“You know he’s actually a decent guy?”
“Care to share Watson or am I going to have to play Sherlock and solve the mystery myself,” I deadpan.
Finn’s eyes turn to pointed slits, brows pinching together. I knew exactly who he was talking about, but he wasn’t about to talk down to me like I was an idiot.
The veins along his neck stretch. Guess I struck a nerve.
“AlrightShitlock,solve this one for me then.” His tone was acidic. “How come I haven’t seen you have more than a single drink since before your birthday?”
I was starting to get worked up and I didn’t want to be, but I let him continue. Letting him get whatever he wanted to say off his chest first so I could go home already.
“Answer me that, huh?” He huffs out a laugh, but it’s empty. “Because for years I hadn’t seen you sober for weeks—heck, even months—in a row. Blacking out your favorite hobby, my friend.”
I look past him. So, what if I liked to have a drink or two—a few dozen to unwind. I realized the more I drank, the less I remembered and the more I’d forget everything and everyone.
It helped even if the relief was only temporary.
His expression shifts, knowing. “That is until a certain female showed back up and now, you’re lucky if you finish off one by yourself.”
I shrug, people change. Not a big deal.
“Figured if I wanted to live past thirty with a somewhat healthy liver, I should probably slow it down a bit.”
He juts out his chin. “Never mattered before.”
“Neither did your grades. Until you realized you needed somewhat decent ones to get into college.”
Finn’s eyes narrow further. I was being a dick, but he’d asked for it. Not that it mattered anyway I could tell he wasn’t buying it with the way the one side of his mouth raised the smallest bit.
“You’re really doing that old trick. Trying to change the subject on me.”
“Don’t be obtuse,” I say nonchalantly. Even though on the inside I wanted to punch him for catching on so easily. I shouldn’t be surprised he knew my tactics better than anyone.
“Stop living in denial and I will.”
I scoff, “That wasn’t a compliment.”
“Pay attention,” Finn balks. Flabbergasted. “Maybe if you pulled your head out of your ass, you’d finally see the fucking sunshine—”
“—That’s all I do is pay attention!” I fume, cutting in. My blood warming as it tingles in my veins. The familiar sensation coursing my whole body.
“—Not close enough,” he finishes, snarling.
Unease pricks at my neck seeing the seriousness on Finn’s face. He never did serious.
“Why do you think Rory broke it off with Xander then, huh?” he discloses, rolling his eyes. “You think it was because he wasn’t a good guy? He was great for her,” he defends.
That was doubtful, no one was better for her than me. Also, Rory wouldn’t do that. That’s what Finn was insinuating, right? That’d she done itbecauseof me.
Jeering, now I was the one rolling my eyes.
They also laughed at the idea of a telephone and now look at everyone. Cell phones glued to our palms so religiously you’d have thought they were a child.
Had princess kicked him to the curb? For me? Unease sets along my skin.
“I’ve been watching him, you know. Looking out for Rory. Seeing how he interacts with her when no one else is around.”
My muscles tighten at the mention of anyone else being that close to her.