by Regina Wade
I was less scared then than I was tonight, seeing that idiot boy with his hands all over Faye.
“Relax, Walker. I’m fine.”
I sit up a bit in the bathtub, leaning down to catch Faye’s eyes. Hers are closed, but the smile on her face tells me she knows I’m looking at her.
“How did you know I needed to relax?”
“I could feel you tense up.” She answers, the same big smile on her face.
I shrug. I know she can’t see it, but she can feel it.
We’re curled up in my big clawfoot bath, her back to my chest, soaking in the bubbles. A sure cure for any and all stress.
“I could have been thinking about anything,” I reply.
“But you weren’t. We both know it. You can’t hide from me, Finn. I know you too well.”
I scowl down at her and splash her a bit. She splutters, eyes flashing open dangerously.
“You don’t know me that well.” I huff.
She grins. “I know you prefer vanilla to chocolate ice cream, except for rocky-road. I know you love to play pickup volleyball on the beach for beers. I know you always tear up at the end of Hamilton —”
“ — everyone tears up at the end of that —” I interject, but she keeps steamrolling me.
“I know you like whiskey when you’re sober and tequila when you’re drunk. I know you need your space but you crave companionship. I know you’re the best, most honorable man I know.”
She turns in my arms, looking up at me as she continues.
“I know I love you for a thousand reasons and none, Finn. I love you despite all of the reasons I shouldn’t. And now I know you feel the same.” She crawls up my chest to plant another searing kiss on my lips.
“So relax. I’m fine. I’m not going anywhere.” She says, turning back in my arms to lean back into me.
“Well, there is one reason I could be tense that you didn’t consider,” I say after a few minutes of basking in the love of this incredible woman.
“Oh? What’s that?” She asks, again without opening her eyes.
“Your father could be on his way over here,” I reply casually, watching her face for her reaction. I’m not disappointed.
Her eyes slam open as she slips under the water. I’m already laughing when she comes up.
“That’s not funny, Finn.” She scowls at me, looking just like she did when she showed up on my doorstep two weeks ago.
“I wasn’t joking. He should be here any —”
The sound of the door opening and closing punctuates my sentence just a second too early.
“ — second now. Relax, Faye.”
“Finn! I cannot let my father see me naked in a bath with you!” She hisses at me, splashing around in an attempt to get out of the bath. I don’t let her, though. Instead, I push her down, standing up to let the water run off of me.
“You finish up. I’m going to have a chat with him first. Man to man.”
“Finn, he’ll kill you. He’ll shoot you, and then he’ll burn me at the stake for being such a whore.” She shudders in the water.
“Hey. Your dad loves you. He loves me too, for that matter. You’re not a whore. Not even close. You’re my woman, and I won’t let anything happen to you or us. I promise.”
She nods back at me, forcing a small smile onto her face.
“All the same, if you hear gunfire, keep your head down,” I say with a grin as I throw my robe on and exit the bathroom.
“Finn, you guys here?!” Jake calls from the living room.
“Yeah, just a second Jake,” I call back. I take a moment to tighten my robe and straighten myself up a bit before entering the room with him.
He’s sitting on the couch, but begins to rise as I come in. I wave him down.
“Is Faye —”
“She’s fine, Jake. Relax.” I take a seat across from him, in my favorite chair.
“Finn, what happened? I got a text from you saying to come over, it’s about Faye. I know she’s been having trouble with some local frat punk, is that it?”
I shake my head, reaching over to grab my bottle of scotch. I pour us both a generous tumbler, pushing a glass into his hand.
“She’s fine. I took care of the boy. He won’t be bothering her or anyone else, not for two to three years, depending on the judge.”
Jake looks over at me, relief all over his face.
“That’s great, Finn. I knew I could count on you to keep Faye safe.”
“Don’t worry about that, Jake. I’m going to keep Faye safe no matter what.”
Jake gives me a funny look, cocking his head.
“Well, yeah. I mean, she’s my daughter.”
I shake my head.
“She’s more than that, Jake. I have feelings for her.”
Jake blinks at me, then throws his head back and laughs.
“Oh, god. Finn. You’re too much sometimes.” He chuckles, shaking his head as he takes another drink.
“I’m serious, Jake. I have feelings for your daughter.” I say mildly.
He stares at me over the top of his glass as he slowly lowers it.
“You’re serious? What the hell, Finn?” Jake asks, disbelief and shock warring in his voice.
“I didn’t mean for it to happen, Jake. But the heart wants what the heart wants.” I say with a smile.
Jake shakes his head. “No. absolutely not, Finn. You’re too old for her.” Jake stands up and begins pacing around the room. I eye him mildly, not wanting to be overly confrontational.
“She’s a grown woman, Jake. She’s about to graduate college, and she’s had time to figure out what she wants in a partner. Apparently, it’s me.”
Jake stares at me. “Wait, you’re saying that this isn’t just you? Faye feels the same way about you?” His eyes narrow as he realizes what I’m wearing for the first time.
