CHAPTER 039 : He KnowsWhereI Live Almostanhourlater,IminKnoxscar,staringattheimposingbuildingof hisparentshouse.
Imsupposedtowalkinandendwhats leftofmyfriendshipwithFinn.
ButIdontmove.
Backatthehotel,IdbeensocomfortableenjoyingthebackandforthbetweenmeandKnox.Ithadbeeneasytopretendtheworlddidntexistwhenitwasjustus,tangledinbedsheetsandbreathlessmasifsKnox,it seems,onlyneedsafewminutestoregainhiserectionafterblowingaload,whichhadbeenexhaustinglypleasurable.
Butatsomepoint,heannouncedthathischarteredjetwasleavingforNewYorkintwohours.
Andjustlikethat,realitysankin.Nomoredenial.Nomoreplayfuldistractions.Thetimehadcome.
Ihaventbeenabletosaymuchsincethebeginningofthedrive here.Notsince heturnedthekeyandstartedtheengine.Mymindsbeenamessofnoiseandsilence,onecrashingagainsttheotheruntilallIcoulddowasstareoutthewindow.Ihavetodothis.
End thingswith Finn.Hedeservesthat.
Butmyhandwontreachforthedoor.
Knoxdrumshisfingersagainstthesteeringwheel,therhythmictappullingmebacktothepresent.Icanfeelhisgazeonme,butIdontturnmyhead.Icant.Notyet.Ijustkeepstaringatthehouselikeitmightopenitsmouthandswallowmewhole.
Any daynow,Sloane,hesays,hisvoicelowandteasing.
I…Ibegin,feelingthe words gettingstuckinmythroat.Finnwonttakethiswell.
Iknow.Butadealsadeal.Hegotwhathewanted.Huntercalledoffthewedding.
Ijerkmyheadtowardhim.Hedid?Whendidyoufindout? Hestaresatmeforabeat,likehesdecidingwhethertosaymore.Then,Justdowhatyouhaveto,Bunny.Illexplainbetterontheflight.
Bunny?Seriously? BunnysanupgradefromKitten,dontyouthink? Akittengrowsintoacat,notabunny.
So…youwantmetocallyouCat? Ifliphimoffandpushthedooropen.HessmilingasIstepout.
ThatsthefireIremember,hesays,justbeforeIshutthedoor.
Itakeadeepbreathandbegintheslowwalktothefrontdoor,each stepheavierthanthelast.Thehouseloomsbeforeme,silentandstill.Ihesitateatthethreshold,myhandhoveringoverthedoorknob.Finally,Ipushitopen andstepinside.Everywheresquiet,andImthankfulforthat.
Imakemywayupstairs,passingmyroomandheading straighttoFinns.Iknocksoftly,thenpushthedooropen.
Andfreeze.
DelilahiscurledagainstFinnschest,stillinherweddinggown,mascara streakingdownhercheekslikewarpaint.Hersobsaremuffled,but herpainfillstheroomlikesmoke.
Hedisgracedme,Finn, shechokesout.

Iknow,cupcake.Cryitout,Finnsaysgently,brushingherhairback.
Heglancesupwhenhehearsthedoorandmeets myeyes.Doesntflinch.Justsmilessoftandguiltyand raisesonefingerlike,give meaminute.
Istareathim.Juststare.
Andsuddenly,IdontunderstandwhyIthoughtthiswouldbehard.
God.Momentslikethisareeverything.
ThelastnailinthecoffinofyearsIspentchasingscrapsectiongiving,neverreceivingadamnthingthat didnthavewate Successfullyunlocked! ofcleaning uphismesses.Ofgiving,alwaysSomewherebeneath it.
TherewasnothingIwouldnthavedoneforFinn.
Andittookhimlessthanaheartbeattopickherwhenhisbrothergavehimthechoice.Congratulations,Finn,Isay,myvoiceeven.Yougotwhatyouwanted.
1/3 ! COOTER039:HeKnowsWhereILive Delilahliftsherhead,smearingtearsoverhisshirt.Hereyes,rimmedinblack,narrowonme.
Whatisshedoinghere?sheasks.Shecausedthis.ShetoldHunter.Idontwantherhere.Sendheraway! Itsalright,babe,Finnmurmurs.Igotthis.Heturnstomeagain,eyesalmostpleading.Justforacoupleofminutes,Sloane.
