vendor to pay for the food.
I eye him up and down and see he really did clean up nice to take me to whatever place he had in mind. A small sense of guilt rises within me, making me think that perhaps I ruined his plans with my drama. It’s an emotion I’m unfamiliar with, and if I’m honest with myself, spending time with Finn brings out other feelings that I’m trying hard to push down and ignore.
“Hey, you okay?” he asks once I’ve gone silent.
I give him a tight nod and a fake smile while walking us over to one of the free tables. He sits in front of me, always observant with that watchful eye of his, making me inadvertently bow my head.
“Stone, you sure you’re okay?” he asks suspiciously when five minutes pass without barely touching my food.
I bite the side of my lip while playing with my fries, not one bit thrilled to feel this way.
“I was just thinking, maybe this isn’t exactly your style? I mean, have you ever eaten at a food truck before?”
“Are you kidding? Of course, I have. You think you’re the only one who likes greasy food?” he laughs out, taking a huge bite of his burger.
“Are you sure you wouldn’t prefer to eat lobster or caviar, or whatever you Northside, rich folk eat?”
He takes another big bite of his chili burger, closing his eyes while letting out an exaggerated moan, looking like he just took a bite of heaven itself. He then shakes his head and replies, “I’m good, Stone. Food is food. It’s the company that matters.”
I can’t help but chuckle at that little comment.
“You’re such a dork,” I exclaim with a little laugh, feeling more relaxed.
“Whatever. Just eat your burger.”
I laugh again but do as he says. The peaceful silence that arises while we eat our dinner is oddly comforting. I can’t help sneaking in a peek at him every once in a while, chuckling as he shoves his food in his face, perfectly content with the setting.
After we’re finished, Finn goes back to the truck and orders a couple of sundaes. He wolfs his down before I’ve even taken two bites of mine. But I guess Finn must need some serious calorie intake every day to keep his body as fit as it is. When I’m done with my dessert, he takes my hand and walks me back to the car.
“You tired?”
“No, not really. Why?”
“I want to take you back to my spot. You game for that?” he asks nervously, his blue eyes as clear and bright as a summer’s day.
I just give him a little nod and follow him to the car, this time letting him take the wheel. He puts on some music, and again I feel that peaceful silence between us.
“I’m not used to you being so quiet,” he states, the back of his knuckles slightly grazing my cheek.
I hold his hand and open his palm to land a small chaste kiss to it. It’s the only answer I have for him. Anything else will be messy. Explaining how he turned a bad night into something serene and normal is not something I want to discuss.
He leans in closer, gently pressing his temple against mine, making his woodsy scent kick-start the beat of my heart. His eyes are shut as he takes a minute just to breathe me in. I lick my lips, letting my eyes close of their own accord, to try steady my foolish heart.
“Just take me to see the stars, Finn. I’ve missed them.”
“Not as much as they’ve missed you. Not nearly enough.”
Chapter 18
Finn
When we get to the secluded gazebo, I scratch at my throat, hoping the lump in it will miraculously disappear. Deep down, I know the fucker will only go away once Stone opens that beautiful mouth of hers and tells me she likes what I’ve done with the place. It took me all afternoon to make my small corner of the world look presentable for our date. With colorful cushions spread out on the lawn, and comfy blankets, I tried as best I could to make it comfortable and cozy. The first time we were here, I only had two sweaty gym towels for us to lie down on. This time around, I made sure to go all out and make this place look and feel somewhat romantic. Even got scented candles and shit.
“You’ve been busy,” she marvels, taking in the scenery.
“I wanted