THE PLACE I BELONG -- Excerpt

LARA TRIES TO CONVINCE FINN TO STAY WHERE HE BELONGS...
The way he stopped then and slowly turned to awkwardly face me told me he knew exactly what I was referring to. “Damn, Lara, please.” It was his turn to beg. “Just… just please.”
I didn’t know what else to say. There wasn’t anything else to say. He knew how I felt. I didn’t want him to leave. Yet, I knew it had to be his decision.
“I’ve got it.” He wanted me to feel reassured that he was in control. But the fact that he was leaving and the abruptness of his kiss, which did feel like fire, told me otherwise.
He wasn’t choosing to stay. And I tried hard not to think that he wasn’t choosing me. After all, in his mind, he probably thought escaping and regrouping was choosing me.
But I ached. I hurt. I worried… from the last glance I had of his back as the door shut to hearing the garage door open and the car starting. And then I tortured myself further by walking to the front door and watching as his car started down the long, trailing driveway surrounded by the sanctuary of tall trees on either side.