“Finn, you better have a damn good reason you’re wearing a robe with my daughter in the house.” He snarls. I shake my head.
“Jake, please. Relax. Faye’s been through enough. She doesn’t need you getting yourself hurt.”
“The only one I’m going to hurt is you!” With a roar, Jake lunges for me.
I’m ready for it, though. I grab him around the middle, wrapping him up in a big bear hug.
“This is exactly what I was afraid of,” I growl in his ear. “This is only going to hurt Faye, the two fo us fighting like this.”
“Wrong. The only one it’s going to hurt is you, when I put my boot in your ass!” Jake shouts.
“Dad, let go of Finn!” Faye comes rushing in, half-dressed, and throws herself at her father. It’s startling enough that I let go of Jake.
He’s apparently in shock too, because he doesn’t do anything, just eats the punch right to his face. It’s textbook perfect, exactly like we trained, with all of her hips behind the blow.
Jake staggers back into me with enough force we both end up on the floor. Jake groans, his eyes rolling up for a moment before he snaps back to reality.
Faye is standing over us, hands on her hips, the light behind giving her an angelic halo.
She’s the most beautiful sight in the world.
Chapter 10
Faye
Wake up Maggie, I think I got something to say to you. It’s late September and I really should be back at school. — Rod Stewart, ‘Maggie May’
“Faye, goddammit, what’s gotten into you?” My Dad says as he wipes the blood from his split lip.
Your best friend. Repeatedly.
The thought flashes across my mind at lightning speed, but I dismiss it just as quickly.
“Nothing, Dad. I’m just tired of men trying to force themselves on me, literally and figuratively.”
Dad’s eyes go wide as he looks over at Finn. I sigh, facepalming.
“No, dad. Not him. You. You barge in here and start throwing your weight around like I’m eight instead of twenty-two.” I step over above him, then sit on his chest, poking him with a finger.
>
“It’s not your business who I’m with or what I’m doing with them. But for the record, yes, Finn and I are together.” I glance at the man in question, who has the biggest shit-eating grin on his face. He’s clearly enjoying this.
Hell, so am I.
“Not my business? You’re my daughter, Faye!” Dad sounds absolutely apoplectic, but I just give his chest another stab with my finger.
“I’m your little girl, Dad, but I’m not a little girl anymore! I’m an adult and I have been for years!” I fume at him.
“But, baby, Finn is my age,” he grumbles, but I shake my head.
“I’ve tried boys my age, dad. They’re all awful. I need a man, and as it so happens, your best friend is the best damn one I’ve ever met. One of the best things about him is that he lets me fight my own battles. Be my own person. He doesn’t treat me like less than who and what I am.”
I glare down at my father, willing him to get the point.
Standing up, I smooth my clothes into a semblance of order.
“Thank you for checking in on me, but I’m fine. We’re fine. You’re welcome to stay and have some dinner if you can be civil about this.”
My Dad jumps up, glaring at us both. His fist creaks as he tightens it. Without another word, he storms out.
I sigh, washing my face with one hand. Finn just grins, holding up both hands, fingers extended. Slowly he lowers them one at a time, counting down the seconds.
I can’t help but grin back at his antics.
Right on the last finger, Dad comes storming back in, a case of beer in one hand.
“Alright. If you’re an adult now, that means I don’t have to not get stupid drunk around you. So fair warning, because I need a lot of booze to deal with this.” Dad grouses.
I wrap my arms around his waist, pulling him into me in a big hug.
“Thanks, Dad.”
“Come here, Finn.” Dad waves my lover over and extends his hand.
Seeing my boys shake hands and makeup means everything to me. I couldn’t have been happy if I had come between them.
“Now, it’s time for a drink or ten,” Dad says with a sigh.
We laugh, and I lean against Finn.
Finn raises his glass.
“To love. Wherever we happen to find it.”
“I’ll drink to that,” I say with a smile.
One Year Later
Finn
“Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together for the graduating class!”
There’s a cacophony of cheers all around us, but Jake and I manage to out-shout and out-clap everyone around us. It’s a sight to behold: two big guys yelling at full volume like teenage girls at their first boy band concert.
Up on the stage, Faye is clearly trying not to laugh as she tosses her cap in the air and hugs her friends and classmates.
Jake tosses his arm over my shoulder.
“That’s my girl, Finn.” He says with a grin.
“No, that’s our girl, bud,” I answer back. Jake shrugs but smiles and goes back to hollering.
Things aren’t perfect, but they get a little easier every day. Jake is stubborn, but then again, so am I. It’s part of what made us great friends to begin with.
“Dad! Finn! Help!” Faye calls out.
Instantly I scan the horizon for trouble — but it’s only a sea of bodies pressing against Faye as she tries to swim upstream to get to us.
“Alright, let’s go fish her out of there,” I say. Jake chuckles but takes his seat.
“You go. I’m too old for moshing.” he grins up at me as he stretches out.
I roll my eyes but take off anyway. Faye might not really be in trouble, but I’ll never leave her hanging. When she calls, I answer.
No matter what.
