Lyra Parish - Weak Without Him

Luketon and Finnley took turns hugging Emma and Franklin, who then hugged me.

"It was so nice to meet y'all," I said.

"You're so cute, Jennifer. You're welcome back at any time," Emma said.

"Take care of her, son. And don't be too much of a bloody arsehole," Franklin said.

Finnley hugged his dad, and Franklin squeezed his shoulders. "I'm serious. If I catch wind of you being you, we will both be on a plane to the states to knock some sense into you. Luketon, make sure of it."

"Alright, alright. Love you, dad, mum," Finn said.

"I'll be back this weekend," Luke said and grabbed his coat, then hugged his mother and father goodbye. We said our final goodbyes and the three of us walked to the car that awaited us. I had the pleasure of sitting in the middle of the two in the backseat. Talk about awkward.

Luke finally spoke. "Told you she wouldn't bite."

"But she could have," I responded, and turned my body slightly toward him and whispered, "and why didn't you warn me that he would be there?"

"Because he told me not to," Luke said.

"Do you always listen to what he says?" I asked.

There was no response, so I continued, "Not warning me was wrong."

Finnley cleared his throat, and when I turned to look at him, I saw his reflection in the window. He smiled. That bastard. I smiled, too.

I crossed my arms and leaned back in the seat.

"You both suck."

Finnley whispered in my ear, "Out of the three of us, I'm positive you're the only one that sucks anything."

He wrapped his arm around me and snuggled in close. I breathed in his smell and soaked in his warmth.

"You're such an asshole for that," I said to him.

"Choose your words wisely, Miss Downs," Finnley said, and Luke laughed.

The car stopped at the train station. Luke slid out, and I followed him without a second glance.

"Why would you do that to me?" I said. He walked toward the boarding platform.

"Because it was necessary. I knew you wouldn't have gone if I would have told you, and you were already nervous enough. The way you two act is annoying sometimes. But you're in love each other, and it's disgustingly obvious. It radiates from you both."

"But–"

"Stop it, Jennifer. Sometimes you're just as hardheaded as him. I know that we will never have anything. And while it's fun to pretend, it's not real."

"Pretend?"

Luke lifted an eyebrow, leaned down, and kissed me on my cheek.

"Yes. What you and my brother have is real. What we have is just a silly one-sided infatuation. Now go to him. He's waited long enough to see you."

I walked after him and grabbed his hand to stop him. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For being who you are. For loving your brother. For caring for me. You're going to make someone very happy, Luketon."

He ran his fingers through my hair and down my cheek then sucked in a deep breath. "I know."

And that was the second time he walked away. Before he boarded the train, Luke turned and gave one of those sweet smiles he wore so often. "Your things will be waiting for you tomorrow. Don't leave him waiting. Go on," he said, and the door closed. Moments later, I watched as the train sped away into the darkness.

Because you are in love with each other. Love.

The word seemed foreign at times, and like my best friend at others. As much as I like to think I didn't know what love was, I thought about it way too often. If a person's name can draw strong emotions from one's core, or if the sound of their voice makes the heart flutter, that's love. Just the thought of Finnley controlled me, and unlocked places in my heart that I'd never been before.

When I was younger, my mother told me that a person never forgot the first time they fell in love. That it was something that will live even after death. Love was an emotion that was so powerful, so lovely, that even the memory of it could conjure those specific feelings that were felt at a previous time in our lives.

Some people think magic doesn't exist, but as long as love has survived, I'd like to think they were wrong. Love could bring light to a dark room. Love could move mountains. Love made people write silly songs, and sing them at the top of their lungs. Finnley did know what love was. He described it perfectly the night that he melded himself with me.

As much as I wanted to deny it, to run from it and hide, I knew that I had fallen head over heels, stupid-sappy-girl-movie in love with Finnley Felton. I took a moment to stare at the empty station, then walked back to the car that held the man that could roll me around in his palm like putty. The man that I wanted to push away, although it was impossible. The outline of his body called me, and I would go to him, and press my lips against his, and tell him how much I missed him.

The thought of us being together encapsulated me, covered me, and I was nervous and excited all at once. I had never really admitted it to myself, but Luke knew, hell, even his mother and father knew. The only question was, did Finnley?

I studied Jennifer as she watched the train in a statuesque manner. The lights faded away but she stood there for a few more moments. I wondered what she was thinking and if I was still the man she dreamed about when she drifted into solitude from the world.

Jennifer Downs had met my fucking parents. Talk about moving the relationship to the next level. But I had planned it for weeks, along with the perfect evening at the vacation home I rented. Everything would be complete with her in my arms, sleeping next to me. I would lay her down, tell her how much I missed her, and kiss that smart-ass mouth until she shut it. She had to know that I needed her and how she made me feel. Jennifer Downs was the only woman that uncovered the man that I hadn't been in years. I would do anything for her.

She turned and stared at me from afar with a smile. God, at that moment I really wished I knew what she was thinking. She walked toward the car and we made eye contact. I wanted to run to her, kiss her, and run my fingers through her hair. But I would wait for her, keep her guessing, wanting, needing more of me. Jennifer liked to play the game of Finnley Felton.

Something clicked inside of me when she was away, and I knew then that I had it bad for her. I was completely and utterly addicted to every piece of her. I still imagined the smell of her skin on mine and the touch of her lips on my neck. Jennifer fucking Downs… the only woman that could pussy-whip me. Me? How did I get into this situation?

I watched her, every movement she made. Jennifer looked so content, like she had just learned a secret. What had Luke said to her before he left?

My insides burned with desire. It would take every piece of me not to just lay her flat in the backseat, but I didn't know the driver and that would be a little awkward. I would wait, but not because I wanted to.

She stalked closer and was only a few feet from the car. In the distance, screeching tires echoed from a vehicle speeding down the road. Moments later it slammed on the brakes behind me. I turned around and looked. Men in black exited the car and ran toward Jennifer.

I couldn't move.

I couldn't speak.

The shock of it all froze me.

They grabbed her.

A blood-curdling scream escaped her. "Finnley! Help me!"

I tried to get out of the car and save her but the driver locked the doors. Fucking child-proof locks kept me inside.

"Go after her," I screamed, and the driver turned around and snarled at me.

"No fucking way," he said.

I reached over the seat and put him in a headlock. I would have choked the fucking life out of him. He opened the door and struggled to get out. When he hit the pavement, I had two choices: go after the fucktard, or go after Jennifer. I would choose her every time.