by Claire Adams
"So, you sew?" Milly asked, taking my attention again.
"Oh, yeah. I just got my degree in design." I beamed, unable to help myself. "My mother taught me to sew when I was nine. My dad had a fit because of the moving needles and such, but I loved every minute of it."
"Do you still sew together when you come home to visit? I assume you're visiting." She took the roll of flannel and snuggled it to her chest.
"She died eight years ago around this time." I searched for a light pink in the same fabric.
"Oh, honey, I'm so sorry." She brushed her hand over my back.
"It's okay, but thank you for your kindness." I turned and decided to ask Milly about the burning question inside of me that just wouldn't leave me alone. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure. After you've helped me find this great material for Finn's Christmas gift, you can do anything you like. I've been looking for forever, and as you can see, Clark's been no help at all."
"How long have you known Clark?"
"Since we were kids. His first wife was a friend of mine." She tilted her head. "Why?"
"Then, I guess you know my dad, too?"
"What's his name, dear?"
"Jonathan Burke."
She stiffened, and I didn't need a response. I already had it.
"I know Jon." She smiled, relaxing.
"Something happened between them, but I can't figure out what." I glanced around to see Clark coming back in the store. "Never mind."
She reached out and squeezed my arm. "Ask your dad about it, then help him heal. It's been a long feud, and it's long overdue that they stop acting like jealous boys over a girl."
Did she mean literally or figuratively? I was more confused, which was frustrating.
"What are you to girls whispering about over here?" Clark handed Milly a cup and smiled at both of us.
"Sharing secrets about how to score a good man," I chuckled.
"Yeah, but first we gotta find a few of them." Milly elbowed Clark in the stomach, and he gave her a look.
"I'm going to wrap up some shopping today, and I got Finn some cologne, but what else would he like? Does he need anything for his snowboarding stuff or some new shirts or..." I let my words trail off as they both turned to stare at me.
"He's a pretty simple guy." Clark’s expression softened a little.
"He hates gifts, too." Milly turned to look up at him.
"That's because he's always too broke to return the favor." Clark took a sip of his coffee.
"Oh, I don't want anything from him. I just wanted to get him something nice to open on Christmas morning."
"Are you two seeing each other or just friends?" Milly's cheeks colored, like she'd asked something inappropriate.
"I think we're somewhere in between the two." I shrugged.
She glanced back at Clark and lifted her eyebrow. "Looks like you and Jon better get your shit cleaned up. No need to let it fall on these kids. They haven't done anything to deserve it."
Clark turned his gaze to me, and I tried to read whatever he was thinking, but it was impossible.
"I thought you were headed back to the west coast. You're from L.A., right?"
"Yes, sir, but I've graduated." I shifted from one foot to the other, wishing I hadn't gotten myself cornered into such an odd conversation. "I'm not sure what I'm going to do anymore."
"What's changed your mind?" Milly smiled with a knowing look on his face.
"Finn is starting to."
"You just met him." Clark leaned against a rack of cotton rolls. "He's not usually one for commitment, either."
"Clark." Milly smacked him, but I smiled, understanding where he was coming from.
"I think that's about to change." I pulled my phone from my pocket as it buzzed. "Excuse me."
"Of course, dear. Good to see you again." Clark turned and put his hand on Milly's back, forcing her to the front with him.
"Chloe?" Finn's voice was tight with tension.
"Hey. Where are you?" I let my eyes scan a few more colors before deciding on the pink for sure.
"Leaving your house." He sounded as if someone had pulled the warmth out of him.
"I'm in town." I paused and waited for a reply but didn't get one. "Finn, What's wrong?"
"Your dad was home and like a dumb ass, I thought maybe I could help him see that I'm not my father, so whatever happened between them..." his voice faded again.
"Oh no. Was he mean to you?"
"No, just truthful." Finn coughed. "It's all good. I just didn't want you to go home and him get upset with you without me warning you."
