Beautifully Destroyed (Beautifully Broken)

With lead for legs, I push to my feet. “I should go so you can get some sleep.”

The calmness that settled over Finlay disappears, and she instantly looks jittery again.

Ask me to stay, and I will.

In a stiffening silence, we go to the kitchen and place our cups in the sink. She walks me out onto the porch, and I shove my hands into my pockets to keep from yanking her against me.

“Thanks for everything. I enjoyed tonight,” I murmur, my eyes drifting over her breathtaking features.

Finlay’s gaze lifts to mine. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

I nod once. “Definitely.” Walk away, Ethan. “Call or text if you need anything.”

She nods, her stormy eyes glued to mine.

I quickly add, “Even if it’s just to talk about random stuff.”

Her lips curve up a little. “I will.”

It takes all my strength to move away from her, and taking the steps down, it feels wrong, like I shouldn’t leave her alone.

Reaching the beach, I glance around the house then look up to where Finlay’s still standing on the porch, her eyes on me.

“Go inside and lock the door,” I say, my feet coming to a stop. “I’ll wait.”

“Okay.” She hesitates for a moment before she disappears into the house.

I wait a solid minute, glancing around the house again before letting out a sigh and heading back to my place.

Chapter 20

FINLAY

Rushing through the house, I lock every single door, even the bathrooms, taking the keys to the living room. Setting them down on the coffee table, I check every window.

I approach my phone like it’s a poisonous snake, and with a trembling hand, I reach for the device.

It starts to ring, and I startle so badly I drop it. Seeing Dad’s name flashing on the screen, I quickly pick it up.

“Daddy!”

“Hi, I’m waiting for a helicopter to fly me out to the rig. How are things at home?”

So bad. Come back.

“O-okay.” I don’t sound convincing at all, and I inject more strength into my voice. “Ethan was here for dinner, so I wasn’t alone.”

“That’s good.” Dad pauses for a moment then asks, “You okay?”

No, I’m not.

“Yeah,” I lie again, sitting down on the couch, the same spot where Ethan was sitting earlier. “Ethan’s also driving me to and from work.”

“That makes me feel better. I hate being on the other side of the world,” Dad says, his tone tight with worry.

“I have Ethan’s number. He said I can call if I need anything. Don’t worry.”

“I’ll always worry, Fin.” Dad lets out a tired sigh. “You heading to bed?”

“Yeah.”

“We’ll talk tomorrow?”

“I’ll have the laptop ready.” I tighten my other hand in a fist, not wanting to hang up.

“Sweet dreams, Fin.”

“Bye, Daddy.”

I shut my eyes as the call ends, knowing I should’ve told Dad about the weird messages I’ve been getting since he left.

But they’re probably meant for someone else, and I’m just overreacting.

Right?

I open my messenger with a shaky finger and read over the texts sent from different numbers as if someone is going around giving my number out to people.

There’s a special bond between us. I know you can feel it too. He can’t give you what I can.

I miss you so much, my love.

It’s not him.

It’s not him.

It’s not him.

Dropping my phone on the coffee table, I pull my legs up to my chest and wrap my arms around my shins.

It’s probably just the wrong number, and I’m overreacting. Telling Ethan or Dad will make them worry, and I don’t want that. Not unless I’m a hundred percent sure, and right now, I’m not.

I’m just spooked.

Letting out a tired sigh, I can’t make myself go to bed, and it takes all my strength to fight the nightmarish memories creeping around the edges of my mind, ready to pounce.

Don’t think about it.

The night is torturously long, and I doze off only to startle awake at the slightest noise. The house creaking. The wind blowing. When the sun starts to rise, even the silence makes me feel jumpy.

I rush through the shower, and the moment I’m dressed, I leave the house, needing to be around other people. With my arms wrapped tightly around my waist, the pepper spray clutched in my hand, I walk up the beach toward Ethan’s house. I’ll wait outside on the porch if he’s not up yet.

If tonight’s just as bad as last night, I’ll ask Ethan to stay.

“Finlay?” I hear Ethan ask, and my eyes snap to where he’s getting up from a deck chair. His eyes sweep over me, a dark frown forming on his forehead. “You okay?”

Just seeing Ethan makes tears born from the exhaustingly long night and nightmare hanging over my head brim in my eyes. Not wanting to cry in front of him, I turn around and dart down the stairs.

You need to calm down. One day alone, and you’re losing your shit. You’re stronger than this.