Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chloe
I left the hospital later that night and slept for twelve straight hours in my bed. Brian wanted some time with Finn, and I was beyond exhausted. I made sure to text him most of Thursday, but we decided that he would spend some time with his dad and then we would get together on Friday, so I could help him settle back into his house. Brian was staying Friday night, but I wasn't missing the opportunity to go over and spend a few minutes with him. I'd had all the patience I could with not seeing him. It was nice to know that I wasn't alone in my feelings.
He was grumpy from us not seeing each other, too, but his family wanted his time, and I really needed to work out a few things with my dad.
After taking a quick shower, I braided my hair, put on some comfy clothes, and walked out into the living room. Parker was playing video games on the big screen, which was out of the ordinary.
"Morning," I mumbled as I walked toward the kitchen. "Where's Dad?"
"Hey, sis. He's in the garage."
I didn't waste any time finding him, though I could think of a million other things that I'd rather have done. The tension between us had only grown worse, and I had to hope that some of it was due to the fact that he knew that he was responsible for Finn going up on Bear Creek Mountain. If it wasn't, then I didn't know my father at all, nor did I want to.
I poked my head in the garage to find him putting chains on the gray Lexus he loved to drive.
"Dad, you got a minute?"
He glanced up, covered in sweat and grease, but nodded, sitting back on his heels. "Yeah. This going to be a short talk or a long one?"
"Long." I moved out into the garage as he stood up and cleaned off his hands.
"Okay. First let me say this..." He reached up and wiped his forehead with the back of his forearm. "Had I known that Clark's boy was going to get hurt, I never would have said anything to him. I can't imagine having to go through almost losing you or Parker, so I'm sorry for that. I still don't like the kid, but wishing him harm isn't at all who I am."
Letting out a long breath, I nodded. I was beyond grateful to hear that he wasn't a total monster. Now to see how far his benevolence could go.
"I'm sorry about attacking the other day."
"Don't be. You were right." He leaned against the car and sucked his bottom lip in his mouth before patting the hood next to him. "Come here and sit beside me."
I walked out without hesitation and sat down next to him, pulling my legs up and wrapping my arms around them.
"I grew up not too far from here, the mountains behind the old house was my favorite place to play. One of the reasons I love bringing you guys up here during the winter is because I honestly wanted you to experience some of the fun that I did as a kid." He paused and wiped his head again. "My best friend lived next door, and we did everything together. I mean from the time we could walk to slapping each other in the face with our diplomas. He meant everything to me."
Sickness rolled through me. I'd come out to talk about Finn, but something told me that we were talking about his father.
"So things went on as they always did until we got to college. We both went to the University of Colorado because we loved to snowboard, and there was no damn way we were splitting up." A smile brushed across my father's face as he got a faraway look in his eyes. "We were there three years before I fell in love with this beautiful brunette in my history class. She was so damn funny and left me feeling alive, like really alive."
"Dad. You don't have to talk about this if you don't want to." I reached out and touched his arm, not sure why I was giving him grace, but I was.
"No, it's good. I need to get it out." He glanced over at me and continued. "The problem was, my best friend decided to snatch her up before I could get to her, even though he knew that I'd had my eye on her for the last year. I was just waiting for the right time."
I didn't want to hear anymore. My father hadn't been at fault from what I could tell, yet I had pinned him as the villain without even considering that Clark might have started the whole thing.
"So, he starts dating her, and as you can imagine, the riff between our friendship, our brotherhood, was deep and wide. I hated his ass, and without thinking too much about it, I got her drunk and made love to her on a night that I knew he would show up." He turned to me. "He stabbed me in the chest, and instead of trying to work it out, or even walking away, I cleaned off the dagger and I drove it deep into his heart."
Tears filled my father's eyes, and I couldn't fight back the ones in mine, too. There was so much hurt in his face. I reached out and wrapped my hands around his thick arm before pressing my cheek to his shoulder.
