I Never Let You Go (I Never 3)

“Shit,” I softly mutter and rub the back of my head right where the corner of the box struck. I reach down and grab the cereal box, placing it into the cart.

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

I slowly spin to find Kelsey Reynolds staring at me. Or wait, no, it’s Kelsey…I’m drawing a blank on her new last name.

“Hi, Kelsey.” I smile as she approaches.

“It’s so good to see you, Lauren.” She pulls me into a hug, and I wrap my arms around her. I look around and wonder if Finn is with her too.

“How have you been?” She enthusiastically shifts her hand cart from one arm to the other. The movement almost reminds me of when Haylee is holding Emme and moving from one side to the other. I guess maybe that’s a mom thing.

“I’ve been good.” I mean, it’s not a lie. “I teach second grade over at Central Academy.”

“Oh, that’s right. Finn mentioned that after his meeting there.” Hearing his name alone makes my heart beat faster.

I guess there is no avoiding him since, in yesterday’s staff meeting, Ashley mentioned that they are moving forward with Reynolds Contracting on the design and building an outdoor learning experience for the kids. I’m really excited about this project in general, but hearing Ashley talk about the plans that Finn has, I know it is going to be amazing when completed.

“How about you. I hear you’re married and had a baby.” I may not keep up with the Reynolds family like my mom, but I may or may not have been stalking her social media the other day when I was at the coffee shop.

“Yep, crazy, huh? Liam is six months old. Chase is amazing.” The way her face lights up when she talks about her husband and son. It reminds me of when I think of Finn…I mean thought. Kelsey has stopped talking and is now staring at me. Does she know I’m thinking of her brother?

I nervously tuck a stray hair behind my ear and happen to glance down at her basket.

“Meatballs?”

“Huh?” She quirks her head to the side, and I point to the items in her basket. I recognize them as ingredients in Finn’s meatballs. “Oh yeah.” She laughs, recognizing she should have realized that easier. “Finn is making them tonight.”

I bring my hand to my lips, recalling the memory from one of the many times Finn made me that meal.

“Mmm, something smells delicious in here, babe.” I entered the tiny kitchen of our apartment to find Finn standing at the stove with his back to me.

“Good, you’re just in time.” He glanced over his shoulder and smiled at me. I scurried over to him; of course, it took all of seven steps before he lifted me onto the counter. “Want to taste?”

I laughed. “As if you needed to ask. I will always say yes to tasting your balls.” His eyes darkened as he grunted, and I smirked, knowing exactly what I said. “Jeez, your meatballs.” I playfully smacked his arm. “Get your head out of the gutter, ya perv.”

His laugh filled the small space. It was one of my favorite sounds.

Finn used a wooden spoon to slice a meatball in half and gathered a little sauce on the spoon before he lifted it to my lips. I sucked in a breath at the warm temperature but soon let out a soft moan as the flavors of tomato, garlic, and basil exploded on my tongue.

“Oh my God, it’s so good.” I covered my mouth, trying not to talk with a mouthful of food. Finn stepped between my legs, where I sat on the counter and pressed his lips to mine. He laced his fingers in my hair as he deepened the kiss, plunging his tongue into my mouth, seeking my own. After a moment, he pulled back, his eyes now clouded with desire, and he licked his lips.

“Mm, that is good, but needs a little more salt.”

He reached for the salt container and added a little pinch and continued to stir the pot with a massive smile on his face.

“It’s nice to see my brother cooking again.” Wait, he stopped cooking? He loved cooking—why would he stop?

Kelsey’s phone rings before I can ask her to elaborate. “Speak of the devil.” She holds up her cell phone showing Finn’s name with a photo with her and Finn on what I assume was her wedding day. I can’t help but hold back my smile at the picture.

“Hey,” she says, holding the phone to her ear.

I gently brush her arm. “I’m going to go. It really was good to see you. Bye, Kelsey.” She tries to protest, but I turn and leave her in the middle of the aisle and continue my shopping in record time.

“You have impeccable timing, brother,” Kelsey says into the phone.

“Was that Lauren?” I don’t know why I ask. I could pick her out of a police lineup just hearing her voice. Why is she with Lauren?

“And if it was? Kicking yourself in the ass for sending me to the grocery store instead of you?” She laughs.