"I don't give a shit what he thinks."
"You should, baby. He's your dad. He's just trying to protect you and find the right kind of man for you."
"You are the right kind of man for me." I let out a frustrated sigh. "Where are you? I'll just come to you, and we can spend the night together curled up.”
"That sounds great, Chloe, but maybe tomorrow night. I'm tired and need to think through some shit."
"What? No. Don't pull back again. We just started to figu-”
He cut me off. "Hey. I'm not pulling back. Go home and talk to him, and if you still want to see me, just text and we'll meet up."
I swallowed down the need to cry, and took a shallow breath. "Okay, but expect a text. Where are you headed?"
"Up to the new run on the east side of town. I'll keep checking my phone, though."
"The storm was really bad last night. Do you think that's safe?"
"Absolutely. It's the best time to snowboard, California girl. You know the waves, but I've got the snow down pat." He laughed, but I could hear it was forced.
"Be careful," I whispered into the phone.
"Always." Worry rolled through me as he hung up.
I put the fleece back on the rack and walked to the front, pissed at my father for whatever he'd done to tear Finn down. Tears dripped onto my cheeks as I hit the door, and of course, it was my luck that Milly and Clark were on the stairs, fussing over something.
They looked back at me, and I froze.
"What's the matter, Chloe?" Clark moved toward me with concern on his face. If he didn't like the idea of me and Finn together, he hid it well. Or maybe he wasn't the judgmental asshole that my father was.
I brushed my tears away and took a shaky breath. "Nothing...just my dad."
"Is he hurt? Do you need our help?" Clark's willingness to offer help only fueled my anger toward my father.
"No, but he's probably going to be when I get a hold of him." I sniffled and forced a smile. "Just check on Finn for me. I guess he went out to try to talk sense into my dad, and it didn't go so well."
"Oh, shit." Clark glanced at Milly.
"I told you to deal with this twenty-five years ago." She put her hand on her hip.
"I've gotta go, but it was good to see you both." I gave them a sad smile and jogged to the SUV, ready to fight for the man I was falling in love with.
* * * *
I made sure to slam the door hard as I walked in from the garage. My brother and father looked up from the kitchen table, Parker's eyes wide as I let my anger bleed all over my face.
"Oh, hell. I'm out." Parker stood and turned, escaping to his room.
My father leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest, as if expecting me to blow up.
"How dare you," I growled at him, reaching out to hold onto the nearest countertop as my hands shook.
"What? Save you from a mistake? He's a big one. Mark my words."
"I'm twenty-four years old. I will date who I want. You are my father, not my jailer."
"Let's throw in your benefactor, your rent-payer, your degree purchaser-"
I cut him off. "Keep your damn money. I don't want anything from you ever again."
He stood as I started for my bedroom. "We're not done."
"Yes. Actually, we are. My dad died the same day my mother did. We were done the day after the funeral. You made sure o
f it." I was screaming at that point, and tears burned down the same old tracks in my face that they always had. "You've been nothing but a shell since then."
"Chloe," his voice softened, and I pressed my hands to my face as a sob left me.
"No," I whispered as he wrapped his arms around me.
"I just want what's best for you. Finn is..."
I pulled away and poked my finger in his chest. "Finn is a good man. He's hard working, and he's never once said anything nasty about you. Not once."
"Why should he?"
"Because if I know you at all, then whatever happened between you and Clark was your fault." I poked harder. "Whatever you said to him today has him broken—again."
"I told him the truth." My father swatted my hand from his chest and gave me a stern look.
"The truth." I laughed darkly. "The truth is that I was going to change all my plans. I was going to stay here with you and Parker. I was going to ask if I could work under your wing and learn what you've learned or help you build your business. I was going to move my life and dreams around, and Finn is the main reason why we might have gotten our family back."
"Chloe-"
"No. Fuck all of it. I'm done with you. Finn and I will be together."
"I'm not supporting that."
