“Of course.” I smile, hoping he can hear it in my voice. “Your feelings are valid no matter what they are.”
He’s quiet for a long moment. “I love you.”
My stomach dips and I shift to lay my head on his pillow. “I wish you were here.”
He sighs. “Josslyn.”
“I’m glad you’re playing again.I want you to be there,” I say,hoping he hears the conviction in my voice. “But I also wish you were here. Maybe I’ll clone you.”
He chuckles. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why? You don’t think I can handle two Finn Barlows?”
“I can’t handle thinking about you with two Finn Barlows.”
That makes me laugh. “But it would kind of be you.”
“I kind of don’t care. You’re mine and only mine,” he growls.
My heart skips again. “I love you, Finneas.”
Another sigh. “I have to go kick this team’s ass.”
“Go do your thing, Barlow. I’ll be watching from your side of the bed.”
He groans and mutters a few dirty things before we hang up. As soon as I’m alone again, I start thinking and a wave of sadness comes over me again when I think of Tate. According to my mom, his stab wound wasn’t deep and didn’t hit any vital organs, but the infection he got from leaving it unattended could have been fatal. Thankfully, they were able to help him and send him home. We both got lucky, I guess.
I haven’t spoken to him at all since everything went down, but he did send me a long text apologizing and telling me how things between him and Mallory started. My response was a thumbs up emoji. What else is there to say? Now, I’m the one who picks up the phone and sends him a text.
Me: I’m sorry about mal
I know everyone in my life—with the exception of my mother—would be opposed to me sending this, but I can’t help it. I’ll never like him or willingly hang out with him, but I hate knowing anyone is suffering alone. His response comes as I’m setting my phone to charge.
Tate: i am as well. How are you holding up? Finn?
My brows shoot up.
Me: the whole thing is fucked up, but we’re okay. At least, we will be
Tate: I believe that. Thank him for me. I’m pretty sure he saved my life that night
Me: I will. Take care of yourself
Tate: you too
I close out his text and check the rest, responding quickly to Dame, Livie, Tiago, Cassie, and some of my other teammates before I toss my phone aside and walk to the kitchen to talk to Tamara and Oak while I heat up some food my mom left for us earlier in the day. When we’re done eating, I excuse myself and go back to my room where I do some stretches for my shoulder before I tune into Finn’s game.
66
JOSSLYN
The bed dips behind me, and I startle awake. As soon as I smell him and his strong arms wrap around me, my body sags. I’d never admit it to him, but I cried while I watched his game earlier. And after we hung up when he called me afterward.
“I thought you were coming back tomorrow,” I say, looking at the time on the alarm clock.
“I flew back right after the game,” he says, nuzzling into my neck. “I missed you so fucking much.”
“I missed you too.” I turn in his arms and give him a quick peck on the lips. “I thought the team had a media thing in the morning?”
