'Til There Was You - Jerry Cole Page 0,90

two months, well before Austin had left for America. If Zac had wanted it back, or had even noticed it missing, then he would have called or texted or told Finn to get it... back when they were still together, of course. Most likely the kid had just forgotten. But what if he hadn’t...

What if Zac desperately wanted the hat back? What if he had begged Finn, but Finn was too stubborn to call or to pick it up? What if Zac had cried and stamped his foot and demanded that Finn retrieve the hat? What if this was his favorite?! That was all unlikely, but it also lent itself to another idea.

What if this hat was a sign? Or better yet, a bridge! Austin had been waiting for Finn to contact him, but the man was either over him or too stubborn to do so. Austin was the same, refusing to put himself on the line, even if it just meant calling to say hello. What he had needed was an excuse.

Austin didn’t stop to think. The moment the idea entered his head he was changing directions and heading to where Angela lived. Worst case scenario, he would just have a little talk with her and Zac and figure out how Finn was. Best case... well, he didn’t dare consider that.

Austin had always liked Angela too, as funny as that might have seemed. He had the pleasure of only meeting her after she and Finn started to reconcile their differences, so he’d never witnessed the ‘dragon lady’ that Finn had always described. Honestly, he used to like the way she derided and insulted Finn. He’d found it hilarious. As such, he had no worries at all about knocking on her front door at ten o’clock at night with hat in hand, literally.

“Austin?” Angela blinked back her surprise at the sight of Austin standing in the doorway. “What are you... are you here about Finn?”

“No,” Austin smiled and stepped in to hug Angela. She reluctantly accepted the hug. “I’m just here to drop off – about Finn?” There was something in Angela’s tone that Austin only just picked up on. “What happened to Finn?”

“That’s what I’d like to know.” Angela didn’t look happy. And not at the sight of Austin in her doorway, but the mention of Finn’s name. “I thought maybe you could shed some light on the subject.”

“No, I... I haven’t spoken to Finn in a couple of weeks.” Austin’s heart began to hammer in his chest. Was something wrong with Finn? “What’s... what’s going on?” He tried to sound as casual as possible.

“Standard Finn, is what’s going on,” Angela sighed. “First, he doesn’t turn up to see Zac when he’s supposed to. Then, he doesn’t return any of my phone calls for six weeks – does he know he has a son that wants to see him? Pah! I don’t know why I’m surprised!”

Austin bowed his head in guilt. Now he understood. “Yeah... maybe you haven’t heard,” he spoke softly, “But Finn and I—”

“And then he calls and tells me he’s moving to India!” Angela continued hotly. “That’s right! India! Doesn’t stop to consider how Zac might feel! Didn’t call or ask or... or anything! Seriously, sometimes I wonder about that man. I don’t think I’ve ever met someone so selfish! No offense.”

“India... Did you say...?” Austin didn’t hear anything Angela said after she dropped that word into the fray. “Did you say... he’s moving to India?”

“Tomorrow,” Angela nodded. “One-way ticket. Said he might be gone for years! And do you know what he said when I asked what he was going to tell Zac? Do you know what that prick said?”

Austin didn’t respond. He stared blankly ahead, ears ringing, head spinning, not even aware of where he was, or who he was talking to, or why he was here in the first place.

“He said he didn’t care! I could have slapped him I was so angry! Typical, typical Finn. I still haven't told Zac. I don’t know how. I just can’t...” Angela continued in that same vein for a while. Austin didn’t hear a word.

Finn was moving to India. Finn Connor, Austin’s Finn, was moving to India. Tomorrow. For an unforeseeable length of time. Without telling him. Finn was moving to India!

Austin didn’t know what to say. He didn’t even know if he could believe it. Surely, Finn wouldn’t do that? Surely, Finn would have called or texted or... or something! Up until now, Austin had