He went to see his mom.
The sentence sending goose bumps across my arms hours later as I lie here, tossing under my covers.
My sheets felt restrictive, and I couldn’t take them anymore. Throwing the heavy fabric off and climbing into my shoes.
Running usually cleared my head. It didn’t tonight.
My feet pounding the pavement, sticking inside the gates of the house. A gnawing feeling grating my nerves. The harder I push, the more it becomes clear.
No, I wasn’t wrong.
The table was set for only six people. They hadn’t been expecting anyone else to join.
Where was Cole’s mom?
thirty
Rory
Thiswasstupid.Whywas I doing this to myself again?
Oh yeah, because I was without a doubt an idiot who liked to personally put myself through misery for absolutely no reason. Simple as that.
I stand outside his door, scoffing at myself for being so childish. Feeling a pinch, I look down, realizing I’d chewed off half my thumbnail.
Why was I so nervous?
Offended by my own hesitancy I scoff, knocking on his door. I was being ridiculous.
Finn’s style of music all over the board tonight. Switching back and forth every couple of minutes. Now we were back to rap.
I was falling into a pattern of making sure these hellhound boys were okay. Officially, I’d bet I was losing my mind.
No answer.
Buckling it down to Finn not being able to hear me because the music was making my own ears hurt. I try again, pounding a fist.
“Finn, open the door.”
Nothing.
I should take this as a sign, right?
Leave him alone, Rory.
Finn doesn’t want company. But I was already here, and I didn’t prefer this mishmash—let’s throw everything in the same bowl with the kitchen sink—thing he had going on. If nothing else, at least I could get him to stop playing such a variety.
I jiggle the knob. Locked. My hand smacks on the door. I yell over the music which seems to have gotten louder.
“FINN, IF YOU DON’T OPEN THIS DOORRIGHT NOW,I WILL PICK YOUR LOCK, AND YOU BETTER HAVE CLOTHES ON!”
I have zero ideas how to begin to pick a lock, but Finn doesn’t know that.
Cracking his door, he peeks out. I rotate my head on my shoulders. That seems to have done the trick.
“What do you want?”
“Turn down the music.”