"What are you to girls whispering about over here?" Clark handed Milly a cup and smiled at both of us.
"Sharing secrets about how to score a good man," I chuckled.
"Yeah, but first we gotta find a few of them." Milly elbowed Clark in the stomach, and he gave her a look.
"I'm going to wrap up some shopping today, and I got Finn some cologne, but what else would he like? Does he need anything for his snowboarding stuff or some new shirts or..." I let my words trail off as they both turned to stare at me.
"He's a pretty simple guy." Clarkâs expression softened a little.
"He hates gifts, too." Milly turned to look up at him.
"That's because he's always too broke to return the favor." Clark took a sip of his coffee.
"Oh, I don't want anything from him. I just wanted to get him something nice to open on Christmas morning."
"Are you two seeing each other or just friends?" Milly's cheeks colored, like she'd asked something inappropriate.
"I think we're somewhere in between the two." I shrugged.
She glanced back at Clark and lifted her eyebrow. "Looks like you and Jon better get your shit cleaned up. No need to let it fall on these kids. They haven't done anything to deserve it."
Clark turned his gaze to me, and I tried to read whatever he was thinking, but it was impossible.
"I thought you were headed back to the west coast. You're from L.A., right?"
"Yes, Sir, but I've graduated." I shifted from one foot to the other, wishing I hadn't gotten myself cornered into such an odd conversation. "I'm not sure what I'm going to do anymore."
"What's changed your mind?" Milly smiled with a knowing look on his face.
"Finn is starting to."
"You just met him." Clark leaned against a rack of cotton rolls. "He's not usually one for commitment, either."
"Clark." Milly smacked him, but I smiled, understanding where he was coming from.
"I think that's about to change." I pulled my phone from my pocket as it buzzed. "Excuse me."
"Of course, dear. Good to see you again." Clark turned and put his hand on Mil
ly's back, forcing her to the front with him.
"Chloe?" Finn's voice was tight with tension.
"Hey. Where are you?" I let my eyes scan a few more colors before deciding on the pink for sure.
"Leaving your house." He sounded as if someone had pulled the warmth out of him.
"I'm in town." I paused and waited for a reply but didn't get one. "Finn, What's wrong?"
"Your dad was home and like a dumb ass, I thought maybe I could help him see that I'm not my father, so whatever happened between them..." his voice faded again.
"Oh no. Was he mean to you?"
"No, just truthful." Finn coughed. "It's all good. I just didn't want you to go home and him get upset with you without me warning you."
"I don't give a shit what he thinks."
"You should, baby. He's your dad. He's just trying to protect you and find the right kind of man for you."