Finn lets out a sigh of relief and pulls me into a tight embrace. We hold each other for a few moments, the warmth of his body seeping into mine, before we break apart and continue down the path.
“My father is leaving today. He’s probably already gone after the shame of being thrown out of the restaurant. He’ll be gone for the whole summer. I hope we can see each other again and hang out. Get to know one another.”
“I’d like that.”
I don’t know why I don’t tell him I’m the girl from the party in the blonde wig. It’s the perfect time, but I find myself keeping quiet. I don’t want Finn to feel guilty for not recognising me, or to feel obliged to give me his time because we slept together. I’d rather we get to know each other properly and maybe form a friendship. Sure, he’s gorgeous, and I’m attracted to him, but I have a date with Koa to look forward to.
As we reach the beach, Finn stops and turns to face me again. “Lani, I have to be honest with you about something,” he says, his voice serious.
“What is it?” I ask, my heart starting to race.
“I’m not looking for just a friendship with you,” he says, his eyes locking onto mine. “I feel a strong connection with you, and I want to explore that.”
A jolt of electricity shoots through my body at his words. I’ve been trying to convince myself that I only see him as a potential friend, but the truth is I am attracted to him. The sex was amazing and I know that there’s a connection between us.
I don’t know what this is yet.
But I want to figure it out.
Only—
“Finn, I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Why not?” he asks, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
“Your dad clearly hates me,” I say, feeling the weight of his disapproval still heavy on my chest. “I don’t want to cause any more problems for you or your family.”
“Lani, my dad doesn’t dictate who I choose to be with,” Finn says firmly, fierce determination crossing his face. “And honestly, I don’t care what he thinks. I want to be with you. Or at least explore the possibility of something developing between us.”
I look into Finn’s eyes, and I can see the sincerity in them. My heart is telling me to say yes, to give in to the attraction that we share. But my head is telling me to be cautious, to not jump into anything too quickly.
“I need some time to think about it,” I say finally. “Can we just take things slow?”
How ironic when I’ve already slept with him, but he doesn’t know that.
“Of course,” Finn says, his eyes softening. “We’ll take it slow. Whatever that looks like, Lani.”
We walk in silence for a few moments, heading back to the house. When we arrive, I leave Finn in the lounge while I runupstairs to get changed into something comfy. Now that I know I don’t have to go out again today, it’s comfort all the way with leggings and an oversized hoodie, teamed with fluffy socks. Is it cold? No. Does it make me feel better? Yes. It really does. I stop by the bathroom and find some burn gel in the medicine cabinet, slathering it over my raw skin before returning downstairs.
“Hey, how are you doing?” Finn asks when my feet hit the bottom step.
“I’m good. Glad I don’t have to work tonight actually.”
Finn nods in agreement. “Me too. It’s nice to have a break sometimes.”
We settle onto the couch, and Finn puts on some music. The melody fills the room, and I find myself feeling relaxed and content. Finn scoots closer to me, and I lean into him, feeling his arm wrap around me. It feels easy. Too easy, but he doesn’t seem to mind.
We sit in comfortable silence for a while, just enjoying each other’s company.
But soon, Finn’s hand starts to wander, trailing up and down my arm, sending shivers through my body. I can tell he wants me, and part of me wants him too. But the other part of me is still hesitant, still trying to protect my heart.
“Finn, I don’t know if I’m ready for…anything,” I say finally, pulling away from him slightly.
“I’m not here to push you,” he says, his eyes searching mine. “I just needed to know you were okay.”
I nod, feeling grateful for his understanding, even though it’s the second time he’s said something along those lines to me and I feel like his wandering hands are less keen to wait.
Finn strokes my hair back from my face and I wince when he catches the sore spot from earlier.