Finn Rhodes Forever (The Queen's Cove #4)

by Stephanie Archer

For most of my life, I’d been madly, stupidly in love with her. It wasn’t going away, and I needed to fix the mess I made twelve years ago. Liv and I were soulmates. Leaving was the biggest mistake of my life. I needed to make her fall back in love with me, or I’d regret it forever. I was about to make a fucking fool of myself over Liv Morgan.

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. There was no way I was getting in that car.

“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.” Well, then.

She totally still loved me. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t care. She’d find me annoying, but she’d never chop her gorgeous hair like this. She was hacking it to bits to protect herself because the feelings I had for her, she felt them right back, and that was terrifying to her. Her plan wasn’t going to work, but I was still curious where this was going.

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.”

“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.”

Liv was it for me, and I was going to be as patient as she needed. I’d play this dumb game with her pretending to be my girlfriend and trying to get me to dump her, because moments like this were worth it.

For every star in the sky, I had a memory with Finn.

Finn was leaving, he said it himself, but he also read all my research papers, something even my parents hadn’t done. He told me he wanted to have kids with me. He told me we were meant to be. He was trying to woo me.

“You said you weren’t staying earlier,” I said softly. “Where are you going?” He clutched my hand, half asleep. “Going to buy us a house.”

The one we passed every time we drove into the mountains. The one we used to ride our bikes to as kids. He knew I loved that house. My nose was practically against the windshield whenever we drove past it.

I didn’t believe in signs, but even I wasn’t dumb enough to ignore this one. Finding the flower with Finn meant something. Of course it was him. It had always been him. My heart burst wide open in my chest and I knew the truth. I was fully in love with Finn Rhodes.

We’d break each other and start fresh. We’d wash the last twelve years away as we reformed into new people.

“You’re mine,” he managed. “You’ve always been mine.”

She had wanted to say it last night; I saw it in her eyes. It was right there under the surface. It had always been there, waiting, and she had finally figured it out. Liv loved me, she just wasn’t ready to say it yet. I’d wait until she was ready, even if it took forever.

“Thanks for being patient with me,” I whispered. He sighed, smiling back at me. “I’d wait forever for you, Morgan.” In my memory, I heard the word Finn said months ago. He hadn’t said it since. Soulmate. I peered up at the sky and hoped it was true.

I pounded on the front door with urgency until Sam opened it with a baffled expression. “I need the keys,” I wheezed, catching my breath. “To the Porsche. I’m sorry to ask like this but it’s an emergency.” He lifted an eyebrow, studying me with curiosity. “Please, Sam.” I straightened up. “I won’t crash it, I promise. I need it. I have to go get Finn.”

Next door, my mom was watering plants in the front yard. She spotted me in the car and her expression changed. She knew what this car meant. Everyone did.

She held a hand up. “Shut up for a second.” My eyebrows shot up. Behind her, my dad’s vintage Porsche sat parked behind my car. Oh, shit. My jaw went slack. Liv nodded. “Yeah. That’s the car. This is supposed to be meaningful, and I want everyone to know that I love you.”

I pulled the neckline of her top down, baring her new tattoo. A delicate pink flower sat over her heart. I rested my palm against it for a brief moment before pulling off my own shirt so she could see the matching one over my heart. Her gaze dropped to it and she smiled.

The flower meant so much more than her getting her PhD, though. It was us, it was the love we shared, persisting over the years, even though it was hidden. Waiting for us to find

At the edge of my tattoo, I had the artist incorporate her name, tiny and scripted among the flower’s leaves, barely noticeable except to us. Olivia’s name right over my heart, where it belonged. I had told her we were fulfilling the bet I lost when we raced to the top of the ridge, moments before we spotted the flower, but Liv knew the truth.

My heart always had and always would belong t...

“I wish that for the rest of your life, you never doubt how much I love you, how much I want you, how much I need you.” I squeezed his hand. “You’re my best friend.” “I love you, Olivia Morgan.” I lifted up on my elbows, a soft smile curling on my mouth as I studied his gorgeous face. “Finn Rhodes, it’s only ever been you.”