“What the hell!” He looked at her, his jaw set. “Did you…?”
“Are you kidding me? It’s been about 6 hours since you’ve told me, 5 of those we spent sleeping, and you can check my call log and texts. I didn’t tell anyone,” she shook her head in disbelief. “You really think I would do that? How about we talk about the first part of the headline, though?”
“It’s not true,” he said, shaking his head. “It’s not even remotely close to true.”
“Is it?” she asked, as he got up too fast and had to lean against the bed post. He glared at her, pushing himself up and heading for the shower.
“Gwen, don’t.”
“Jesus,” she shook her head as another text beeped through. Protest at noon in front of Bed and Breakfast. New Angle. He’s not fit to even consult on this town. As Finn turned on the shower, she hit reply, texting back frantically. Cancel protest. Have to talk to you. Meet me at Grill in two hours.
Are you drunk??? Came David’s confused text. She didn’t answer, throwing off the sheets and going to find her clothes. Already, her mind was spinning with how this was going to work. She would need everyone’s help in the town, that was for sure. But most of all, she would need Finn.
When he came out of the shower, towel wrapped around him, he seemed surprised that she was still there at all, let alone dressed and waiting for him.
“You should go,“ he muttered, his voice twinged with exhaustion as he went to his suitcase. “I have an angry board of directors to deal with and you probably have another event to make them angrier.”
“They have pictures of you coming out of a Los Angeles Hospital,” Gwen said, waving her phone at him. “That’s why the story leaked. When were you in LA?”
“Last week,” he realized, speaking slowly. “Dear God. I am sorry.”
“It’s fine,” she shrugged, scrolling through the pictures. “But really? Cedars-Sinai? You chose the most celebrity known hospital in the entire world? They practically employ paparazzi to stand at their door.”
“I can’t avoid having chemo. Not even the very rich can be immortal,” he replied, coming to sit on the bed beside her, a smile on his lips. “You, my darling, you have the right idea. Whenever you want to sneak away and be unnoticed, you come here.”
“I do,” she nodded. “When I sprained my ankle on stage, I spent 5 weeks here recovering and regaining strength, training in the community pool, rather than having paparazzi watch my every move outside the theatre and question my career. Mystic Falls is a good place to hide.”
“Is it?” he asked, taking her hand. “Then perhaps if all this goes astray, I should come back here to die.”
“Stop it!” she glared at him, even as the wheels turned. “Don’t talk like that. I have a better idea.”
“What?” he asked, and she told him, laying out the details that had hastily come to her brain. He raised an eyebrow as she spoke.
“You would do that for me? Go against him and stand beside me?”
“I’m not going against anyone,” she snapped, ignoring her phone as it beeped again. “But you need each other, you do, and you just don’t realize it. Hell, the hardest part of this plan is going to be convincing David. If we can do that, the rest is a breeze.”
***
“What’s Gwen got up her sleeve?” Derrick slid into the booth beside David, Ally sandwiching him as they waited. The Grill was crowded already, and they were lucky to get a booth at all. David checked his phone, although there was nothing new.
“No idea. Although knowing her, she’s probably organized a flash mob that involves stripper poles and a full Broadway production. Sometimes I think Gwen doesn’t know how to do anything besides perform.”
“I don’t think it’s a flash mob,” Ally said, her eyes fixed on the doorway. David looked up, and their jaws dropped as she entered, her hand firmly gripped in Finn’s.
“I sure hope she’s acting,” David said, raising an eyebrow. Derrick turned to him, aghast.
“Did you know about this?”
“No idea, brother,” he replied, just as stunned as the rest of them.
“Guys,” Gwen said as she approached. “This is Finn. Finn, this is David and his brother Derrick, and his girlfriend, Ally.”
“It’s a pleasure,” Finn disentangled his hand from Gwen long enough to reach out to shake. No one however, moved.
“What kind of joke is this?” David asked, turning to Gwen. “Kiddo, what are you pulling?”
“So I haven’t been entirely honest,” Gwen said, sliding into the booth chair. Finn slid in after her.
“You got that right,” David replied, his eyes flashing to Finn. “You have about 5 minutes before I accuse you of working with the enemy.”
Gwen rolled her eyes, and Finn coughed, clearly uncomfortable.
“Finn and I… knew each other, a long time ago, in New York. I haven’t known him the whole time, we have lost touch. But when I saw him again, here, what was I supposed to do? All of you were so angry, and you kind of have a right to be, I mean, no one wants to lose their business or home. But neither does Finn,” she looked to each of them.
David rolled his eyes, about to interrupt, but she held up a finger. “Listen. The rumors you heard are true. He does have cancer. And it’s because he went into the public eye to seek treatment. So, you two need to compromise. Finn stays and lives in Hanover Heights and gets treatment at our hospital, which I know is capable of doing chemo. Stays out of the public eye, recovers and lives to destroy some other town. In return, Hanover Heights is safe.”
“What!” Derrick, Ally and David stared at her, and then began babbling at once.
“No way in hell are we going to just let…”
“The town would never accept…”
“It’s…”
“Guys, what the fuck is wrong with you?” Gwen asked. “I’m asking you to save a life.”
“No,” Finn finally piped up, turning to Gwen. “My dear, you have been very kind, but it’s clear that this is a deal with the devil.”
“Now wait just a minute,” Gwen shook her head. “You both have to be willing to make this deal. Holy shit, Finn, stop being a workaholic for one minute and think about your life. You want to be around to make another deal, or you want your Board to kick you to the curb?”
“Even if we agreed to back off,” Ally finally spoke, looking at the boys carefully. “Someone will tell the media that he’s here. No one in the town trusts him and he sticks out like a sore thumb.”
“More than me?” Gwen raised an eyebrow. “Because I’ll give up my next contract and stay here to distract as long as I’m needed…”
“Gwen!” David exclaimed. “You can’t do that!”
“Sure I can. One phone call and it’s done.”
Derrick looked to the other two with a sigh.
“Well… if Gwen is willing to make such a sacrifice for two causes that are not hers… the least we can do is one. The town will be saved, so what difference does it make?”
“You’d stay?” Finn lowered his voice, so only she could hear it. She shrugged, giving him a lopsided grin.
“Sure, if you want me to. I’m not asking you to marry me, don’t look so horrified. We’ll pick up where things left off, if you want.”
He beamed at her, nodding.
“I would like that, very much. Although… it’s not going to be easy, Gwen. This isn’t TV-cancer where everything is pretty and everyone is always feeling well.”
Gwen laughed at that.
“Well then, it’ll be an experience. Also, I really don’t care. You’re back. What difference does it make to me?”
“Ew,” David said, breaking the mood as he watched them. “Really?”
Under the table, she kicked him hard, and he kicked her back. Now it was Ally’s turn to roll her eyes, sliding out of the booth with Derrick.
“We’re gonna go tell everyone. You two can continue to act like children if you want. Finn,” she turned to him, a smile on her face. “Welcome to town.”