Fink
Whetherthebathroomfanwas too loud, or the water, Fink hadn’t heard Sydney arrive, but he sure as shit picked up on the anger in her tone.Whirling around, his face half covered in makeup, he spotted a livid woman.
That couldn’t be good.
“I thought we were partners.”A hint of pain was mixed with the anger in her voice.
While that wasn’t entirely true, she wasn’t wrong.They had agreed to work together.Less like equals and more like teacher and student—trainer and trainee—mentor and mentee.Not partners.
Though, now didn’t seem like the right time to discuss nuance.She was clearly pissed.He might be new to this whole having a relationship thing, but he wasn’t stupid.Fink had figured that much out.
“How did you…” She crossed her arms over her chest.“When…” She closed her eyes and tried again.“Did you take a contract without talking to me?”
Fair question.
“No,” he said as he twisted the tap and turned off the water flowing into the sink.
Her eyes widened, and she gestured toward his face.“Wanna try that again?I thought we were being honest with each other.”
“We are.”He’d been nothing but truthful with her.She should remember that and understand how difficult that was for him.Sure, at times, he’d been vague, but he never lied.Why would he start now?
Her brows rose higher, and she waved her hands emphatically at his features again.“Then, by all means, explain.”
Fink scrubbed the back of his head.His hair was stiff from the gloopy temporary hair color.It wasn’t going anywhere until he took a shower.“This wasn’t a job.”
Her lips were tight.Clearly, her patience wore thin.About as slim as her walls.He didn’t want to give away too much information in case anyone was listening.
Not that her neighbors could hear anything over the loud fan, but he didn’t want to take chances.
“That’s all you’re going to say?”she huffed.
If he had his preference, yes.Though he had it on good authority that wouldn’t be acceptable to her.Blowing out a breath, he mentally stumbled through the wording.He wanted to get the point across without saying too much.
Which was a hell of a lot more difficult than it sounded.
He had never had to explain himself before.Even with AJ, he did his thing.No one cared before.
A warmth blossomed in his chest when it occurred to him that Sydney was pissed off because this—what they had—meant something to her.He wasn’t merely a tool for her to use.They were building a life together.
Okay.Time to navigate what it meant to be with someone.
“This was for…” His voice trailed off.“For us.”
She quirked a brow.Though he couldn’t tell if it was because she didn’t understand or out of skepticism.He had to keep going.
With his face still dripping, he stepped toward her.Resting his hands on her arms, he stooped ever so slightly so he could be at eye level with her.
“I don’t like messes.”
The corners of her mouth turned down.
“How we met.”He waved a hand between them.“Was getting far too chaotic for my liking.”
Her frown deepened.Apparently, he was bad at this.This was a first for him.She could at least cut him a little slack.Or at theveryleast, give him some credit for even trying.But in reality, he should do better explaining himself.
“I took care of the final loose end,” he said before placing a soft, hopefully reassuring kiss, to her forehead.
“I don’t have a clue what that means.”Fortunately, the anger had dissipated from her tone.Though there was still something hanging in there.Frustration?Disappointment?He couldn’t quite nail it.
