by Dee Ellis
Diggs was keeping them for the investigation, which was going nowhere. I don’t know why; we knew it was one of two people. The photos in my phone confirmed for me which one. Photos I didn’t intend to tell Cage and certainly not Finn about. No need.
I didn’t need the pieces of what might have happened to know they didn’t matter. I loved Finn. I’d wanted him almost my whole life. I knew what it was like to lose him. I wouldn’t do it again. I didn’t think I could.
“Again? Damnit, Red,” Cage growled as he glared at the Ziploc holding the crushed flower and letter, “I don’t get who could be doing this. Or why, at least.” Shrugging, I shoved my feet onto the edge of the seat, warming my hands on the heater.
“Why did Ariel try to start things up with you again? Text you dirty shit? The younger Cooper kids just got that magic shit, I guess? Once people get a taste, they go bonkers. Fatal attraction bonkers. Be glad Mr. Belvedere didn’t end up soup.” I scrunched my nose up and he let out a yelp.
“Too far, Red. Took it too far. I’d kill a bitch for Mr. Belvedere.” Cage said it so seriously I kind of didn’t doubt it. Loved that cat of his.
“Am I allowed to go home, or….” I don’t know why I asked.
“Um, no. Even if Finn didn’t have us keeping you on a short leash, I wouldn’t let you go home alone.” I rolled my eyes but, bit back a smile.
“Not cramping the love nest yet? I imagine I cost you some booty, dear brother.” Cage shot me a look.
“Not an issue. My girl sees to it I am taken care of. Not that I want to discuss my sex life with you. Nor do I need to hear how fucking awesome of a sex life Finn is having with my baby sister. Maybe rein it in a little, yeah?” I giggled and twisted to watch him.
“No way. I am making up for lost time. I figure I was legal four years ago. Wanted Finn way before it was legal. I’m averaging it out. Besides, Charli talks…” I left that in the air between us as he rolled to a stop at a light.
“Charli does not talk. Charli is sweet as sugar. My girl does not talk to you about…. Jesus, Fuck, does Charli talk?” I watched him turn red and thought it was well earned.
“Abso-fuckin-lutely. I mean details are vague since it is you. I do know I can’t look at my favorite library the same. Or this truck actually.” I made a show of looking around the cab where I knew for a fact they fucked on her lunch breaks.
“Red! Jesus Fuck. I’m making her pay for that later.” I giggled wildly when he lit up at the idea.
“You’re fucking terrible. You can’t wait to make her pay. You sick puppy. Into a little of the pleasure/pain, yeah, dear brother? Naughty boy. Charli is sweet as sugar; the best ones always are.” I wagged my brows at him, and he tossed his head back to laugh.
“Too bad I know for a fact Finn makes my rough stuff look tame as shit. Never took you for a rough stuff girl, Red. You like the romantics.” I laughed as he punched through the light.
“Oh, dear brother. Finn can be romantic as shit, then hurt me later. All in moderation. Moderation is key. Finn is skilled enough to know when to be romantic and when…I need something else.” Cage’s face twisted up a little, but he laughed again.
“This is different. Always gave me shit about my one and dones; I gave you shit about not getting any. It’s awkward as shit sometimes to know Finn is…the one giving you some. Doesn’t matter if it’s awkward. I see how happy you are, Red. How good you two are together. Finn’s like a new man, I’ve never seen him like this.”
“I love him, Cage. The way you love Charli. I might not have understood it, gotten what it meant…but I think I always loved Finn. At first, just like you. I thought you two were the coolest jerks ever. Then, one day…I don’t even remember when, I looked at him and it was different. I think we had to go through the shit we did for us to know how good it really is. How lucky we are.” Cage reached a hand over and yanked at my braid again.
“We Coopers got lucky with love, didn’t we? Charli is amazing. I knew the minute I looked at her. I can’t imagine my life without her now. Now that I know what that’s like, I think you might be right. I believe you knew exactly when you thought you did.” Sighing, I glanced out at the flurries starting to pick up.
