Page 79 of The Moment He Couldn’t Walk Away

He said goodbye and headed outside with Bradford.

“Later, man,” he said, slapping his hand.

“Yeah, later. I’m going to sleep for twelve hours.”

“Sounds like a solid plan,” Finch agreed.

He headed for his pickup. Starting it up, he sat staring out into the darkness for long seconds.

Go home.

His body had reacted to Nina every time their eyes met and when they’d got close tonight. “Ignited” was more appropriate. She’d known what he’d been feeling and thinking, just like he had when it came to her.

“Fuck.” Putting the pickup into gear, he aimed it toward home—his home, not hers.

There was no sign of Lynx when he stepped inside, so he must have done his drop-off and jumped into bed. Finch took a shower and did the same. After putting his glasses carefully on the nightstand, he climbed under the covers, still wide awake, and let thoughts come and go until exhaustion finally pulled him under. His last thought was of Nina. Was she waiting for him?

Something woke him.

Sitting up, Finch could tell it was still the early hours of the morning. Switching on the lamp, he picked up his watch and confirmed it was 2:00 a.m. Waking in the middle of the night was nothing new for him. It happened all the time since the accident. But this was different. He could feel it, a prickling at the back of his neck that he hadn’t felt in a long time. A sensation that something wasn’t right.

Finch got out of bed, pulled on some sweatpants and a T-shirt, and walked through the cottage in the dark. He opened the back door, stepped outside, and looked around. It was cold and still. Nothing out here seemed off. Sniffing the air, he didn’t detect any fire or smoke.

What the hell had woken him?

“What’s going on?” His brother wandered out, yawning, and then yelped as his bare feet hit the cold decking.

“Why are you awake?” Finch asked.

“I heard the floorboards creak, and I wasn’t asleep.”

“It’s 2:00 a.m. Why aren’t you asleep?”

His brother shrugged, which told him nothing, but he’d deal with that another time.

“Something feels off, which could be nothing, as I often wake in the middle of the night,” Finch said, looking around them before returning his gaze to his brother and seeing what he had on. “What the fuck are you wearing?”

“A kimono. A fan gave it to me,” Lynx said, looking down.

“It looks more like something Mom and Dad would wear, and there was me thinking you were the cool McAllister sibling.”

“Oh, I’m cool, bro. Never forget that.”

“Whatever. I’m going to have a drive around.” Finch headed back inside.

“Where?”

“Around.”

“Around where?” Lynx persisted. “It’s winter, freezing, and there is nowhere to drive around but the town. You can’t even get a coffee.”

“Well then, that’s where I’m driving, and I know it’s winter because, like you, my toes are numb,” Finch said, moving past his brother and heading back to his room. He pulled on a sweater and shrugged into his jacket, then put on socks and his sneakers and finally found a beanie.

His brother met him at the front door, wearing a full-length puffy black coat that reached his calves and a beanie with his band’s name on it. On his feet were Ugg Boots.

“What the actual fuck?” Finch said, pointing at him.

“I’m warm. Now shut up and let’s go.”