SWNOVELS Finn Rhodes Forever: Chapter 57
ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON, I sat on Beck’s back porch. I couldn’t stay in my apartment last night; everything reminded me of her, and I needed space to gather my thoughts. I hadn’t wanted to go to any of my brothers’ places, because either they or my sisters-in-law would want to talk.
I didn’t want to talk. I wanted to figure things out.
So I came to Beck’s place and slept on his couch. Beck was the guy who everyone went to when they needed help, and I’d make it up to him. Early this morning, he left for the hospital, so I had the place to myself all day.
I hated it. Hated being alone when I could sense her out there, hurting.
I thought about my realization back in the forest, before we found the flower. I needed to keep Liv’s heart safe. My eyes closed as my chest ached. I wasn’t ready to walk away from Liv. If I did, I was hurting her all over again.
A rock landed in my stomach. There was my answer.
I couldn’t make the same mistake I made twelve years ago, I knew that. I thought about Cole in the bar. I wouldn’t be that guy.
I had to make it right, something I didn’t do years ago. I wouldn’t let her down again. I had to be there for her like I’d promised her all summer, even when it was hard. That was what mattered.
Inside the house, I grabbed my phone, my wallet, and my keys before heading to the front door. I opened it—
Liv stood there, about to knock.
“Oh,” she said softly.
“Hi.” My pulse picked up, whistling in my ears at the sight of her.
In her plaid flannel, hanging open over a tank top, with her cutoff jean shorts and sneakers, Liv Morgan was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. My chest hurt, watching her with her wide eyes, plush mouth, and pretty, sloped nose covered in freckles. Her being in front of me made all our problems seem insignificant.
“Hi,” she said back, lowering her hand.
“Liv,” I started. “I screwed up—”
She held a hand up. “Shut up for a second.”
My eyebrows shot up. Behind her, my dad’s vintage Porsche sat parked behind my car.
Oh, shit. My jaw went slack.
Liv nodded. “Yeah. That’s the car. This is supposed to be meaningful, and I want everyone to know that I love you.”
The words floated through the air, landed on my heart, and sank in. I knew she felt that way, but hearing her say it? It shifted the earth under my feet.
I blinked. “Wow.”
Liv Morgan loved me.
She nodded, throat working. “Yeah.”
“That’s how you greet people at the front door?” The teasing words rushed out of me.
The corner of her mouth twitched, and everything between us settled into place. “Not often,” she quipped back, eyes welling up. “Only with you, because I love you.”
“You mentioned that.”
“It’s true.” She nodded, lacing her fingers together, and a tear rolled down her cheek. “I do love you. A lot. Like, the most out of anyone who’s ever loved anyone. An ugly amount, like I’ll kill anyone who hurts you, that kind of love.”
“Huh.”
“Yeah,” she said again, watching me. She licked her lips with a little frown. I could see her chest rising and falling as she gathered her thoughts. “I met Cole. He’s here.”
“Shit.” I whistled, mind reeling.
“Yeah.” Her hands made fists, balled up in her shirt sleeves, and she wiped away a tear.
My heart ached with the urge to pull her to my chest, but I wanted to let her say her piece.
“He’s in therapy and he’s trying to say the things he always meant to say. He stayed away because he thought I was better off without him, like you did.”
Her gaze shot to mine, so vulnerable and beautiful.
“And I thought, what’s my excuse for being so terrified, if Cole can do it? Don’t I get a say in these relationships?” She searched my eyes. “Telling you I loved you meant that you could hurt me, so I kept you at a distance and made you think I didn’t care, but I did. I do care. I don’t want to be that person who forces people to elbow their way into her life. Sadie talked my fucking ear off at the bar—”
I huffed a laugh. Sadie did talk a lot.
“—but she grew on me. But what if she hadn’t done that? I never would have gotten to know her.” She was picking up speed now, the words tumbling out of her mouth. “Even Avery and Hannah, I only hang out with them if they insist. Your mom wanted to spend time with me for years, but I shot her down every time. I slammed a steel wall up between myself and others so I couldn’t get hurt. If I didn’t care, it wouldn’t matter if they left me.”
Her forehead creased with worry. “I don’t want to hurt the people I love because I’m scared. I should have gone after you yesterday instead of telling you to leave.” She clamped her lips together before she blew out a breath. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
“Me, too.” My gaze roamed her face, so worried and repentant when I was the one who should be apologizing. “I shouldn’t have freaked out. I screwed up. I’ll screw up again, but I’m not leaving. We’ll figure it out together.”
“I love you,” she repeated. “I’m going to keep saying it until you believe it.”
“I’m starting to think…” I shook my head. “That you have feelings for me or something?”
A laugh burst out of her, and then it turned into a sob. “Finn.”
“Baby.” My voice was soft and I held my arms out. “Come here.”
She stepped forward and I picked her up. Her arms looped around my neck, her legs wrapped around my waist, and she gazed into my eyes with such intense affection, I swear my heart tripped. Her eyes welled up and I kissed her.
I kissed her like she was mine. I kissed her like I had been hers for a very long time. I kissed her like our hearts were full and connected. I kissed her like she was the best damn thing that ever happened to me, like the universe had put us side by side for a reason.
I kissed Liv Morgan like she was my soulmate.
“You love me?” I asked her in between kisses. “You sure?”
She sniffed and nodded. “I never stopped.”
“You still want me?” I knew the answer, but I needed to hear it.
“I always have.”
“It’s always been you, Liv,” I whispered. “Always. I love you so fucking much. All I ever wanted was for you to see me like I see you.”
“I want all those firsts with you,” she said. “The house, the kids, the new jobs. All of it.”
My smile stretched across my face. “Me too, Livvy.”
She smiled back at me and I knew we had finally found our way.
In the distance, a low buzzing noise droned from the sky, and Liv jolted with a gasp.
“Oh my god.” She turned her head, still in my arms. “I almost forgot. Quick, put me down.”
“No.” I wasn’t letting her go.
“Finn,” she laughed, rolling her eyes. “Step into the yard.”
I carried her out from the porch, down the steps, and into the front yard. Olivia watched the sky in the east with focus.
I saw it, and my heart squeezed so hard I thought it might explode.
OLIVIA MORGAN LOVES FINN RHODES FOREVER
We watched the plane approach, and as it flew over, my heart was in my throat.
“I know it isn’t much,” Liv said. “I didn’t have much time.”
“It’s perfect.” I watched the banner continue on across the sky. “Perfect.”
Layered in with the drone of the plane, the sound of a cowbell caught my attention and I frowned. Liv heard it, too. She tilted her head, meeting my gaze with narrowed eyes as she listened.
“What is that?” she murmured.
Clapping and cheering. The sound got louder, gathering momentum, until it was a low roar.
Our gazes met and we laughed, lit up. The market was today. Everyone on Main Street would have seen the banner, too.
The words were caught in my throat, but Liv wiped another tear from her face. “I told Miri what I was going to do when I was trying to find you. She works fast.”
I snorted. Miri must have told everyone in town. The low roar from Main Street persisted. Whistling and hollering filled the air. Metal clanged, like someone was banging pots and pans. “You think that’s for us?”
She nodded, warm gaze on me. “I do.”
My mouth twisted into a wicked grin. “About time.” I tilted my chin at the Porsche. “You going to take me for a ride?”
She beamed at me and I let her slide down to standing before she pulled me to the car.
“Come on,” she said, and we headed off to start the next chapter of our lives.