“Miguel likes you?—”
“Hejuststarted to like me,” Finn interrupted. “I don’t want to ruin that by suddenly moving in and disrupting his entire life.”
Elena nodded. “Okay, that’s a good point.” She tapped her fingers on the table. “But we need to be realistic. You don’t have many options right now, Finn. You either need to find a new job soon, or you’ll have to move out of your apartment.”
She was right. He had been doing the math in his head all afternoon. “I’ll figure something out,” he said, but he didn’t have any ideas yet.
“So let me help you figure it out,” Elena said, a little louder. “I can make some calls, write recommendation letters. I know people at?—”
“You don’t have time for that,” Finn cut in. “You’re dealing with the investigation, working on the research, and taking care of Miguel. You already have too much on your plate.”
She studied him for a long moment, something unreadable in her expression. Then she tried again, her voice gentler. "At least let me make you dinner tomorrow night. Come over, we can?—"
"You don't need to do that."
"Finn—"
"I'm fine, Elena. Really."
They went quiet. Elena's hands had gone still on the table,her eyes fixed on him with an intensity that made him want to look away.
“You’re allowed to need help too, Finn,” she said, a little edge to her voice.
He opened his mouth to argue, but nothing came out.
"You've been there for me through everything. Now it’s my turn and you won’t let me."
"It's not about that?—"
"Then what is it about?" Elena demanded. "We’re partners now. That means we support each other. And it goes both ways."
She was right. He knew she was right. But accepting help felt like admitting he couldn't handle things on his own, like he was becoming a burden she'd eventually resent.
"I don't want to be another thing you have to worry about," he finally admitted.
Elena looked at him for a while, then frowned.
"Finn, you’re not a thing to worry about. You're the person I love. And in my culture, when someone offers to cook for you, the only answer is ‘what time?’"
Despite everything, Finn felt a small smile forming.
She reached across the table, her hand covering his. "We'll figure this out. Together. But you have to let me in, Finn. Let me help."
He looked at their joined hands. "Okay," he said. "Dinner tomorrow. I'll be there."
"Good." Elena squeezed his hand, a hint of her usual playfulness returning to her expression. "And if all else fails, we still have a good plan for robbing a bank."
"Simulated earthquake?" Finn asked.
"Absolutely not. My plan is actually based in reality."
Finn couldn’t help but smile. It had been a shit day. But whenever he looked at Elena, he realized how lucky he was.
Chapter Thirty-Two
12 Months Later
FINN
