I laugh.
And there’s another pause. This one longer.
FINN: Drive safe.
I exhale, not sure if that’s concern or dismissal, but wanting it to be concern with an intensity that grips my insides tightly in its talons.
For someone—forFinn—to want me to come home safely.
RHODES: Always.
Then I do what she requested.
I drive home safely, park in the garage, unlock the door to the inside.
The house is quiet and dark aside from the lights Finn left on for me.
I walk through the kitchen, start for the stairs.
Then stop when something on the island catches my attention.
It’s a plate covered with foil, a sticky note—pink of course—decorated with Chloe’s messy scribbles.
But I can make out the letters and my throat goes tight.
FOR MY DADDY
I lift the foil and find two misshapen cookies inside.
And another note, this one in Finn’s handwriting.
She insisted. Don’t ask how many chocolate chips didn’t make it into the dough. :)
-F
My mouth curves as I look up at the ceiling.
Everything is quiet and still, and I know they’re all asleep.
Even the kittens.
I should do the same, should get to bed so I can drive Chloe to school in the morning.
Instead, I stand there with that note in my hand, absently rubbing my other over the growing ache in my chest.
And when I finally make my feet carry me upstairs, I know one thing with complete certainty?—
I’m in way more trouble than I thought.
Seventeen
Finn
“I wish you could stay forever.”
The words are so soft I almost miss them.
I look up from where I’m wiping down the counter and find Chloe’s watching me, her chin propped in both hands.
