Can't Have You: A Stand-Alone Brother's Best Friend Romance by Lilian Monroe

Author:Lilian Monroe [Monroe, Lilian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-06-08T23:00:00+00:00

19

Esme

I hear the back door to the shop open and close, and then heavy footsteps going up to the second floor. Finn’s back.

The footsteps continue overhead and I try to control the thumping of my heart.

I hate that he feels the need to tell me what to do. He’s possessive over me, but he still won’t act on his desires. I hate that we’re in this awful no man’s land, where we know there’s a spark between us, but we don’t know if it’s enough to act on.

In my mind, I know it’s enough. Being with Finn is the only thing that has made life worth living. It feels like the whole reason that I fought this stupid cancer in the first place. He’s the only reason I feel the spark of life in my spirit right now.

I lift my head when the shop door opens. Two police officers step through, their faces impassive. My throat tightens.

I nod. “Hello, officers.”

“Ma’am,” one of them says. He leans on the reception desk, pulling out a cell phone. “We’re looking on information regarding this man. A witness saw him jumping off the radio tower just outside of town about an hour ago.”

He turns his phone screen toward me and presses ‘play’ on a video before handing it to me. I watch the screen, my eyebrows jumping up a fraction of an inch. I fight to keep my face neutral.

It’s Finn.

I know it’s Finn. He left the shop in a hurry this morning, and he just got back, going straight up to his apartment. He looked determined when he walked out. Almost angry.

I can tell by the way he’s running in the video that it’s him. I recognize his clothing. His hair. His movements.

There’s absolutely no doubt in my mind that the man in the video is Finn Gallagher. I hand the phone back to the office and shake my head.

“No idea, Officer. I’m sorry.” The lie burns on its way out. I could go to jail for lying to a police officer, right?

Am I really covering for Finn when all he’s done is kiss me and then push me away? What’s wrong with me? Am I really that pathetic?

But it’s too late now. One officer stares at me while the other looks at the various pictures hanging in the shop. A lump forms in my throat.

“We’ll need a list of everyone who works here and everyone who’s been skydiving lately.”

The officer looks angry, which makes the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. I straighten up, jutting my chin out. I don’t appreciate being pushed around.

They’re just like Finn. They think they can order me around, walk all over me, treat me like a nobody just because I’m a girl. Because I’m small. I look weak.

Well, newsflash, Officer: I’m not weak.

My jaw ticks. “I can’t hand out customer information, Officer. I’m sorry.”

“Your staff list, then.”

“Our staff has been taking people skydiving all morning at the Woodvale Skydiving Airfield.” I cross my arms.

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