I let out another angry chuckle. "Good. I'd hate to have to hear you touting your greatness when it works out to be the best love affair of all times."
I didn't give him a chance to respond before I turned on my heel and half-stomped to my bedroom, slamming that door for good measure. I hated him, and even worse, I hated the way I acted because of him.
Finn and I could figure out everything on our own, and if we didn't work out, I'd do what I'd been doing for the last eight years. I'd do it my damn self.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Finn
Her father was right. I honestly had nothing to offer Chloe, except my body. I would be her whore as long as she would allow me to, but that was it. I didn't have money or a future that I could show her to prove why our relationship was safe to take to the next level.
She was going to consider staying in Aspen with me and give up on her dreams. I needed to figure out a way to tell her that she needed to go live her life, and when she was done, come back to me. My dreams and ambitions were smoke I'd blown up my own ass for years. Nothing was going to become of it, and I knew it.
My phone buzzed as I headed to the newest run for an afternoon of losing myself in the beauty of the mountains.
"What's up, Dad?"
"Where are you?" His voice was pinched, and I figured I had an ass chewing on the way. No doubt Chloe's father had called and given my old man a piece of his mind, much like he'd done me.
"I'm around. What do you want?" I couldn't force fake happiness.
"Finn. Come over to the house and let's talk."
"I don't want to talk, Dad. I worked my ass off for you today. I'm going to take my board up in the mountains and try to pretend like everything is okay." I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair.
"Everything is okay," my father growled, and I could tell he was holding back his angst. "Look. I want to tell you about what happened with Jonathan Burke. It's a story you need to know, and after I'm done, if you want me to fix it for you and Chloe...I will."
"I appreciate that, Dad, but honestly, I'm good. Chloe's a great girl, but she's far too much woman for a simple man like me. I'm not sure what I was thinking. Like you said, I should have listened to you and kept my dick in my pants."
"Finn, stop it. Get your ass over here." He was losing his grip, and I was done upsetting him.
"I'll stop by later. Love you, Pops." I dropped the call and parked the old truck by the road, not wanting to get a ticket, seeing that the slopes were closed. They never would let patrons on the mountain after a hard snow without packing it. But I'd been skiing my whole life. It was no big deal. I'd just have to be ready to shift at a moment’s notice if the ground felt too unstable beneath me.
My phone buzzed, and I turned it to silent and dropped it in my back pocket. After working to get myself layered up with clothes, I started the long trek up the side of the mountain. It took me a damn hour just to get to the top. I'd never appreciated a ski lift so much in all my life.
I checked my phone to see messages from my father, Brian, Parker, and my girl. I chuckled and dropped it back in my pocket, not willing to feed their emotions. They were overreacting. I was spending a couple of hours by myself, remembering why I wasn't all the things Chloe's dad said I was. Somewhere along the afternoon, I'd started to convince myself that he was right.
Chloe was far too good for me, and I would tell her that, but letting her go just didn't honestly seem like something I could do. If she shoved me away, I'd leave without a fight, but I wasn't going to shove her off. I couldn't. I let everything go and focused on the mountain ahead of me. I prayed like hell it would be a long ride down. I didn't know if I had the stamina to walk back up the hill after the long morning I'd had.
My phone buzzed again, and I pulled it out, growling loudly.
"What?" I growled into the phone, knowing it was Brian and he would forgive me later.
"Dude. Your dad's pretty upset. He just called and said that he's coming to find you."
"I'm fucking snowboarding. I'm a grown-ass man, Brian. What's the big deal?"
"Um, there was a blizzard last night, and you of all people know that makes the mountains dangerous. Go home and stop being a dick. He's worried."
"You and I have been on these mountains our whole lives." I ground my teeth together. "When's the best time to ski?"
"Now, but that's beside the point."
"No, it isn't. Tell me why now is the best time to ski?"
"Because the mountains are empty. Finn. I'm not playing your games right now. If your dad is worried, then respect him, like I know you do, and get your ugly ass home."
