He shifted slightly, letting out a low groan.
“Cool, huh?” He spoke down to her as she stretched across his legs.
“They’re so tiny. They look like toys, don’t they? Oh, I bet it’s a breathtaking ride!”
“Alright, sit up,” he said, expelling a lungful of air as he nudged her with his knee. “Let’s get some lunch.”
As Fin pulled in to a fried chicken joint, Hailey grabbed her stomach, which was trained to growl at any mention of food.
“…and if you can hear me over that monster in your gut, I’ll take you flying in the school’s Super Cub this winter,” he offered.
Hailey gave him a blank stare.
“You can fly?”
“There’s a lot I can do,” he said in his oh-so-confident way, and Hailey looked away. She could feel her cheeks burning as she all but fell out of the truck.
“Get your mind out of the gutter,” he chided.
“I wasn’t even thinking about sex with you,” she blurted before she could stop herself and in a voice so loud another couple turned to stare.
Paralyzed by shame, Hailey wrapped her arms around her head.
Footsteps crunched against the gravel next to her.
“Yes you were,” said Fin.
“No, I really—I wasn’t—I never even…”
When she uncovered her head, a few tears of embarrassment sneaked out of her eyes.
Fin wrapped his arms around her and squeezed. Oh how she missed his hugs!
Even with a twinge of guilt pricking her heart, she didn’t want him to let go, and she closed her eyes as she breathed in his cologne.
Then he kissed her on the head with a loud, “mwah!” and the moment was gone.
“Let’s get some grub,” he laughed, walking with his arm around her shoulder, pulling her in tight. “You’re the biggest spaz…” he teased, and Hailey wiped her face.
“You stink,” she chuckled with a sob. Jeez, not twenty-four hours had passed since her last break down, and there she was crying again. “Someone sent me a Nasty Gram yesterday,” she told him.
Fin threw his head back and let out a groan. “Cobon.”
“What?”
“He swung by last night…said he was out delivering a personal note.”
“Is that what happened to your face? I thought Cobon couldn’t come to Bear Towne—I…I thought Asher could keep him out—I thought…” Her heart pounded as her sense of security evaporated.
Fin pulledher into another hug, pressing her head into his chest, instantly quelling her panic. Just like with Asher, it was complete comfort…only Fin didn’t want her dead.
“Don’t worry about it, okay?” he said softly. “Asher can stop anyone from hurting you before it happens—”
Fat chance.
“—and Cobon won’t come near you.”
Hailey stepped back. “What do you mean? Why?”