If I had been in love with Seth, and then Jessie had taken him, I wasn't too sure I wouldn't have stabbed her in the back, too.
"So you see, it's not just about seeing Clark that twists that dagger around in that old womb, but his boy is a product of the relationship that was supposed to be mine." He sniffled and wiped at his nose. "I think the only thing that healed me was finding your mother. All those years we were together, none of this mattered, and honestly, it doesn't now, either, but when she died, it came crashing back in. I don't want him near you, and I don't want Clark near me."
"Dad, it was thirty years ago, and you both hurt each other." I moved from the hood of the car to look at him. "You can't put that one incident on me and Finn. I'm in love with him, and I want my life to be here in Aspen with you, Parker, and Finn, but if you think you're going to disallow that..."
He lifted his hand, and I stopped.
"I don't want you with Finn, Chloe, but I've lost too much in my life already. I don't want to lose you, too." He paused and pursed his lips again. "The night I had to come get Parker from the hospital, I saw Clark for a minute, and the fear and agony on his face left me breathless. I'm still hurt over our old shit, which is ridiculous, I know, but I can't let it affect you and Parker."
I moved closer to him and slid my hands over his shoulders. "Then, stop pushing me away. I'm just like you, and if you would just bend a little, that can be a good thing."
"I know, pumpkin. You just have to give me a little bit of space, though. Okay?" He reached up and touched the side of my face.
I moved into his arms, hugging him tightly and praying that this was a turning point for us. I needed my father back as someone who would be on my side.
"I love you, Dad." I kissed the side of his cheek and moved out of his hold.
"I love you, too, and hey, I got you something pretty nontraditional for Christmas."
"Parker told me." I smiled.
His smile faded as his eyes widened and anger brushed along his features. "What? He wasn't supposed to say anything. It was supposed to be a surprise."
"No, Dad. He just said that you got me something pretty cool, but that he couldn't tell me what it was." I put my hands on my hips.
"Oh, good. I thought he told you what it was."
"No, but you can tell me if you want." I gave him a shit-eating grin.
He chuckled. "I'm not saying anything other than this: it's a gift, but it's a project, too, so if you don't want it when you get it, it will not hurt my feelings if you want to give it back."
"Give it back? Are you crazy? You might be a huge pain in my butt, but you give the best gifts ever." I winked and walked to the house. "I'm helping Finn get settled in tonight, but I'll be in later. You want to watch a movie with me and Parker?"
"A western?" he asked and picked up his hand-towel.
"How about The Grinch?"
"Count me out." He rolled his eyes.
I laughed. "Too close to home?"
"Watch it, missy, and be careful on the roads."
* * * *
I drove to Finn's with a lightness about me that felt so good. I couldn't wait to tell him the story about our dads, which in all honesty was heartbreaking.
His truck was back out front, as was his father's large pick-up. I parked beside Finn's and got out, pulling out a bag of treats I'd worked on for the last day or so to keep him in a holiday spirit.
I knocked on the door, not wanting to use my key in case his father wasn't aware that I had one.
"Come in!" Finn called out, and I walked in, smiling at both of them as they sat on the couch.
Finn's foot was propped up on several pillows on the coffee table, and he was wrapped in blankets with a glass of water in his hand.
"Hey, guys." I sat the treats on the counter and moved to sit beside Clark on the couch. "Everything go okay with getting out of the hospital?"
"Yeah. He's got to be careful with those crutches in the snow and no getting that cast wet, but other than that, he's doing good." Clark reached over and squeezed my hand gingerly.
"And, the concussion?" I looked over at Finn, chuckling at the look on his face.
"You're not my mother, you're my girlfriend. Get over here and give me a kiss, dammit." Finn leaned forward and took my hand, tugging at me.
I got up and moved to his side of the couch, sitting down and giving him a quick kiss.
"Dad, time for you to go. Nice of you to visit. Don't be a stranger." Finn leaned forward and sat his beer on the coffee-table.
Clark laughed and stood up as I shoved Finn's shoulder.
