Walk Me Down

by Bellus, HJ

  “Deal.”

  “Deal?” I ask.

  “It’s a deal because I’m not letting you back out of it.”

  “Whatever,” I say rolling my eyes and going for the passenger door.

  Immediately, I notice it’s completely piled up with coolers, life jackets and a bag.

  Pointing to the mess, I ask, “Where am I supposed to sit?”

  “In the middle,” Finn replies, as he grabs my hand and starts dragging me to the driver’s side.

  “You asshole. Where did Wes sit on the way here?”

  Finn keeps dragging me and just laughs.

  “I’m not losing one minute of this week. I came prepared.”

  “So, you are telling me that Wes sat on your lap on the drive down here?”

  “No, I’m telling you that I’ve fucking died day after day with the thought of never kissing you again.”

  Finn wastes no time after his sentence and swoops down on me. He hesitates one second, almost pulling back from his decision, and I decide to jump for it. Standing on my tippy toes, I reach up and graze his lips. They feel and taste the same they did the other night. My hands grab his long, shaggy hair, as I press harder to his lips. Finn opens up and again I jump first, gliding my tongue into his mouth. I feel his hands roaming down my back and finally settling on my ass. His grips tighten, as he pulls me towards him, eliminating all air between us. A honking horn and some catcalls finally pull me to my senses. Looking up, I see Will’s truck pulling back into the parking lot and Scarlett hanging out the back hollering her approval.

  “Get a room,” Will pipes up.

  He pulls in right next to us, and I can see the smiling faces of all four of the idiots in the truck. So obvious this was a complete setup.

  “So, everyone was in on this?” I ask.

  “Kinda,” Tommie answers.

  “Kinda, how?”

  “Well, Wes texted us the plan earlier this AM. I told them I was only leaving you alone with Finn for twenty minutes because I didn’t want anyone to get killed,” Tommie explains.

  Scarlett and Wes are smiling like fools who just won the lottery in the backseat with sweet victory plastered all over their face.

  “Don’t get too excited, it’s just a week.”

  Finn wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me into him. The sensation of him touching me is welcoming and all so inviting, but in the same instance, a slight twinge of awkwardness pulls at me, and I instantly feel uncomfortable with his hands on me in front of my family. I pull away and climb up into his truck.

  “Well, let’s go,” I say with everyone staring back at me.

  “We’ll follow you, Finn,” Will announces.

  With the engine roaring to life, Finn begins to pull out of the parking lot.

  “What was that all about?” He asks.

  “What?” I feign innocence.

  “Don’t play dumb with me, Tessa.”

  “I don’t know…”

  Finn’s phone goes off, saving me from answering him. My heart sinks a little knowing he noticed me pull away from him. It’s like my heart knows what and who it wants, but my brain is fucking everything else up for me. I notice Finn’s conversation is all about the farm, irrigation and some other shit I have no clue about. His voice is tense.

  Grabbing his hand, I stretch up and place a kiss on his cheek and then whisper, “I’m sorry, Finn.”

  “You promised a week. I want one full week of Tessa. Not the Tessa everyone thinks she should be, but the one she is. I want her.”

  “I’ll try,” I whisper.

  We pull into the dock, with Will behind us, and secretly I hope Finn and I can sneak off in his boat by ourselves. Scarlett and Wes hop out the back of the truck and look as if they’ve been a couple for years. The girl can always fit in so easily, but there’s definitely something different with her and Wes.

  “I think my brother has it bad for that girl,” Finn says, pulling me from my thoughts.

  “Well, if I was a betting woman I think Scarlett has fallen for him.”

  We both watch the two unload the truck as they set up a little camp on the shore. There are a lot of things you can dream about and wish for in life, but the one simple thing I want is Scarlett’s easy carefree attitude.

