Beyond the Smoke by Stacy Lynn Miller

Author:Stacy Lynn Miller [Miller, Stacy Lynn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-06-06T00:56:16+00:00

Chapter Twelve

As daybreak slipped over the eastern hills, Sloane gripped the steering wheel and kept her focus on the dark city street ahead, anxious about her plan. If not for her second chance with Finn, she wouldn’t have considered going. She had hoped that Reagan would’ve done the same for Finn last night after her and Finn’s show of a united front, but it never came. Perhaps she just needed a bit more time.

“You’re right about this.”

“You’ve held this pain for too long. It’s time to let it go.” From the passenger seat, Finn drifted a hand to Sloane’s thigh, caressing it.

It was time, but was she ready? The hurt had cut deep, and for that very reason, she had avoided facing its roots for months. Sloane pulled Finn’s hand up to her mouth and kissed the back of it. “You’ll stay, won’t you?”

“If that’s what you want. Then, of course, I’ll stay.”

Sloane considered releasing Finn’s hand, but she’d come so close to losing it she couldn’t bear letting it go. She drew it to her chest and held it there until she pulled into the Daly City apartment complex.

Once parked, she unbuckled and tugged Finn’s chin toward her with a hand before she could escape. “I always want you with me.” She pressed their lips together in a brief, tender kiss. It wasn’t nearly enough. She needed to say those words and kiss those lips a thousand times until the unpleasant parts of yesterday evaporated with the morning bay fog.

By any standard of decorum, it was too early for visiting someone, but she didn’t have a choice. She’d set the artificial deadline of finding answers before she and Finn went to West, and now she had to head it off. Minutes later, at the apartment door, she waited for it to open. The sound of the deadbolt sent a sour taste bubbling up to the back of her throat. When the door was pulled ajar, silence settled in like the thick fog she’d woken up to this morning.

Hair mussed, dressed in long plaid pajama pants and a ratty white T-shirt, Eric took several deep breaths. “I know my time is up.”

“May we come in?” Sloane’s voice remained steady without emotion. He nodded.

Finn entered first, rubbing a hand along his bad arm as she passed. Sloane followed. She’d spent enough time with Eric to see that he was curious. She had some questions of her own and hoped they both would soon get the answers they needed.

Inside, she was ashamed to think this was the first time she’d ever set foot in his apartment. They had been partners for over two years, and not once had he extended an invitation nor had she asked for one. Now she understood his reluctance. The space was cramped and had the feel of a low-rent hotel. The one touch of personalization was the big-screen television and a small wall clock made of spent ammo mounted next to it.

Without many options, Sloane and Finn sat on the years-old couch, while Eric took a seat on the nearby recliner.

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