CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The boys are late to pick me up from work. Jake has never been late before. He has to be a driving frenzy through the city. I remember my last death defying ride when I was late for our first girl’s brunch. I’m pretty sure Jake had the massive Escalade on two wheels at one point, which is a feat considering traffic doesn’t move at more than twenty-five miles an hour anywhere in the city. Poor Finn.
The black Escalade turns the corner and tires squeal as Jake speeds up before he slams on the brakes inches from me. The large vehicle lurches forward, the back door swings open, and Finn jumps out. He falls to his knees in front of me and latches on to my midsection with a death grip.
“Save me, please. Save me from his driving!” People stop to stare at his over exaggerated actions.
“Oh my God, Finn. What are you doing?” I start to pull him toward his black death trap, but he stands, laughing at my reaction. His cologne clings to me from where his forest green shirt and matching plain long sleeve flannel touched me. The top few buttons are undone and his sleeves are rolled to his elbows. It’s my favorite look on him and I have to shake my head to stop myself from staring too long.
He runs his hand through his loosely styled brown hair. “Have you ridden with him before? I thought I was going to die.” Finn walks back to the vehicle.
I follow Finn into the backseat pulling down my black skirt before I slide across the leather seats. “I’m sure it wasn’t so bad," I answer Finn, but speak the words in Jake’s direction. He laughs from his place in the driver’s seat.
“The man lacks all sense of adventure, Pen,” Jake calls from the front and then makes a wide turn into traffic. I silently pray neither of them see me white knuckle the arm rest.
“Did you wear sneakers?” Finn’s leg twitches.
He’s his usual bright and happy self again. It makes me think he’s not as upset about the driving as he pretended and I laugh. It comes off random and makes both Finn and Jake eye me with raised eyebrows. Why can’t I raise an eyebrow? Is it a man skill?
I have no idea what today’s plans are, but I was instructed this morning to have tennis shoes on when I left work. I had to run back upstairs to grab a pair. I lift my foot and sling my right leg over his to show him my cute black and pink Reeboks.
Before I remove my foot, Finn latches on to my ankle and holds it to his leg. The position isn’t comfortable, but he tilts his head to my shoe in such a forlorn fashion I can’t move it. The way he almost reveres my foot portrays a deeper meaning, but I dare not break the quiet to find out what.
We ride in silence for a few moments. I’ve learned there is no hope in trying to get our destination out of him. Finn’s lips can keep a secret.
“Aspen.” Something in his tone worries me. There are too many feelings expressed in that one simple word.
“Yeah, Finn.”
He hesitates. “Can we not tell any of the guys I used the word cuddle last night?” He speaks the request to my foot.
His serious tone over the silly question catches me off guard and I snort before I answer, “Sure, Finn. Your secret is safe with me.” I almost confess to telling both Marissa and Amanda about it today but decide it’s better just to swear them to secrecy as well.
Finn releases my foot and leans over to me. His hand caresses my jaw line before he dips and places a quick, soft kiss to my lips. “Thanks.”
Jake stops the Escalade next to a tall red brick building. A black fabric overhang with the words Cosmo’s Comics written in big bold white letters announces our location.
I’m confused. “Comics?” I didn’t have a clue where we'd end up tonight, but comics was not one of the many options I’d considered.
Finn jumps from the SUV before Jake can open our door and holds his hand out for me to take. “Trust me.” He leans back in and speaks to Jake before I get all the way out. “Have a great night. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I send Jake a wave and walk with Finn toward the building. A large glass window to the side of the door lengthens the store’s name to Cosmo’s Comics and Café. Inside people mill about the area. Their bodies hunched over long white tables with big boxes that I presume hold comics.
Finn holds the door for me as the little bell on top chimes. The ten or so people in the store stop and move their heads in our direction. Coffee bean smells permeate the air as I cross into the building.
A chorus of “Hey, Finn” can be heard, a few from every direction.
“We’re back here.” Finn says as he leads me to the far right corner of the lengthy building to an area with three big circular couches. They're a color between orange and yellow and the extra padding makes them fluff out. They scream, “Come. Sit down. Stay a while.”
We pass a light wood semicircular desk with a hanging sign above indicating it’s customer service and the checkout. On the far corner sits a big gleaming coffee machine with disposable cups stacked next to it. The café I presume.
“Hey, Finn. You’re the first today. You want your usual?” A short, slightly balding, but nice looking guy asks from the other side of the counter.
“Jason,” Finn raises a hand in his direction, “the usual and add on a hot chocolate please.” He stops, places a hand around my back and spins me to see more of Jason. “This is, Aspen. Aspen, this is Jason. He owns the place.”