  Finn backs his boat down into the dock, hops out to unload it, and I just sit frozen wondering how this will all work out. He’s the man I’ve been dreaming about for days. His scent, his tone of voice and his eyes, have consumed all my thoughts, and now here I sit with him. He’s asked for one week with me and has demanded all of me for that week. Deep down, I want that time with him to be whomever I want and act impulsively whenever I want. I want to live life with Finn.

  The driver door opens, sending in a gush of hot air rolling over my skin, and I remember all the posters that have been plastered around town advertising the county fair.

  “Until the county fair,” I say.

  “What?” Finn asks, looking up.

  “I want to be with you until the county fair.”

  “That’s all summer,” he replies looking shocked as hell.

  “And that’s what I want.”

  I watch as Finn jumps up into the driver’s seat with a huge grin plastered on his face. His hands grab my hips and he pulls me onto him. Every single emotion possible races through me: excitement, happiness, fear, dread, shame, but most of all joy. I can sit here and worry about all my insecurities of being abandoned and self-worth or focus on my missing leg, the wreck and the color red. Yes, I can sit here and focus on all that shit or I can choose to take a chance with Finn. The man who has brought out every single emotion in me in just a few short weeks. I want the adventure.

  Grabbing both sides of his face, I let him know, “ Finn, I choose the adventure with you. Our one night together at the bar was amazing. I’ve never felt so alive. Let’s do this.”

  “Tessa, I never thought I’d hear you speak those words.”

  Bending down to touch his lips with mine, I whisper, “Don’t break my heart, Finn, it’s already been crushed too many times.”

  I don’t give Finn a chance to talk or defend himself before my lips finally touch his. They feel exactly like I remember and that’s probably because I’ve fantasized about them every night since our first kiss. His hands roam up and down my back as we kiss.

  “I want you again,” I whisper into his mouth.

  Again, I don’t wait for an answer or reply, instead I keep devouring his lips. Finn’s hands move low down to my ass and pull me in harder on top of him, and I can feel every single inch of his want for me.

  A pounding sound on the hood draws both of our attention up. Will is pounding on the hood trying to get our attention.

  “Let’s go you two horn dogs,” he says.

  Looking to my left, trying to bury my head from embarrassment I see Kara and her gang of bitches staring at us from a distance.

  “I hate her,” I whisper.

  “What? Who?” Finn asks, trying to turn his to look.

  “Her. I fucking hate Kara. She’s not nice to me.”

  Sitting back and facing him, Finn starts to talk, “I’m very sorry for what she’s done and said to you.”

  “She can’t hurt me anymore if you stay by my side.”

  “I’m here,” Finn reassures me.

  Scarlett rips open the driver’s side door. “Let’s going.”

  Tommie and Scarlett have unloaded all the food, blankets and towels, and have created a perfect little picnic area. The three men are busy collecting some firewood and prepping the fire pit. I’m having a hard time focusing on the girls’ conversation because I can’t keep my eyes off of Finn.

  “Earth to Tessa, we want details,” Tommie demands.

  “What?”

  “Spill it, ass,” Scarlett demands, pointing towards Finn.

  “I’m giving it a chance just for the summer,” I reply.

  “My little sister has a man,” Tommie squeals.

 
“Both of you stop now and I mean it,” I say, trying to sound very mean.

  “We’re just so excited for you. You’ve been like a nun for years now and I, well, quite frankly, Will and I, were a little worried about you turning into a lesbo.”

  “You’re so fucking embarrassing,” I say laying out a tablecloth. Figuring I need to contribute to the camp area.

  “He’s hot. I do approve of that,” Tommie says.

  “No shit, he’s fucking hot. I do have standards unlike Scarlett,” I say laughing.

  Before the last word leaves my mouth, I feel two hands wrap around my waist and then lips on my neck.

  “You do have good taste,” Finn whispers.

  Everything inside of me freezes with dread of unwanted attention. I mean I want his attention. I want him, but after years of closing myself off to the world, it’s hard to open up even a little bit for Finn. Willing myself not to brush him off, I find myself melting just a little back into his hold, and then I catch Kara again out the corner of my eye.