Inodonce.Itsfine.Goodbye,Finn.
AndthenIclosethedoorbehindme.
Thehallwayblurs.Idontevenfeelthetearsatfirst.Notuntiloneslipswarmandslowdownmycheek.
Iwipeitawayandkeepmoving.Backtomyroom.Tomysuitcase.Toleaving.
Istartpullingmyclothesfromthedrawersandhangers,tossingtheminwithoutorder.Everymotionstings.Everyfoldedshirt,everyforgottensockfeelslikeapieceofmebeingpeeledback.
IhatethatImcrying.ButIalsodontstop.
Notuntilthebagisfull,theroomempty,andImstandinginthemiddleofitall.Itakeonelastlookaroundbeforeheadingdownstairs.
Atthefootofthestairs,IseeVictoriabythewindow,staringout.Sheturnsasshehearsme.
Sloane,dear,shesays.Are youleaving? Yes.Idescendthelaststep.Ididntgetachancetosaythankyouforthehospitality.Imreallygoingto missmystayhere.
Yourealwayswelcome,shesayscoolly.IsFinnnotgoingwithyou? Idontthinkso.Ivegotworktomorrow.Mondaysandall.
Right.Shetiltsherchintowardthewindow.Well,haveasafeflightalthoughyourchoiceincompanionshipis…questionable.
IdontneedtofollowhergazetoknowshestalkingaboutKnox.Whateverhistoryortensionexistsbetweenthem,Imnotreadytountangleitnotnow.Rightnow,theonlythingIamreadyforistogetoutofhereandgohome.
Ismilefaintly.Thanksagain,Victoria.

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Iheadtothedoor,butthesoundofheavyfootstepsonthestairsstopsme.IlookuptoseeFinnsfatherdescending,hisfacered withanger.
Honey,hesays,notevenglancingatme,headingstraightforVictoria,areyouawarethatFinnsnuckthatvilewomanintothishouse? Victoriasbrowslift.Whatvilewoman? ThatDelilahgirl.
Sheshere? Inhisroom.Hegrowls.IvetoldthatboywhatId doifIeversawherinmyhouse.Imgoingtosetthatbedonfireifhedoesntgetherout.
Hestartsbackupthestairs.
Sweetheart,Victoriacalls,liftingthehemofherrobeasshehurriesafter him.Dontdoanythingtoohasty.Letmetalktohimfirst.
Ihesitate,almosttemptedtostay,toseethefallout.
Butno.Ihaveaflighttocatch.
IstepoutsideandwalktowardKnoxscar.Herollsdown thewindowasIapproach.
Yourenoteven goingtochangeyouroutfit?hecalls.Maybewearsomethinglonger? Why?Ishoutback.Ilovetheshorts.
Yeah,andnoweveryonesgoingtoseethelegsthatbelongtome.
Irollmyeyesandheadtothebackofhiscar,tappingthetrunkwithmyknuckles.WhenKnoxopensit,Itossmybagin.
ThenIhearitfootstepspoundingacrosstheporch.I turntoseethatFinnhasburstoutofthehouse,hishairamess,Delilahtrailingbehindhiminherweddinggown.
Sloane!heyells.Whatthehell?Whereareyougoing? Idontanswer.Justopenthepassengerdoor,slideintoKnoxscar,andslamthedoorshut.
MyhandstrembleslightlyasIclicktheseatbeltintoplace.
Cinn ievellingsomethingagain,somethingunintelligible.
CHAPTER8weeershereLive Knowglancesat me.Youdidnttellhimyouwereleaving? Knowshiftsintogearbutwaits.Finnssprintingtowardusnow.Hereaches thecarjustintimetoslapthesidemirrorandgrab thelockeddoorhandle,rattlingitlikeitmightgiveway Imcomingforyou.Knowheshouts.Youwontgetawaywiththis! Knox rollshiseyes.Veryoriginal Hepressesthegas,andwelurchforward.Intherearviewmirror,Iwatchas FinnkicksahedgeinfrustrationandDelilahjuststandsthere,armswrappedaroundherself,lookinglikeabrokendollinsilk.
Myphonestartsringing 1silenceitandstareoutthe Youregoingtohavetoconfronthim,youknow?Knoxsays.
1dontwantto Ididntthinkyouwerecapableofghostinganyone.LetaloneFinn.
Wellimurmuryoudontknowmeverywell.