“I loved it, though. Having a crush. I thought that’s what it was. He’s so handsome and funny. Totally different from us. I liked hanging out with you guys, and he never treated me different. I thought it might go away once too. Then, one night…I just knew it was more.” Cage smiled at me as he carefully parked in the snow covered drive of the cottage he shared with Charli.
“I love him like a brother; he deserves someone good. Someone who loves him for the right reasons. Reasons even Finn doesn’t understand. I love Charli for things she doesn’t get; for the way she smells, the dimples at her back, her accent when she’s tired. How she makes a sandwich; cheese on the outside, meat in the middle. Shit I never thought might matter.” I thought about this as we sat in the truck, sharing a moment.
“Finn makes me coffee every day. Tastes the same every single time. Sings songs all the time; out of nowhere, he just starts singing. At night, every single night, he touches his nose to my hair to smell me. I love how grumpy he is when he wakes up. How he loves cartoons on Saturday mornings still. It’s the things that make them, them. Little parts that are just Finn. Just Charli. Just Cage. Just me.” Cage smiled at me, then sobered.
“I think he will be a good man for you. I’m proud of him for that night at the pub. I don’t think he will hurt you again, Red. If he does…remember all of that. His cartoons and his coffee and the little parts. Because they matter more than the mistakes.” Well, shit, Cage Cooper was doling out the wisdom tonight.
I didn’t argue because he was right. We headed inside, the place smelling amazing because Charli prepared her delicious pot roast. I jumped in and helped with potatoes and gravy. I didn’t think about the photos or Bree, or the heartache and panic they caused.
Instead, I told Charli about a new book I was dying to read by our favorite author. We laughed when Cage burned himself stealing a chunk of meat. For the rest of the night, I just existed with two of the most important people in my life.
When I started getting texts from an unknown number again, I tried to ignore them. By then, I was alone so it was hard, but I tried. I tried to ignore the next series of photos that came. Photos of Finn, head thrown back, ecstasy on his face.
The shots were from below, and I gasped when the last one came through. Finn’s cock deep in Bree’s throat; that one from above as if he had taken it. As if he wanted to memorialize the view of her on her knees, giving him head.
Before I knew what I was doing, I was out in the snow. Puffs of air, of precious oxygen I couldn’t seem to grasp, filled the night sky. I fell to the icy cement, gasping as pain rocked me. I didn’t need the details to know what the photos meant. Even though I was determined to not let Bree’s sabotage affect our movement, right then, it very much was.
Every time my eyes closed, I saw his cock in her mouth. That smirk on her face. Saw his hand cupping her jaw as she pleased him. That she tasted his skin, his mouth, knew what he sounded like and how he looked when he came made me sick. I was on my feet, tears blurring my vision as I stumbled through the snow.
It was late, but the streets were still busy. I had no destination in mind as I wove through the traffic. I walked for blocks before I realized I was heading home.
Away from Charli and Cage being perfectly in love.
Away from the place Finn would come to find me.
I needed to be alone. To let this tear me up where no one could see it. Where I didn’t need to pretend it didn’t change things. It burned. Fiery pain shot from my chest, where my heart thundered dully, all the way through me.
Down my limbs, all the way to my toes and fingers. My feet felt heavy. Leaden. My face was icy cold with tears, and I could barely breathe. I was a fucking mess, and I knew that is exactly what she wanted. Bree wanted to sit back and watch me fall apart. I
was giving her just what she wanted.
“Fuck you, Bree.” I murmured to the icy night air.
Two blocks from the condo, I sat down on a snow-covered bench. I was a smart kid. Just didn’t play it smart with Finn. I never had.
If just once, I had thought about the pain, the heartbreak I might endure with Finn, I don’t know that we’d be together. I don’t know if Finn can give me the happily ever after I’m seeing Charli and Cage get. That the rest of my family got.
Then again, as much as I love the romantics like Cage said, I don’t know if that’s what I need. I had loved Bree, even when she hurt me. When she would go weeks without calling me.
Months sometimes.
Then grace me with a girl’s night out. Bree was a shitty friend and basically a shitty person. Why I loved her so hard and tried to keep her in my life for so long, I have no idea.