  The ugly snarl on her face is just enough encouragement to make me fall back into Finn’s body. The feel of his hard chest against my back feels like home. In this moment, I realize there’s nowhere else I’d rather be. I’m here to fight for my chance at a normal life again, like a warrior; I’ll give it my all.

  “Let’s go out on the boat,” Finn whispers down into my neck.

  Turning around, I fling my arms around his neck and kiss him. Finn nearly pulls back from shock, but quickly recovers with one swipe of his tongue along my lips.

  “Jump up into my arms,” he whispers into my mouth.

  “I can’t,” I say, pulling slightly away from him.

  “You can. I’ll catch you. I promise, Tessa.”

  “Finn, my leg. I can’t do it.”

  “Tessa, jump.”

  His words, his presence and the promise I just made him all swirl around inside until my legs steady just enough under me that I take the leap and jump up into his arms. A scream escapes my lips when my feet leave the ground. My common sense kicks in and is shocked by my actions. I feel Finn’s arms wrap around my back while my arms fly around his neck.

  “Finn,” I squeal.

  “See, I told you that I’d catch you.”

  “I can’t believe I just did that.”

  “Let’s go for a ride. I want to take you to a special place.”

  “Kiss me again,” I whisper.

  Finn doesn’t ask questions, rather just gets right down to business. My fingers run through his shaggy hair while my tongue dances in his mouth.

  Pulling back from his lips, I whisper, “I need you again.”

  “Me too, baby.”

  “No, I need you right now.”

  Finn swings us around and heads straight for his boat.

  “Hey, we are you two going?” I hear Will ask.

  Neither of us answers him as we both giggle like two giddy teenagers.

  “I’m starting to think this is going to be the best summer of my life,” I say as Finn sets us down in the driver’s seat.

  “Oh baby, in about thirty minutes, you’ll be screaming my name and have no doubt about this summer being the best ever.”

  Finn flips his cap backwards, starts the boats engine and takes off with me still on his lap.

  “Isn’t this dangerous?” I ask.

  “I’ve been driving a boat since I was seven,” he replies.

  “What?” I yell over the engine.

  “My granddaddy always took me fishing and would let me drive. We’ll pass the backside of our farm in a bit. I’ll point it out.”

  I desperately want to keep both of my hands on Finn, but my hair keeps whipping in every freaking direction making it hard to talk to Finn. He finally picks up on my problem and plops his hat on me.

  Finally, with my hair out of the way and both hands where they want to be I can ask questions.

  “So, your granddaddy is a farmer?”

  “Yep,” he answers kissing me.

  “Do you farm with him?”

  “Yep,” he answers again with another kiss.

  “And you love farming?”

  “Yep,” he replies again with a kiss.

  “I know all this because Will told me.”

  “Yep,” he replies with a kiss.

  “You jerk! Are you even listening to me?”

  “Yep,” he says and doesn’t forget the kiss.

  “Finn, I don’t understand because the day in the office it seemed like you and your dad were best friends.”

  Finn goes to answer my question, and I immediately feel bad for prying into such rough issues when we just barely figured everything out.

  “Wait,” I interrupt him, “kiss me first.”

  I feel the boat slow down and then the motor dies. Finn stands up, walking us towards the back of the boat and lays me down on a long bench. His body covers mine and when we are nose to nose, he begins to talk.

  “My dad is pissed that I never went to college. He’s pissed I want to farm with my granddaddy. My family owns this town and he’s dead set on me owning my own business. He wants nothing to do with my mom’s side of the family and it kills him that I do. Farming is in my blood. My momma loved that farm and so do I. Dad makes it all look great for the community, but yeah, someone like Will, whose lived here forever and rents office space from him, would know the whole story.”

  “He wants you with Kara,” the words leave my mouth before I even realize.

  They are the cold hard truth and the thought that makes seeing Kara even harder. Finn is supposed to be with her, building a future and making beautiful babies.