"Don't be rude. Your dad can stay and watch a movie with us or something." I winked at Clark.
He acted like he was going to sit back down. "Yeah, sure. Why not."
"Get out!" Finn pushed at him, and we both laughed.
"Alright. Call if you need me. I'll see you tomorrow, Finn."
"Thanks for everything, Dad."
I got up and walked to the kitchen with Clark. "I made some cookies and fudge. You want to take some back to the office so you and Milly can try it out?"
"Hey. Is that stuff for me?" Finn called from the living room.
"Hush." I glanced over my shoulder and winked at the sexy guy on the couch.
"Naw. Keep it for the boy. He's got a wicked sweet tooth."
I walked Clark out and turned as the door shut, giving Finn a sexy smile.
He beckoned for me to join him. "That's not the only wicked thing I have. Come sit in my lap and let me hold you."
I crawled up in his lap, straddling him and rubbing his chest and the thick column of his neck. "I've missed you. You feeling okay, really?"
"Much better now." He gripped the back of my neck and pulled me down for a long, hot kiss.
I wasn't sure how active he could be, but I rocked against his arousal slowly as he groaned against my lips.
"When is Brian getting here?" I asked.
"I don't know, but call him and cancel." He slid his fingers under my shirt and squeezed my breast as he moved down to suck at my neck and then my ear.
Heat rushed through me, and I almost agreed to tell his friend to hop off. A long night with Finn on the couch sounded divine.
"I'm not canceling on your best friend." I pulled back and moved between his legs, being careful not to hit his cast. "When he gets here, we'll stop."
"I hate him already." He reaching out and touched the side of my face. "I'm so sorry for scaring you. You're all I've thought about the last few days. Did you know that?"
"No, but I'm glad to hear I'm not alone. You're all I've thought about, too." I tugged off his blankets and slipped my fingers into his sweatpants near his hips before glancing up at him. "Can I?"
"Fuck, yes." He lifted his hips, and I pulled his pants down over his ass, leaving him naked from the top of his thighs up.
I reached out and took his thick cock into my hands, stroking him with one hand and then the other in a slow, tight fashion.
His teeth sunk into his bottom lip, and he closed his eyes, dropping his head back onto the couch.
"God, that feels good."
"Mmm...looks good." I moved up and rolled my tongue across his thick head before taking him in my mouth.
His breath caught in his chest, and he groaned, lifting his hips and forcing more of himself into me. I wasn't sure when Brian was coming, but I wanted Finn to come before his boy showed up and ruined everything.
I wasted no time in taking as much as I could of him, my hands pumping his flesh where my mouth didn't touch. He pressed against my shoulder and groaned loudly a few minutes later.
"Slow down, Chloe. I want this to last." He slipped his hand into my hair, and I groaned loudly as my body flooded with wetness.
He wasn't the only one that wanted it to last.
A knock at the door behind me had him growling loudly.
"It's Brian, dude. Let me in."
"Go away," Finn groaned, and looked down at me as I continued to fuck him. He licked at his lips and put his focus back on me, watching me intensely as I let moans roll out of my mouth and sucked him harder.
When I moved one hand to stroke his sack, his eyes rolled back in his head as his mouth dropped open.
He came hard, and I took my time drinking him down and cleaning him up.
"Dude, really? I can hear you guys in there. It's fucking freezing out here." Brian hit the door twice.
Sitting back on my heels, I helped him get his pants back up and stood up, leaning over and kissing him twice as he tried to catch his breath.
"Where are you going? Don't leave. I want you here with me." He called out as I grabbed my purse and opened the door.
"Hey, Brian. Good to see you again." I looked over my shoulder and winked at Finn. "Have fun with your guy's night. There are sweets up here for you to share. I'll see you tomorrow, baby."
His angry pout was beyond beautiful, and it only got worse as Brian stopped me.
"You don't want any of these treats, Chloe?"
"Nope." I licked my lips and glanced at Finn. "I already had mine."