Lies Inside (5 page)

“I’ve only ever dated Dave. Believe me, you are the first person to ever kiss me like
that.
”

“Good.” He seemed terribly proud of himself.

“So?” She looked to him for an answer to a question she hadn’t even asked.

“So...you’re wondering what this means?”

“Yep.”

“I guess it means...now you have a real reason to turn down Dave every weekend.”

“Because I’ll be spending my weekends with you?”

“Weekends, days, nights, as long as you can stand the sight of me.”

“I see.” She had made their way back to their neighborhood and pulled into his driveway. She turned in her seat to face him. “So, this makes you my...what?”

He smiled and shook his head. “You enjoy watching me fumble through this, don’t you?”

She brought her thumb and her index finger up in front of him, a whisper of space between them. “A little.”

“Boyfriend, alright? I’ll be your boyfriend.”

She placed both of her hands on his chest as she looked at him. “I think that’s a good idea. I don’t know how much longer I’d be able to hold back...I mean...” Lucy blushed.

“Hold back, huh?” Finn teased, smiling at her discomfort. “Now, the tables have turned.”

She tried to move her hands, but he kept them there. She sighed. “I mean, like today, with Dave. I thought it was kind of like you were telling people I was yours. Marking your territory. I know I have felt like ripping about a dozen girls’ hair out because of some of the looks they were giving you. I thought I would have to beat Misty down. The way she stares at you is...so wrong.”

“How very predatory of you.” He nodded, still smiling. “Just so were clear, I’m your boyfriend, and you are my girlfriend.”

“Yes, Finn. I’m all yours.” She slipped her hands around his neck as his mouth covered hers.

“That little display tonight...it changed things, didn’t it?” Rylan asked as she and Lucy lounged on Lucy’s bed later that night.

“We’ve came to a mutual decision. We think...that we might give this dating thing a try.”

Rylan smiled softly as she cocked her head to the side. “You’ll be great for him, you know?”

Lucy returned the smile. “I think he’s good for me too. I mean, with Dave, everything was robotic. Go to a game. Go to a party. No real substance. But just hanging out with Finn, listening to music or hearing him play, it’s more of a relationship than I ever had with Dave.” Lucy turned from her side to lie on her back. “This is one of those times I really wish my mom was still alive. I mean, when my dad saw Dave kiss me for the first time, he tried to have the sex talk with me. There was a banana and a condom. I wanted to bleach my brain for days.”

“You know you have me, and you always have my mom if you have any questions.”

Lucy shut her eyes and nodded. “I know and I appreciate it, but it’s not the same.” Lucy sniffled. “I just really miss her, and she’d be so happy that Finn and I are together. She’d be helping me shop for presents for him and maybe even a prom dress.”

“I know there is really nothing I can say that can change how you feel, but I’m always going to be here for you no matter what. My mom loves you as if you were one of her own. You can talk to her.” Rylan snuggled up to Lucy’s side. “And maybe, just maybe we’ll be real sisters someday.”

“We’ve only been dating like three hours. Give us at least a month before we pull out the wedding book.”

Rylan jumped up off the bed and ran to Lucy’s bookcase. “Oh, my God. I almost forgot about the wedding book.” Rylan yanked a large book with papers and ribbons sticking out it from the shelf. She opened it to a page with a picture of a wedding dress pasted on it. “We were so goofy.”

Lucy joined her on the floor as Rylan thumbed through the pages. “Yep, we still are if you recall.”

“I know. It’s nice to be happy and now that Finn’s happy again, things are so much better.”

“Yeah, but to make him happy I’ll have to spend a lot of time with him.” Lucy took the book from Rylan and placed it back on the shelf.

“It’s alright. Now, I won’t feel so guilty leaving you guys alone while I go spend time with my Jackie-bear.”

“Speaking of, I think he’s probably out of the shower now. You can stop pretending were having a slumber party.”

“Thanks.” Rylan gave Lucy a hug before getting them both up off the floor. “I’ll pay you back someday,” she said with a wink before heading down the hall to Jack’s room.

Finn woke from his horrific nightmare drenched in sweat. He raked his hand through his hair as he looked over at the clock. It was only one thirty. Lucy had just left him three hours ago, yet he felt he couldn’t wait another minute to have her in his arms again. It was the only thing that made the dreams, the memories fade away.

He hurriedly got dressed and grabbed his phone.

“Luce?”

“Finn? Is everything alright?”

