I Never Let You Go (I Never 3)

Unknown: I hope it’s okay to be texting you. I know there’s that unwritten rule where you’re not supposed to text a girl until three days after she gives you her number.

Me: I’m not sure that applies to us, though, don’t you think?

While I wait for his response, I add his name to my phone.

Finn: Yeah, you’re probably right.

Me: Actually, I’m glad you texted me.

Finn: You are?

Me: Yeah, I wanted to thank you.

Finn: For…..

Fishing for compliments, I see. I snap a quick photo of the flowers and press Send.

Finn: Wow, those are beautiful. Do you have a secret admirer or something?

Me: Something like that. But a word of advice, if you want to play dumb, *whispers* maybe don’t sign the card. Ha

Finn: Duly noted.

Me: Thank you, you didn’t need to do that. It was nothing.

Finn: Yes, I did. It was not nothing. It was everything.

I stare at my phone in shock at his words. I reach for my wineglass and take a giant swig when another text comes through.

Finn: So, what are you doing?

Me: Just sitting here reading. Nothing too exciting.

Finn: Another Belle Willis novel?

Me: Maybe….

Damn, he’s right.

Me: What about you? How does Finn Reynolds spend his nights?

I press my palm against my face, embarrassed at my question. Why did I ask it like that? Oh, boy, please don’t think I was flirting. Was I? The three dots appear and disappear over and over, and then a photo appears. My insides turn to mush, and my heart squeezes—a picture of the cutest little boy lying on Finn’s chest.

Finn: Tonight, it’s just the little dude and me. I let Kelsey and Chase have a date night.

Me: OMG! Adorable.

Finn: Why thank you, but I thought we established years ago that I was adorable.

I roll my eyes but can’t hold back my smile. I set my Kindle on the table, realizing that I won’t be getting back to my book, for now, or maybe it’s more that I don’t want to.

Me: Cocky much? I meant the baby. *eye roll emoji*

A few more photos appear in the conversation. I flip through them—one with Liam in a high chair being fed something orange, and a selfie with said orange stuff on Finn’s face. I can’t hide my laughter at that one. Lastly, there is a video attached. I press Play. My breath hitches as the video is similar to the first photo he had sent with Liam on his chest. It zooms in on him, and you can hear soft snoring coming out of him. Oh my goodness, baby snores are the cutest thing. The video then zooms out to show Finn again. When the video stops, I run my fingers over the image, fighting back the emotion.

Finn: You still there?

What do I say? Yes, just over here imagining what you would be as a dad. Would our child look like you or me