  “I’m supposed to be a dentist or pharmacist, too. I’m not. I’m just the good old boy who loves life and is going to follow in his granddaddy’s footsteps.”

  I don’t have any more words to speak because the truth is Finn is out of my league. His father would be disgusted to know his son has fallen for the crippled nurse in town.

  “Look at me,” I hear his voice again. “I want you, Tessa, and I do get everything I want.”

  “I’m just not right for you, Finn.”

  “Where is this all coming from?” He asks getting even closer to my lips.

  “It’s the truth. I just look into the future and don’t see us making it.”

  “I don’t think it’s your decision to decide.”

  “I won’t be able to walk away from you a whole person, Finn.”

  “Why do you think you’ll ever have to walk away?”

  “Good things never happen to me.”

  “Ever think this may be your happy ever after?”

  “I want it to be,” I whisper.

  “Then let’s get started telling our story, Tess.”

  I giggle at him calling me Tess. It doesn’t last long before his lips are on mine. I feel his hands roam up and down my side before he has me sitting up in his lap, and he’s stripping my clothes off. Looking around, while Finn kisses his way down my neck, I realize we are in the middle of a rocky cove with no one for miles.

  Throwing back my head, I feel Finn begin to write our story upon my skin.

  Chapter 7

  Quite the Catch

  “Finn,” I scream. “I caught something.”

  Rocky bounds over to see what’s going on. I’ve grown to love Finn’s puppy after our horrible first meeting.

  “Pull back on your rod,” Finn shouts.

  “Hurry,” I scream.

  Turning my head, I watch as Finn tries to run as fast as he can back to the shore with beer and chips filling his arms.

  “Finn!”

  “Calm your ass down, it’s not like you caught a shark.”

  “Oh my God, I bet it’s the biggest fish ever,” I say, as the tip of the pole bends even closer to the water.

  “Reel it in,” Finn says.

  “You have to catch it when it comes up out of the water. I don’t want it to hit my face.”

  Finn just laughs at me
, but I keep reeling the fish in. This is our routine every night. I get off work and meet him at his granddaddy’s fishing pond. Some nights Finn isn’t finished working so I’ll join him or sit on the porch with Granddaddy Jimmy. Secretly, I love sitting with him. There’s just something about his words that have the power to soothe everything in my soul. He loves telling stories about Finn’s mom and I love hearing them. Neither Wes nor Finn ever talk about her.

  “Jerk on your pole a little and keep reeling, baby.”

  “I know,” I scream.

  Finally, a dark blob comes sailing out of the water on the end of my pole. I holler and begin a victory dance celebrating the fact something is attached to the end of my pole. When all the commotion stops, I finally see the fish hanging from the end of the line. It’s no bigger than the size of my hand. My smile instantly fades.

  “It’s a beauty,” Finn says.

  “Shut up.”

  Finn begins to chuckle which turns into a full belly laugh.

  “You really thought you had a shark, uh?”

  “Shut up, asshole.”

  Finn’s laughter doesn’t stop. I start swinging my pole at him trying to hit him upside the head with my fish.

  “I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” he repeats, holding up his hands in surrender.

  “Can we take it home? I want to show Jimmy,” I ask.

  “Of course.”

  Finn sits in his lounger and I find my spot on his lap. We share greasy potato chips and beers while watching the sun set and waiting for the fish to bite.

  It’s been two weeks since our promise and we haven’t missed one single day without being together. I’ve opened up and explained the wreck and Rhett. Finn just listened and wiped away my tears.

  “Can I tell you something?” I blurt out.

  “No, you can’t have my amazing, rocking body right now. I’m fishing,” Finn jokes.

  After our first official date of boating I soon found out that Finn is quite the smartass.

  “One, I bet I could seduce you right now,” I reply.

  “You’re probably right,” he admits. “It would just take you popping out those sweet little titties of yours.”

  Cutting him off, before he goes into any greater detail, I add, “Two, I just want to tell you that I’ve fallen in love with you, Finn.”