“I need to see you. Can I come over?”

“It’s the middle of the night. Jack will kill you.”

“I’ll come in through the laundry room door like I used to. Please, Lucy. I need to see you.”

“Alright. I’ll unlock it for you, but I can’t promise I’ll be awake when you get here.” He could hear a deep yawn on the other end of the line.

“Thanks. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

Finn grabbed his keys and his wallet before leaving the house. He ran the entire two blocks that separated their homes as fast as his legs could carry him.

He went through Lucy’s back gate and around to the laundry room door. He opened the door then locked it behind him. He tiptoed down the hall and slipped into her room.

Curled up in a ball under her covers, Lucy was fast asleep. The spot next to her on the full sized bed beckoned him.

He slipped off his jacket and shoes then laid his phone, keys, and wallet on her nightstand. He pulled back the covers and slid into bed next to her.

Her eyes fluttered as his fingertips caressed her cheek. “Hey.”

“Hey.”

“Did you just miss me, or did you have something else in mind?” Lucy brought her hand up to rub Finn’s stomach.

“Truthfully?”

“Of course.”

“I had a nightmare. I don’t think I can sleep without you.”

“Come here then.” Lucy rolled onto her side and scooted back into him. She grabbed his arm and slung it across her torso. “See. This is much better.”

“Yes, much.”

“I can’t...” Lucy yawned.

“It’s okay. Sleep. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

Finn pressed into her as he nestled his nose across the back of her neck. Within a few minutes, he fell into a blissful sleep.

Lucy and Finn woke when they heard the door fly open. They both sat straight up in bed as Jack stood, fuming with anger in the doorway, arms crossed on his chest.

“Explain!”

Lucy rubbed her eyes. “What do you want to know?”

“Why I shouldn’t take him out back and kick the shit out of him right now,” Jack said through gritted teeth.

Finn shook his head and lay back against the wall as Lucy brought her pillow into her lap.

“First of all, if you haven’t noticed, we are both fully clothed.” Jack nodded so Lucy went on. “Second, I had a nightmare and couldn’t sleep. Finn was nice enough to come over and help me.”

“You could have just come and got me. I’m only down the hall.” Jack was looking a little more sympathetic as he sat down on the foot of the bed.

“I could hear you were busy. I don’t want to hear you judging me or threatening my boyfriend when you very well know who is lying in your bed right now.” Lucy lifted her eyebrows to make her point. Finn covered his mouth to prevent the laughter from escaping as he realized what was truly going on.

“Let’s make a deal. I won’t tell Dad about your sleepovers with Rylan, and you don’t tell about Finn coming here last night or any night for that matter.”

Jack’s face twisted, and Finn knew she had him. “Fine, but I don’t like it. Don’t let me catch you two going at it. I might not be as forgiving.”

Jack opened the door to leave, and Lucy threw her pillow at him. “Hypocrite.”

Jack shook his head as he closed the door.

“So, that was a little weird.” Finn rubbed his temples as Lucy rolled her eyes. “How’d you know Rylan was in there?”

“We had girl talk while he was in the shower last night. Even if we hadn’t talked, whenever Dad’s out of town, Rylan’s there. If I didn’t hear them, I’d get all the details from her anyway. We don’t keep stuff from each other.”

“Isn’t that kind of strange, listening to your brother have sex?”

“That’s what headphones are for.” She pointed to the mp3 player lying next to her alarm clock. “Are you still tired?”

“A little. Why?”

“I wouldn’t mind staying here awhile longer.”

Finn lay back down, and Lucy cuddled up against his chest. “I can’t believe how good it feels just to sleep in your arms.” Lucy kissed his chest through his t-shirt.

“I’m going to have to find something to replicate this feeling. I don’t think we’ll be spending all of our nights like this.”

Lucy lifted her chin to rest on his chest. “We’ll figure something out. Before we know it, we’ll be off to college. Oh, God. I never even asked. Are you going to take that scholarship to UCLA?”

Finn shook his head vigorously. “No. California holds nothing for me anymore. I was thinking NYU. I’ve already submitted my application and an audition tape.”

“Are you sure? You’re not doing this because I already got accepted?”

“No, but it’s one of the reasons. I don’t want to be far away from home anymore. After last night, I don’t know if I can ever be that far away from you again.”

She pressed her lips up against his. He ran his tongue across her bottom lip, and she let out a soft moan.

“That was nice.” He smiled into her lips.

“You have no idea.”