The Ones Who Got Away by Roni Loren

Author:Roni Loren [Loren, Roni]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Published: 2018-01-02T08:00:00+00:00

chapter

FIFTEEN

Liv and Finn had planned another night by the fire and a rock-skipping rematch. But on their way home, clouds had rolled in and rain had followed soon after. So instead of heading outside after dinner, they’d dug through the dusty DVD collection and had decided to watch The Wedding Singer. The main house had a screened-in porch with a TV, so they’d set themselves up out there, listening to the falling rain and laughing at Adam Sandler singing “Love Stinks.”

Finn had dutifully sat on the opposite side of the couch from her, but Liv hadn’t been able to stop herself from glancing at him throughout the movie. The easy way he draped his arm over the back of the couch and took up space. The deep, full sound of his laughter when a funny part came up. The way he kept peeking at her to see if she was laughing, too.

Today he’d kissed her, but more than that, she couldn’t shake the memory of him blanketing her when he thought shots were being fired. For all the years since the shooting, she’d resented the fact that he’d abandoned her that night. But today, when she’d been pinned under him, thinking they were under attack again, she’d felt utter and complete panic…for him.

The thought of him taking a bullet for her hadn’t comforted her. It had scared her to the core. She didn’t want him sacrificing himself on her behalf. And, she realized, she wouldn’t have wanted it back then either. She couldn’t imagine living her life, knowing he’d given up his for hers. But beyond that, it was his job now. The man spent his existence risking himself for the safety of others.

Knowing he could be taken from this earth at any time as part of his job had bone-deep fear going through her—and gave her yet another reason why she couldn’t let herself get attached to him. She couldn’t take that kind of loss. Not again.

But even knowing that, she couldn’t deny that what he’d said at the park was true. They could try to ignore the pull between them, but it wasn’t going to go away. Not only that, but being together and not acting on it was making it worse.

She should probably walk away now. Call this weekend a one-time thing and create some distance. Protect herself. That was the smart thing. That was what had kept her sane and stable the last few years—keeping distance from everyone and everything having to do with her past. But instead, this growing sense of restlessness tugged at her.

“You want a decaf?”

“Huh?” Finn asked, glancing her way.

She untucked her legs from beneath her and got up from the couch. “I’m craving coffee. You want any?”

He shrugged. “Yeah, sure. I can make it if you want.”

“No, I’ve got it.”

Liv went inside, the sounds of the movie fading behind her, and made her way into the kitchen. She ignored the coffeepot and dug through the things she’d bought at the store, nerves making her hands shake a little.

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