But I don’t know them.
“If I’ve learned anything,” I say, “it’s that life can slap you hard across the face when you least expect it.”
“I know.” Her eyes are damp with tears and she reaches out then stops, teeth pressing into her bottom lip. “I know you know what that’s like.” Another breath then she closes the distance between us, her fingertips lightly grazing my forearm. “I’m sorry.”
My entire body locks.
Because it’s nothing, just the lightest touch.
And it’s only for a moment.
But I feel iteverywhere.
She must feel it too, because her hand drops away quickly and she spins away.
“Life shouldn’t make you small, Finn. It’s for living and being happy and if that means making blankets and going on a trip that takes you all over the world, then that’s what you should do.” I take her hand, slowly draw her around to face me. “Not for them. Not for anyone else. Foryou.”
One tear slips free, sliding slowly down her cheek.
I use my thumb to wipe it away.
Her lips part, and fuck, they’re so plump and pink and look so soft.
I want to taste them—needto taste them.
To tasteher.
I bend?—
Beep-beep! Beep-beep!
We jerk apart and, the moment broken, she hurries to the oven, pulling out the sheet of perfectly baked cookies, their warm, sweet smell filling the room.
I wait until she sets them on the counter to cool, then step toward the hall, “Goodnight, Finn.”
Her gaze comes to mine and a wealth of unsaid things flow between us.
But all she does is pick up the spoon and say, “Goodnight, Rhodes.”
I go up to bed.
But I don’t sleep.
Not until much,muchlater when I hear her quiet footsteps on the stairs, the softclickof her door closing.
Not until the scent of cookies fades from the air.
Nine
Finn
Chloe’s beenoff since I picked her up from school.
And now she’s being uncharacteristically stubborn—or okay, notuncharacteristicallystubborn. She’s four, after all, and she definitely has her own mind.
She’s just…not acting like the Chloe I know.
Normally, the car ride home from school is full of chatter about her school day—who built what, what snack they ate, who didn’t listen to Ms. Mika and got in trouble, what Jake said or did.