"My ass is not ugly. Ask any girl within a five mile radius." I had to lighten the conversation. I couldn't handle much more strife.
"Finn. Go home, dude. We'll go out tomorrow and take a mountain down together."
I sighed and resigned myself to giving into them. Everyone had their panties in a wad, and once again, it was my turn to bend and comfort them. "Fine. I'm already up here, and there's one fucking way down."
"Good. Enjoy it and get home. Text me if you're free later, and we'll grab a beer."
"Yeah, fuck you," I mumbled and pulled my glasses down.
"I'm not your type, remember."
"Right. You're entirely too hairy." I smiled, not wanting to cause any stress on anyone, just wanting a moment to myself.
"Hey."
"What?" I bit my tongue.
"Whatever that mean old fucker said to you today...let it go."
"Does everyone know about this?"
"Small town, Finn," he laughed. "I'm hanging up. Be careful and call me later."
"Later." I pulled the phone from my face and honestly considered lobbing it halfway across the mountain just to get a moment of peace. My dad's problems were his problems, and I didn't need him fixing mine.
I let my thoughts go and bent my knees, turning sharply and shoving off. The wind hit me in the face, and I took shallow breaths, turning and twisting my body as I'd been doing all my life.
Jonathan Burke’s voice lifted inside my head, and I couldn't seem to shake his words.
"You stay the fuck away from my little girl. She deserves better than you could ever give her. Do you hear me? You're a piece of shit who will rot in this town, boning any available woman, and dreaming about a life that will never ever be yours. Do yourself a favor and don't bring down Chloe to your level. You'll hate yourself for it later. Ask your father about that."
Was my mother like Chloe once? Was she wealthy and filled with plans? Had my father fallen in love with her and changed everything? Did it matter? She had been happy.
I could remember so many happy moments with my folk
s. Wealth didn't matter, and building legacies didn't mean shit if there wasn't someone there to enjoy them with, someone to pass them on to.
My dad was right about one thing: I did need to know the story. It wasn't just about him and Jonathan; I was pretty sure it involved my mom, too.
Had she been with Jonathan, and then Dad stole her?
I lost my footing for a minute, but righted myself.
"Keep your head in the game," I grumbled and over-corrected my next turn. There was no time to fix the error, and I covered my face and tried to relax as I flew forward, knowing it was about to get bad.
The world flew by, colors mixing and fading as I tumbled over myself over and over again. I hit something hard on the way down and lost my vision for a minute.
I lay there for what felt like forever, trying to remember where I was and what I needed to do to get up. It was so damn cold, and the sky was darkening. I fumbled with my phone in my pocket as dizziness rolled over me.
Pressing my dad's number, I put the phone on my chest and closed my eyes, waiting to hear his voice.
"Finn? What's up, son? You on your way over?"
I could hear him, but I couldn't seem to respond. Fear rushed through me, and I groaned, wanting so damn bad to tell him where I was and what I was up to, but words wouldn't form.
"Finn? Stop dicking around, boy. You're scaring me." His tone sharpened, and his anger seemed to burn through the phone.
Tears burned my gaze, and I let out a painful breath. My mind was blurry, and even breathing was hard. I had to have punctured a lung and hit my head on something. Why else couldn't I get a word out?
"Goddammit, son!" I could hear him yelling at Milly to get the truck and call 9-1-1. I let myself fade out as he continued to yell at me to stay awake and think good thoughts.
I let Chloe take up my mind, the warmth of her smile and softness of her lips keeping me busy. I didn’t know how much time had passed before the sound of voices around me ushered in relief. Someone was there to help. Now if I could just flag them down, but I still had no ability to form words.
"Here. Here he is. Bring the stretcher." Someone knelt next to me and picked up the phone. "Hi, this is Leah Smith. We've found him. We're going to assess him and get him to St. Marks. Meet us there."