Out of Mind (Out of Line #3)(46)
Author: Jen McLaughlin

“Seriously.” Marie eyed me. “But I have a feeling you knew that. Is that a new shirt you’re wearing?”

I tugged at it. “No. Yes. Maybe.”

“Don’t do it. Don’t give in,” she warned. “He’ll hurt you.”

The night he came back, I’d told her how Finn had showed back up in my life, after radio silence for months. Once her surprise wore off, she’d been angry at him for bombarding me like that. I’d listened to her rant and rave and call him names, but the whole time, I’d been thinking about him—and I hadn’t been calling him names.

I’d been too busy thinking about how he looked better. How he’d filled out a little bit more again, since he’d been so skinny when he came home. I’d been thinking about how his hair was short, but long enough for me to run my fingers through it as he kissed me. But mostly, I’d been thinking about how wonderful he’d looked sitting on that surfboard.

Too bad he’d only gotten better after he left me.

“What should we do?” Marie asked, wringing her hands. “I told him to leave, like usual, but he just stared me down…like usual.”

I sighed. “Right now? I’m going to go eat. If he’s still there when I get back, I’ll deal with him just like all the other times.” I paused. “Pink, huh?”

“Yep. Pink.” Finn came around the corner, holding out a pink rose. “Oh, and he’s not there anymore. He’s here, and he’s starving, too. Let’s go eat.”

I narrowed my eyes on him, not taking the rose. “You’re not coming.”

He wiggled the rose. It had a note attached, like usual. I still didn’t take it. “Come on, Ginger. You know you want it.”

He wore a light blue T-shirt with a motorcycle on it and a pair of ripped jeans. He had on black shades, and he looked freaking hot. Way too hot for me to keep pushing him away. Damn him. His ink swirled up his biceps, and I knew exactly how they intertwined on his chest, right near the tattoo he’d gotten for me.

He’d never seen the one I’d gotten for him.

“No, I don’t,” I responded, gripping my bag. “I thought I was perfectly clear yesterday, and the day before that, and the day before that, and all the other days that you’ve showed up at my place with a present, that I’m not interested in restarting our relationship.”

“Liar.”

He stepped into my space, and his cologne washed over me. I closed my eyes, savoring the familiar scent. Smelling him like this made me want to throw myself into his arms and beg him to never leave me again. It made me want to forget.

“I’m the liar?” I snapped, whirling on my heel and ignoring him. I felt so freaking alive right now, with him next to me provoking me all over again.

Marie walked with me, shooting Finn an anxious look. “Hey, thanks for stopping by, but we’re going to go eat now.”

He grinned at Marie. “Good. I’m starving. Take the flower.”

“Dude,” Marie looked at him, her eyes wide. “We didn’t invite you, and she doesn’t want the flower.”

“Sure she does,” he said, frowning at Marie. “She loves flowers. They make her happy. So do inspirational messages. She used to get one sent to her phone every day.”

“I still do,” I said, my heart picking up speed. “That’s why you give me little notes?”

“Yeah.” He held his hand out. “Please take it.”

I reached out and took his flower, my hand so tight on the stem that a thorn dug into my palm. “Th-Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it.” He shoved his hands in his pockets, still walking beside me. “I know pink isn’t your favorite color to wear, but it reminded me of the hangers I got you. Remember those?”

Of course I remembered them. He’d gotten them for me so I could keep clothes at his place. Ignoring his question, I opened the little note he’d attached to the stem. I’m sorry. Swallowing hard, I looked back up at him. “Finn…”

He locked gazes with me. “Wanna go to Islands with me? I have my Harley here. We can take the back roads, like we used to. Enjoy the fresh spring air that God gave us today. It would be a shame to miss out on it.”

I stopped walking and curled my fist even tighter on the pink rose. God, yes, I wanted to get on his bike with him. Of course I did. But that’s why I couldn’t. “No, thank you.”

He tsked me. “Carrie Wallington, I’m ashamed of you. You’ve lost your fun streak since I left. Your desire for adventure is dead.” He took his sunglasses off and walked backward, his gaze locked with mine. “The Carrie I knew wouldn’t turn down a ride from me, even if she was pissed. Get on the bike. You know you want to.”

I shook my head, but he was right. I really freaking wanted to. “That was before we broke up. I’m not her anymore.”

“You’d have gotten on the damn bike before. You changed.”

“Says the man who broke up with me because I hadn’t changed while he had,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest. “Be careful what you wish for.”

He held his hands out at his sides, pouting at me. Actually. Pouting. He used to give it to me back when we were dating and he wanted to get his way on something. I couldn’t resist that look, darn it. Not now. Not then. Not ever. “Ginger, get on the bike. Let’s go for a ride for old time’s sake.”

I wavered. I knew he sensed it, too, because his eyes lit up. “No.”

Marie watched us both, looking about as happy as a kid stuck between two quarrelling parents. “This isn’t awkward for me at all,” she drawled, studying her nails. “Want me to leave?”

“Yes,” Finn said.

“No,” I said at the same time. “Stay right there.”

She craned her neck. “Oh, look. It’s Hernandez. I’m going to go fight with him for a little bit.”

She took off like her butt was on fire. “Marie,” I called out. But it was useless. She wasn’t coming back. I turned on Finn, my hands clenched at my sides. “You need to stop doing this.”

“I can’t.” He leaned against the side of the building. “I miss you.”

I closed my eyes. “You need to stop saying that.”

“Fine. Then make me not miss you.” I sensed him moving closer, so I snapped my eyes open. He froze. “Go on a ride with me.”