“Alright, everyone. Excuse me. Please. If I could…” I trail off with a sigh. It’s impossible to be nice in a crowd and still make progress.
“Alright, everybody MOVE,” I shout at full volume, drawing on my old drill sergeant voice.
Unsurprisingly, the sea of bodies in front of me parts like I’m Moses. Faye dashes through the opening, throwing herself into my arms.
“Hey, big guy. Where’s my Dad?” She asks, looking over my shoulder.
“Pouting in our seats,” I answer.
“Good.” She says with a grin, pulling me down and kissing me deeply. I grab her hips, pulling her against me.
Faye’s body is sweet warmth against mine, her softness molding itself against the hard planes of mine. The crowd ceases to exist, the whole world falling away except for the beautiful girl in my arms.
“Come on, stud. We better go find him before he wonders what we’re up to.”
“I think he knows exactly what we’re up to, Faye.” I give her a teasing grin, but she rolls her eyes.
“He’s just pouting because he’s in denial.” She says, laughing.
“I wonder if that’ll change once you start showing,” I say, placing one hand protectively over her stomach.
Faye smiles up at me but shakes her head.
“I doubt it’ll be real to him until he’s holding his grandbaby in his arms.” She responds with a wink.
“Well, just seven months to go, then.” I smile back at the gorgeous angel in my arms.
I give the soon-to-be mother of my children a squeeze as I wrap one arm around her and begin to lead her back to our seats.
“He’s just pouting because he doesn’t think he’s old enough to be a grandfather, and he still thinks it’s too soon for us to have kids,” Faye says, leaning against me.
“Too soon? He’s lucky it took us this long. I would have been happy to put a baby in you on the first night.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t knock me up, honestly.” Faye gives me a sultry smile and her hand drops down to pinch my ass.
“Well, it wasn’t for lack of trying.” I grin down at her.
“Alright, let’s go find Dad before he gets too fussy.” Faye gives my hand a squeeze, but I stop her, pulling her back against me.
“You know, I haven’t given you your graduation present yet.” I murmur against her, our faces just an inch apart.
“Well, let’s go somewhere private and you can give it to me as much as you want.” She grins up at me wickedly, but I just shake my head.
“I’ve created a monster,” I mutter jokingly. She grabs my face, staring straight into my soul with her amber eyes.
“Oh, you have no idea, Mr. Walker. You think it was bad before? I’m going to want you even more for the next few months.” She reaches up on tiptoe for my lips, and I gladly give them to her.
“We better stock up on bottled water now to avoid death by dehydration.” I grin down at her. I’m kidding, but I can tell by the gleam in her eye that she’s not.
“Good idea. Let’s swing by one of those big warehouse stores on the way home and get a whole pallet. I don’t want to have to stop for anything.” Her hands slip along my back, feeling the muscles there through my shirt.
“I’m going to be the one who needs rescuing at this rate,” I joke. Faye smiles at me, all teeth.
“I pity anyone who tries to pry you out of my clutches. Now that I’ve got you, Walker, I’m not letting you go for anything.” Faye says, fire burning in her eyes.
“Good. That makes two of us, baby.” I sink to one knee, pulling a box out of my pocket.
“Finn, what —”
“I told you, I had a present for you.” I open up the box, showing off the ring inside.
“Faye Morrison, you are everything I’ve ever wanted. I know we took a long road to get here, but we’re finally together, and I never want to be apart again. Marry me. Please?” I ask, smiling up at my gorgeous girl.
Her arms are around my neck in a second as she rains kisses down upon me.
“Yes, of course I’ll marry you!” She says between kisses.
All around us, the crowd of happy people erupt into cheers. I look up and see Jake’s face in that
crowd, see the smile on his face. In that moment, I know for sure:
Everything is going to be just perfect.
Ten Years Later
Faye
This is the least perfect vacation in the history of vacations. Everything that can go wrong has, and I’m about ready to write the whole thing off as a loss.
“Finn, come on. Let’s just go back home.”
Finn shakes his head as he examines the leaking roof of our accommodations.
“Oh hell no. The kids are back there, remember?” he whispers in mock-horror.
I groan. “It’s better than this, Finn. Come on.”
Our room doesn’t even look like the picture on Airbnb. Between the leaking roof and the holes in the yard that the owner swears is just basic construction but I’m convinced are shallow graves, I’m ready to bail.
“Do you remember the last time we had a night without the kids?” Finn asks patiently.
I wrack my brain. “Uh, well. There was… let’s see…”
He turns and wags a finger at me.
“Exactly. We need this. I’m tired of having to keep our sex life quiet and quick. Remember how it used to be before the munchkins?”
I grin back at him. “Yes, which is how we got them in the first place.”
“Exactly!” He shouts triumphantly.
Finn slaps a piece of duct tape over the spreading brown stain on the ceiling and hops down onto the bed with me.
I sigh. “Finn, the heat doesn't work. The lights are flickering. The ceiling looks like it might cave-in soon.”
He shakes his head, pulling me into his arms.
