thirty
WAIT . . . WHAT? SHE broke up with you?”
Finn nodded at Jason and took another long chug of his ale.
“What the hell did she do that for?” Clay asked.
“I guess she doesn’t feel the same way I do.”
“That’s bullshit,” Owen said. “Hang on, I’ve got a customer.”
Owen wandered off while the rest of them sat at a table at the Screaming Hawk.
“Okay,” Jason said. “Tell us everything that happened.”
He went over it again, step-by-step—at least the steps he could piece together since none of it made sense to him.
“But you love her,” Owen said.
He stared miserably into his glass. “Yeah.”
“Then fight for her,” Jason said. “Don’t let her go that easily.”
“Brenna’s stubborn. She thinks she knows what she wants.”
“Then . . . maybe make it harder for her to have you,” Clay said.
Finn frowned. “What? Nah. I don’t play games like that. She either wants to be with me or she doesn’t. That’s her choice. The last thing I’m gonna do is start dating other women and parade them in front of her. That would hurt her and I don’t want to do that.”
“No, I don’t mean it like that. You’ve been there at the vineyard the whole time, since you were eighteen. She knew you were always there for her. If she changes her mind, you’ll be right there. Like always.”
“Oh, I get it,” Owen said. “What if you weren’t there, ready to take her back in a hot minute?”
“Yeah,” Jason said. “You know what they say about absence. What if you’re not there when she decides she wants to talk this all out? Make her realize what she’s missing. Who she’s missing.”
Maybe not a terrible idea. And Finn could use a break. Clear his head. He never took time off. And he had just the location in mind.
He looked up at his friends and smiled for the first time in days. “You’re all very smart.”
“We have to be,” Owen said. “Because you’re a dumbass.”
He laughed, and started to formulate a plan in his mind.
* * *
• • • • • •
IT HAD BEEN a week since Brenna had broken up with Finn. Three days since she’d even seen him wandering around the property. She appreciated that he hadn’t come around to talk to her, that he’d given her space.
But did she really appreciate it, or was she just trying to convince herself of that? Because the next day she figured he’d come around and tell her again what a colossal mistake she’d made. And then they’d talk and she’d agree with him, tell him yes, she’d been afraid and she’d apologize. She’d beg him to take her back. He’d forgive her, they’d kiss and make up and all would be right again.
Instead, he’d been nowhere to be found. Or the day after that or the day after that. Not that she’d gone looking for him or anything, because she wouldn’t do that. After all, they were broken up. And he needed his space as much as she needed hers.
But where was he, anyway?
He hadn’t shown up to the house for meals, which she could understand given how awkward that would have been, facing each other at the table. But still, where the hell was he?
And why was Murphy staying at the house? Shouldn’t he be at Finn’s? For the past few days the dog had been at the house—her constant companion—following her around like he was a little lost, not knowing what to do without Finn. Very odd. Though she found Murphy’s presence comforting.
She knew exactly how Murphy felt. She’d asked her dad why the dog was here and his only response was to say they were dog sitting, making her wonder what was going on.
Not that it was any of her business, she decided as she finished up her paperwork for the day. She put everything away and wandered into her mother’s office.
“What’s up?” she asked her mom.
“Nothing much. Just working on these balance sheets. What’s up with you?”
“Oh, nothing.” She leaned against the doorway. “I noticed Murphy has been staying here.”
“Mmm-hmm.” Her mom studied her laptop.
“Any reason why?”
“Why what?”
“Why is Murphy here, Mom?”
“Oh. We’re watching him for Finn.”
“I see.” She studied her nails. “And why is that?”
Nothing. Her mother ignored her. Damn.
“Mom.”
Her mother tore her gaze from her laptop. “What?”
“Why are we watching Murphy?”
“Because Finn isn’t here.”
“Obviously.” It was like pulling teeth. “Where is he?”
“He took a vacation, Brenna. And if you hadn’t broken up with him you’d be aware of that.”
Ouch. Straight to the heart, Mom.
“You didn’t even ask me if Finn had done something terrible to me. If he’d broken my heart or cheated on me.”
Her mother’s response was to cock her head to the side and give her a look that told her she was being ridiculous.
“Really, Brenna? It’s like you think I don’t know Finn as well as I know my own three daughters. Did he break your heart or cheat on you?”
Now she was backed into a corner. “Well, no.”
“Do you want to talk to me about what happened? Because I don’t recall you coming to me wanting a heart-to-heart talk about breaking up with the man you love.”
She lifted her chin. “I don’t recall saying I loved him.”
Her mother slanted a look her way. “You were just playing with the boy this whole time.”
“I didn’t say that, either.”
“Then what are you saying?”
Defeated, she walked in and flopped into the chair. “That I’m a disaster and I made a mess out of my relationship with Finn.”
“He wasn’t too happy about it, either, when he came to your father and me. Asked us for some time off to travel and clear his head. Do you know he’s never once taken a vacation, despite your da and I asking him to?”
She sighed, feeling guiltier by the second. “I was not aware of that.”