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God, he had looked so good. His frame had filled out, probably from the physical demands of his firefighting job. His tattoos had poked out beneath his collar and the hems of his sleeves, and the way his gaze had raked over me with a mix of longing and heat?
Ohh
Finn Rhodes stood tall, decked out in his emergency responder gear, wearing a cocky, wicked grin. His gray eyes met mine, and every muscle in my body tensed. “Hey, Liv.”
Ohh
She stared at me. Fucking hell, she was so pretty. I couldn't help but smile wider.
Ohh
In my head, I replayed images from that night years ago. The way her soft, smooth skin looked in the dim lighting. The way her hair looked fanned out across her pillow. The sweet sound of her gasps as her back arched.
Aww
I held her gaze, ignoring my heart beating in my chest like a drum. I could smell her shampoo from this distance, light and floral, and I had the urge to pull her into my chest and bury my face in her hair.
Aww
Fucking hell, she was cute. Even when she was mad at me. Even when she hated me. She had this tiny nose and when she was super mad, it twitched, like she was trying not to scrunch it up. Fucking adorable. A memory flashed into my head of us as teenagers, riding our bikes through the forest. Her hair was her natural brunette back then, long and wavy, flying in the wind. When she turned back to look at me, laughing with bright eyes, my heart had leaped into my throat.
Aww
Sam Rhodes’ green car had become a strange tradition among his sons. When the Rhodes boys knew they had found the person they wanted to be with forever, they took her out in the vintage Porsche 911, a deep emerald green like the forests surrounding our town. Avery, Hannah, and Sadie had all been picked up in the car.
Aww
No. I mentally slapped myself. I didn’t care that Finn had pretty eyes and thick lashes. I didn’t care that when the corner of his mouth kicked up and his eyes lit up like that, all amused and mischievous like he was up to something, my heart beat harder. I fucking hated Finn Rhodes.
Aww
Finn leaned over my shoulder to study them, and my stomach dipped at the heat of him against my back. His smell invaded my space and I stepped away, tucking my papers back into my bag.
Ohh
Finn dragged in a deep breath, like he was steeling himself. “Liv, I know you hate me, I know I fucked up and deserve to rot for how badly I fucked up, but—” He took another deep breath. “I love you, you’re my soulmate, and we’re destined to be together.” He swallowed, and his broad chest rose and fell with another deep breath. “And I’m going to do everything I can to change your mind about hating me.”
Aww
He stared at me for a moment, blinking, before his face broke into a huge smile. My heart fluttered. That smile. My underwear practically disintegrated. The way his eyes lit up, the way his grin stretched across his face, lifting a little higher on one side, it had always disarmed me. Finn could always talk me into doing things with that lopsided smile.
Aww
He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me in a warm, tight hug. His mouth pressed to the top of my head in a firm kiss and he inhaled my hair. His warmth surrounded me, his scent whooshed up my nose, and my brain stuttered. Fuuuuuuuck. This felt good. “Knew you’d come around,” he whispered against my forehead as I stood with wide eyes, heart beating wildly. Finn and I were back together, but not for long. I was going to make Finn Rhodes dump me.
Aww
An image of my notebook from high school appeared in my mind. He’d draw a bird cartoon for me, little scenarios with the bird eating ice cream or flying around in the sky or reading a book. Sometimes he’d leave little sticky notes of the bird in my bedroom or locker.
Aww
A memory struck me—me leaning on my bedroom windowsill, window up while Finn sat at his own bedroom window, whispering goodnight to each other across the distance between our houses. We used to do that almost every night.
Aww
She swallowed again. The flush crept up to her cheeks and she looked so fucking adorable, blushing with her freckles like that. “Ready whenever you are.” I paused an inch from her mouth, waiting for her to meet me the rest of the way. Up close, her eyes were flecked with honey. Her chest rose and fell, and her breath tickled my lips.
Awww
“Been in a lot of relationships, have you?” He stopped walking and caught my hand, pulling me to stand in front of him. His smile dimmed but his eyes were soft. “Nope. You ruined me, but I’m not mad about it.”
Aww
She rolled her eyes. “Like you’re ready to get married.” “To you? I’d get married this afternoon,” I said without thinking. “Would have done it twelve years ago if I was smart enough.”
Aww
Finn opened the door and leaned on the frame, roguish grin rising on his mouth. His black eye was starting to heal, going green at the edges as it faded, and a temporary crown filled the gap in his front teeth seamlessly. His eyes snagged on my hair. “You changed your hair again.” His grin hitched higher. “It looked so nice before.”
Aww
There was something about him looking at me like that, like I was cute and funny and like he liked me that made me feel shaky, silly, and excited. I hadn’t felt like this in a long time.
Aww
Fast as lightning, Finn’s hands framed my jaw and he stole a kiss from my mouth. His lips were warm and his stubble brushed me, sending sparks across my skin. I gasped and he pulled away, flashing me a grin and a wink. “Come on, Morgan,” he called over his shoulder, continuing on through the forest while I gawked at him. “I’ve got all your water and you’re still struggling to keep up.” A shocked laugh scraped out of my throat while I stared after him. Warmth bloomed in my chest and I bit my lip to hide my grin. What a fucking asshole.
Aww
A snort escaped me and my chest shook with laughter. Finn’s gaze snapped to mine, surprised and delighted, before I covered it with a cough.
Aww
Because it made me feel things. Because it was sweet and nostalgic. Because it made me forget why I hated him so much.
Ohh
He sighed. “Liv, when I see you without pants on, it won’t be against your will, okay? You’ll be begging me to take them off.” I blinked, heat flashing through me. “Whatever.”
Ohh
My mouth opened, ready to protest, but the words didn’t come. Aside from finding out Finn had unwittingly helped someone steal a car, today had been fine. More than fine. Nice, even. My mind wandered to the bag of Cheezies he had brought for me, and his focus in the forest as he searched for the flower, like it was important to him. Like my goals were important to him.
Aww
