Chapter 30
Finn
It’s been a fucking shitty ass day.
I felt Presley’s presence the second she walked in the room, but my head was too groggy to open my eyes. With the comfort of her hand in mine, I drifted back off, only to awaken when Johnny came in.
What I heard next sent ice through my veins with betrayal. Hearing her internalize her fears and verbalize her unwillingness to conquer them was a shot to the heart. It was all I could do to pretend to sleep as she cried by my bedside. The urge to hold her in my arms and console her was overwhelming, but at that point, it was a struggle to think straight.
When I thought it was safe to open my eyes, my parents had come in, and I haven’t had a second alone with Presley since. Everyone but she and my parents left on a flight home today, and I barely had the privacy to tell Tripp what I knew was going on in her head.
He assured me he’d talk to Reese and see if they could get a read on Presley’s emotional state. I had to come up with a plan, a way to ensure her we could get through this, but I had to do it on her terms. Because at the end of the day, I can’t change who I am.
Finally, everyone left us alone, and she waited in the room as an orderly helped me get a quick shower. It was a bitch trying to wash without getting the stomach bandage wet, but when it was done, I felt like a new person.
Refreshed and with a renewed sense of confidence, I sit up in the bed and scoot over enough for her to sit with me. She crawls into my arms, resting her head on my shoulder. The scent of her shampoo fills my nose, and I inhale deeply, a sense of longing settling in my chest.
“Tell me what’s on your mind, baby.” My lips move across her hairline tenderly.
“Nothing,” she lies.
“Presley, I need to know what you’re feeling. I was shot.”
“You don’t need to remind me. I see it every time I close my eyes.” Her breath hitches.
“So talk to me about it. We can’t ignore it. You need to get anything off your chest, I’m here. Talk to me.”
She shivers against me, and a tear hits my chest. “I can’t talk about it yet. My mind and heart are having a hard time.”
Her words are low and weak, scaring me. “Presley.” I lift her chin, forcing her to look at me. When I do, my heart sinks.
Her eyes are vacant; the usual dazzling hazel that dances with happiness is now clear and unreadable. In this moment, I know.
She’s going to leave me.
There’s a flash of realization on her face, and she backs away, leaving the bed and pacing the small space.
“Let’s get you home, get you settled, and then we’ll talk about this.”
“I’d rather not wait.”
“Finn, you’re in the hospital. This isn’t the time.”
“The only thing hurting right now is my heart. It’s breaking away, piece by piece.”
She stops and looks at me, crestfallen. “Don’t say that.”
“Tell me it’s not what I think, that you’re not backing away, thinking of ways to break up as soon as we get back to Nashville.”
Her face crumbles, and I swing my legs over the bed, forcing myself to stand. She reaches to help me, but I brush her off and walk to the side table, getting her bag and handing it to her.
“Go ahead and go.”
“What? No!” she argues, shaking her head violently. Tears spill down her cheeks. “I’m going to take care of you. I love you!”
“If you loved me, you’d be reassuring me that you can stick this out, not making me wonder when you’re going to drop the ball that we’re over. As it stands now, it’s a clean break.”
“How can you be so cold, so calm?”