Sitting on that bench, I tried to remember the last time I enjoyed being with Bree. Actually looked forward to seeing her and enjoyed the time I got with her. It had been ages. The summer before college, maybe.
I remember we took off on this backpacking adventure in Europe. Bree always wanted to see Milan and Rome. Bree’s father financed the whole trip, and we had such an adventure.
I was excited to go because we had been growing distant. Plus, my heart was breaking over Finn; he and Cage had started their shenanigans with the bunnies by then.
I couldn’t sit by and watch it a moment longer. I thought we might see the world, connect again, and I’d come back rid of my feelings for him. I got the see the world part right.
“You’re so hot, you know that?” Bree giggled one day at the Trevi fountains.
“Shut up. The fountains just made you randy, Bree.” Truly, it seemed Bree was always randy, always in the mood.
“Maybe it’s you that makes me hot, pretty Gigi. Ever consider it might be because of your proximity I am always so keyed up?” Bree never had a preference and made it known she got down with whoever struck her fancy.
Bree also lived to lead people on. More than once, I watched her make someone pant, just to get the thrill, then turn them down. No guilt. No remorse.
Bree said things like that to me all the time. That summer, however, I was broken hearted, and maybe I wanted her to mean it a little.
Not because I wanted Bree; I am all for free love, but I am not exactly that free. I wanted to hear someone say they wanted me. Even if they didn’t mean it.
When she got me drunk on our last night overseas and told me I was beautiful, I told her the same. Because, well, she was. Especially when we’d emptied four bottles of wine.
Later, when she crawled into bed with me, I let her. Pretended it was okay that she cuddled with me. I needed the affection.
Bree looked at me differently the next morning, and I thought perhaps she had been embarrassed. I know I was when I woke up with both of us naked in the sheets.
After we returned state side, Bree went radio silent. Then school started. Bree was supposed to go to New York. Instead, she stayed here with me, and we bunked together.
I thought the closeness the dorm forced would make us deal with that last night in Rome. Instead, we drifted further apart. That she could hurt me, intentionally go after Finn knowing what I felt for him, proved it.
Why she might be leaving letters and flowers, texting from blocked numbers, and sending me those pics, I could not fathom. I didn’t care. Not now. It hurt. Both because of her betrayal and the truth. Finn lied.
Again.
I knew now it was because he had been certain this bit of dirt could not be buried. Finn was wrong. After storing those photos on my cloud, just in case, I wiped them from my phone.
Wish I could wipe them from my memory too. I jogged the rest of the way home, my lungs burning in the cold. I knew Finn would be pissed I left without bothering to let anyone know. I’d make it up to him.
Just as a smile cracked my face, I heard it. Footsteps. The streets were busy but the sidewalks were pretty empty.
At first, I thought nothing of it. Until I realized the pace matched mine. I wasn’t jogging now, just walking fast. It was freezing, and I’d left my coat at the cottage.
When I sped up, so did the steps. I didn’t dare look behind me. If there was someone there, I didn’t want them to know I was aware. Instead, I just picked up my pace.
I was close to the condo but I no longer wanted to go home. Instead, I blew right past it. Doubled back towards Finn’s station. It was four blocks from the condo. Even if he was out, or asleep since it was late, I would be safe there.
Adrenaline spiked through my veins as I heard the footsteps pick up. Running track in high school suddenly came into play. Pulling in huge lung full’s of icy air, I sped up. Swerved around a bum curled up beneath a store front.
Then through a patch of trees around the side of a deli. Probably not wise to take a shortcut. I knew the neighborhood, though.
Spent plenty of time this summer sneaking around to see Finn. Who knew that might come in handy?
Panic should be setting in any moment now. I knew it was not natural for me to not feel scared. I felt angry, actually. Angry enough that twice, I almost twisted to confront whoever was trailing me.
Fearing it might have nothing to do with Bree, or whoever had been stalking me, I thought better of it. How did I suddenly become a magnet for chaos?
“Because you fell in love with a whore and led your teacher on while fouling up your friendship with your bestie.” Puffs of cold air filled the night sky as I berated myself.
The fire station loomed into view and my feet picked up. The steps behind me pounded on the snow, crunching it with every step.
