Something was bothering Finn, but instead of talking to me about it, he slammed a door in my face. It hurt way more than it should and I was at a loss as to what to do about us. The friendship thing was a rouse and we both knew it. I wanted more and he did to, or used to. After our afternoon avoiding each other, I wasn't so sure anymore.
"I have to get to the front of the lodge." Parker glanced down at his watch. "My friend's Dad is supposed to pick me up here in twenty minutes."
"Well, go and I'll see you tomorrow." I reached out and ruffled his hair.
He jerked back and glanced around. "Sis...shit."
I laughed and Finn joined me.
"Be lucky you have a sister that loves you." Finn turned to me and smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.
"Speaking of..." Parker took my attention for a minute more. "You going to be okay at home alone tonight?"
"Yeah. I'm good." I crossed my arms over my chest as he gave me a look. "Honestly. I'm a grown-ass woman."
Finn laughed again. "I'll be at her beck and call should something happen."
"Alright. Call if you need me." Parker looked around and gave me a quick hug.
I watched him go. Finn had been a dick most of the day, and after the night before I was considering giving up my life just to see where our love affair might go. There was no reason to dream about it now. I was like every other girl... a one night stand. Our date just didn't include sex.
I slipped my hands in my back pockets. "Thanks for the afternoon. Take care."
"Chloe." He reached for me, but I didn’t let him touch me.
I turned and walked quickly toward the car, losing my balance, but catching myself thankfully. I piled my stuff in the trunk and turned in time to see him running toward me.
"Wait. Wait." He moved up as I closed the trunk and the first tear dripped onto my cheek.
"No. I don't want to wait. I want to go home. Obviously whatever was happening between us was something I made up. Call me an idiot and let's be done with this." More tears. Fucking embarrassing.
"Baby." He reached out and grabbed my shoulder, not giving me much room to pull back. "Look, I just...I..."
"You nothing. That's what. We had our one-night stand. Thanks for it. It was fun. I almost thought something was happening inside of me, but I was wrong. Just the excitement of the chase. Once that's over there's really no point in anything else." I pulled from him and walked to my side of the car, getting in.
"Chloe."
I let out a slow breath and rolled the window down. "What?"
"I'm sorry. It's not what you think." He reached into the car and brushed his fingers over my arms.
"It's not you being a total jerk to me?" I tilted my head and let my confusion bleed across my face.
"Come to dinner with me and I'll explain. Please." His handsome face was filled with sadness and I couldn't say no. As much as I hated it, I was falling in love with him.
"Fine, but drive your own car. I don't want to be stranded somewhere with you when this conversation blows up. I've done nothing to deserve your attitude, but I'm willing to hear you out simply because of how great yesterday was." I looked back at the snowy parking lot in front of me, not wanting to look at him anymore. "Where are we going?"
"You know where Jerry's is?"
"Yep. See you there." I rolled up the window and he jerked back, cursing at me for catching his arm. He had some explaining to do, not that it would matter to much what his excuses were. I could feel the protective wall already starting to come back up. It was icy cold and I hated it, but since my mother died, it was the only thing that left me able to cope.
I thought maybe it was time to open up, to share myself with someone. It seemed so natural with Finn, like fate put us together as a gift for persevering through so many hardships.
Obviously I was wrong.
* * * *
"I love this place. My Dad and I used to come here when I was little and mom was out of town." Finn sat down across from me, looking much more like the fun-loving guy that rolled around in the snow with me yesterday.
"What's going on? I'm not in the mood to bullshit around. I was excited about this afternoon and have been waiting all day to see you and you show up and treat me like one of your has-beens. Why?" Tears swam in my eyes again.
I pulled my arms off the table as he reached across to touch me.
"Chloe. Please don't cry. You're killing me. Seriously."
"You have three minutes to tell me what's up and then I'm out of here."
The waitress interrupted with a smile on her face. "Can I get you kiddos a drink?"
"Coke," I mumbled and picked up the menu and subsequently a napkin to wipe my eyes.
"I'll have the same. Can we get some house chips too?" Finn's voice was soft and left me wanting to look up and watch him for a minute.
I wanted to crawl into his arms and make the feeling that we were over before we started go away.
I glanced up. "What happened? Did you find another friend that fits your needs better than me? Was it because I didn't spend the night?"
His face grew red and he leaned in and barked at me between clenched teeth. "I'm not the man you think I am. I'm not looking for another girl to screw. Stop acting like I'm trash or I'll get up and walk out of this place and whatever was happening between us can go to hell."
I nodded and put my menu down. I was leaving. My Dad could keep his money and Finn could keep his heart. I didn't want either.
"Finn Warner! Oh my goodness." A bombshell blond with huge breasts slid into the booth across from me and wrapped Finn in a side hug, kissing his cheek several times before he could push her off.
I should have gone, but the sadist in me needed to see him push another woman off, a woman who he had no clue of who she was or what her name was. It would remind me what a piece of trash he was when I was lamenting in my bed later that night.
Wow. How quickly had things gone from good to really bad?
"Kari..."
He knew her name. My eyebrow rose and I turned to the girl, who completely ignored me as if I wasn't there.
"Finn. What are you doing here? I thought you were traveling to see family." She finally glanced my way and smiled. "Hey. I'm Kari."
"I'm Baby. Nice to meet you." I extended my hand and shook hers as I pinned Finn with a stare.
"Kari is a friend from high school, Chloe." He let out a sigh and pushed at her a little. "Scoot over."
"I'm his girlfriend from high school. We keep in touch," she said. She wagged her eyebrows at me and I pursed my lips as bile rose in my throat.
"That's awesome. Finn and I are just skiing buddies."
"Is that what you're calling it now? Skiing?" She laughed loudly.
"No, literally. Just friends. Like no sex nor the promise of it." I shrugged and lifted my eyebrows at her, hoping to shock the hell out of her.
I pulled up my phone and laughed. "Oh damn. Looky there. Something has come up. I have to go, but guess what Kari, it's your lucky day, hun. You can have my seat. You guys catch up and do what you do when you get together."
I got out of the booth and walked to the door. I made it outside as he caught up with me and pulled me back.
"What the hell was that?" He was pissed.
I slapped him, hard. "That was me saying goodbye. Fuck off and find someone else to play with. I'm done."