ButIwill,Bunny.OrshouldIcallyouCar Just driveKnow,Isaysmilingdespiteeverything Thephoneringsagain.Andagain.Messagenotificationscomenext.Idontopenasingleone.
Finally,I growerinoff Wediveinsilenceforawhile,windingthroughtheerigesofkaheville,andwegettotheairport.WepassthroughtheprivateteresimalandontothefarmmarThejetawaits,andafterafewminutesofprocessing,wereboarding Amside,icommefaceforface withinsu Hessittingbyoneofthewindows,knocking backwhiskeylikeitswaterWhenheseesme,he freezes,Akanter:|start,mostlyoutofexclamationratherthanactuallyhavingsomethingtosay DoxithesaysTimonlyonthisfightbuthowthisplaceimmediately.AndKnoxhadalreadypaid.So werejustpassen
gers.RathingmoreYoutwositthereishere.Nocommunication; |Bod Inoxmoulins,Sosorryas theletsmetothesetsnearthe rearisettleintoonebythewindow,andhetakestheonethesideme,keepingoneofhishandsonmylug Hamberglanesallusforamomenttango,theylooksavay,hisgazeinfixedfirmlyoutthewindownow,jawclenched,kmacies whilearoundthiswhiskeyglass This isgoingtothealongawkwardfight ButwhatisewesmareunsettlingisthethoughtofwhathappenswhenFinncomesbackhome.HeknowswhereIlive.Heknowswhereiworkhehasthecontactformationofeveryone
inmylife,andIknowhowrelentlesshecanbewhenhewantssomethingwhathedecidesnottoletmega? CHAPTER039.HeKnowsWhereILive Knoxglancesatme.Youdidnttellhimyouwereleaving? No.

Knoxshiftsintogearbutwaits.Finnssprintingtowardusnow.Hereachesthecarjustintimetoslapthesidemirrorandgrabthelockeddoorhandle,rattlingitlikeitmightgiveway.
Imcomingforyou,Knox!heshouts.Youwontgetawaywiththis! Knoxrollshiseyes.Veryoriginal.
Hepressesthegas,andwelurchforward.Intherearviewmirror,IwatchasFinnKicksahedgeinfrustrationandDelilahjuststandsthere,armswrappedaroundherself,lookinglikeabrokendollinsilk.
Myphonestartsringing.
Finn.
Isilenceitandstareoutthewindow.
Youregoingtohavetoconfronthim,youknow,Knoxsays.
Idontwantto.
Ididntthinkyouwerecapable ofghostinganyone.LetaloneFinn.
Well,Imurmur,youdontknowmeverywell.
ButIwill,Bunny.OrshouldIcallyouCat? Just drive,Knox,Isay,smilingdespiteeverything.
Thephoneringsagain.Andagain.Messagenotificationscomenext.Idontopenasingleone.
Finally,Ipoweritoff.
Wedriveinsilenceforawhile,windingthroughtheedgesofAsheville,untilwegettotheairport.Wepassthroughtheprivateterminalandontothetarmac.Thejetawaits,andafterafewminutesofprocessing,wereboarding.
Inside,IcomefacetofacewithHunter.
Hessittingbyoneofthewindows,knockingbackwhiskeylikeitswater.Whenheseesme,hefreezes.
HunterIstart,mostlyoutofexclamationratherthanactuallyhavingsomethingtosay.
Dont,hesays.ImonlyonthisflightbecauseIneedtoleavethisplaceimmediately.AndKnoxhadalreadypaid.Sowerejustpassengers.Nothingmore.Youtwosit there.Isithere.Nocommunication.
Inod.
Knoxmouths,Sosorry,ashe leadsmetotheseatsneartherear.Isettle intoonebythewindow,andhetakestheonebesideme,keepingoneofhishandsonmylap.
Hunterglaresatusforamomentlonger,thenlooksaway.Hisgazeisfixedfirmlyoutthewindownow,jawclenched,knuckleswhitearoundhiswhiskeyglass.
Thisisgoingtobealong,awkwardflight.
ButwhatisevenmoreunsettlingisthethoughtofwhathappenswhenFinncomesbackhome.HeknowswhereIlive.HeknowswhereIwork.Hehasthecontactinformation of everyoneinmylife,andIknowhowrelentlesshecanbewhenhewants something.Whatifhedecidesnottoletmego? Subscribed