My body felt clammy in my sweater and thick leggings. I loved these leggings; the bright pink and green Aztec print was pretty. They were so soft. Finn liked me in leggings. Get a grip, Gigi!
“Gigi Cooper,” Hunter’s deep voice boomed, his southern accent curling his words slightly, “What are you doing here so late, angel?” Hunter adjusted a ball cap on his shaved head, spinning the brim to the back.
“I need Finn. Now. Someone was following me. I think.” The grin on Hunter’s face vanished, and he shoved me inside.
“Finn’s upstairs. Go. Now.” I didn’t need to be told twice.
The steps to my left led to safety. To Finn. I rushed up them, tears suddenly streaming down my face. I heard his laugh from upstairs, and calm replaced the burn of fear and panic.
I didn’t know if my stalker was Bree or Jordan. Or if being followed had anything to do with it, really. I just knew I was scared, and I wanted Finn to make me feel safe again.
“F-Finn…” My throat felt dry; I realized I was sweating from rushing here and my chest pumped for air.
Finn sat at the leather couch, laughing with Levi as they played Xbox. Call of Duty. I wanted to play. Finn’s eyes flew to me and he dropped the controller. I didn’t have to say another word.
Finn’s thick legs carried him across the room and I was lifted against him. Swept right up off my feet. I clutched at him as I sobbed into his neck. We were moving, and then Finn shouted at Levi. The room went quiet for a moment.
“Talk to me, Sweetheart. What’s going on?” I was shaking against him, my fingers clawing at his shoulders.
“I was followed. For blocks, Finn. I was running home because,” I bit back the sour taste in my throat, the taste of a lie, “I was tired of being in Cage and Charli’s way. It’s just a few blocks. Figured I might get home, lock up at your place. No harm. Right?”
“Oh, Sweetheart. Did you see anyone? Did they say anything? Any car you recognized?” I shook my head, burrowing into him deeper.
“No. No. I was almost home. At that bench by the sub shop. I like that sub shop. Can we have lunch there tomorrow? I’m starving now, actually. Can you feed me, Finn?” Gibberish; it all sounded like gibberish because I was speaking so fast, even for me.
Finn chuckled, but closed his arms tighter ar
ound me. For a long moment, he just held me. I twisted in his arms to glance up as I heard footsteps on the stairs.
Hunter was there, watching us closely. I suddenly realized something. Hunter had gone out in search of whoever might have been following me. What a brave fellow, Hunter.
“Didn’t see anyone Finn.” I popped up, twisting on Finn’s lap.
“No one? Not Bree or Jordan or…” I trailed off as I scrambled to my feet.
“Sweetheart, calm down. They saw where you were coming, and took off. You’re safe now. Hunter, I’m going to take her back to Cage’s place; is that cool?” Finn stood behind me, wrapping one thick arm around my front, his hand cupping my shoulder.
“Yeah, of course. Just go on call the rest of the night. Take her home; we’ll call you if we need you.” Hunter smiled his bright white smile, but I shook my head.
“N-no its fine. I can take an uber home. Or something. It’s fine.” Why did I say that? I was fucking terrified, my vision blurry from tears and my teeth rattling as I trembled.
“Absolutely not. Thanks, Byrne.” The two exchanged a look, and I was yanked down the stairs.
Following Finn down the stairs and out past the trucks, I was anxious. Worried about what we might find at home. Wondering if I should tell him about the photos. I could not be sure the two were even related, really.
The less detail I had to learn about Finn’s cock being in Bree’s mouth, or elsewhere, the better. Just as we reached his blazer parked in the back lot, he seemed to break.
Finn shoved me against the blazer and took my mouth. I clutched at him desperately, letting him lift me up. My legs went around his hips and my arms lassoed his neck. As my fingers tangled in his thick hair, he groaned and tore his mouth away. We were both breathing heavily, the icy air full of our desperation.
“Why the fuck did you not tell me you were leaving Cage’s? I can’t think about you taking risks like that. Fuck, Gigi. I love you, Sweet Girl. So fucking much. If anything happened to you…” Finn buried his face in my neck and closed his thick arms tighter around me.
