Chapter 28

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

MONSTER

THREE AND A HALF WEEKS LATER

It’s been two months since Finn and I went on our first date, and things have been better than I ever could have hoped for.

That night awoke so many things inside of me and changed everything. Since then, I feel like I have had a permanent smile on my face, and everything feels like it’s falling perfectly into place. But I still haven’t told Finn how I really feel about him. Tonight, I’m going to change that.

I made us reservations at a nice restaurant on the outskirts of town and am on my way to get my man now, hoping he likes the effort that I put into this date. Most of our dates have been lower key since baseball currently runs my life. But Finn deserves to be wined and dined every once in a while, so I pulled out all the stops for tonight.

Once I arrive at Finn’s place, I type in his buzzer code and wait for him to let me in.

“You know you could just wait in the car,” Finn tells me when I get to his door.

“And what kind of gentleman would that make me?” I ask him with a raised brow.

Finn shakes his head with a wide smile. “I guess not a very good one,” he concedes. “I just need to get my boots on, and I’ll be ready to go,” he informs me, so I lean against the door and take him in for a moment.

I told Finn to dress up since we are going to an up-scale restaurant, and he did not disappoint. He’s wearing a gray dress with a multilayer ruffle skirt that has black trim on the edge of each layer. On top of the dress, he has on a simple black blazer, and he’s finishing off the look with black knee-high boots. He looks absolutely stunning, but I’m also dying to know what he’s wearing under the dress. I’m sure it’s something with lace, but he has so many options to choose from that it would be impossible to guess. I’ll just have to wait until the night is over to find out.

“All ready,” Finn says once his boots are zipped up, strutting over to me for a quick peck on the lips.

“You look fucking amazing,” I whisper against his mouth.

“You clean up nicely yourself,” he states with a smirk.

“Now, are you finally going to tell me where you’re taking me?” he asks, but I shake my head.

“Nope. It wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you,” I remind him, which earns me a dramatic sigh.

“What if the suspense literally kills me?” he inquires, and I laugh as we walk down the hall.

“I highly doubt that’s a real possibility, but I guess I’ll just have to cry at your funeral if it does,” I reply. “Do you think your grandpa will give your inheritance to me if that happens?”

“He better not give my inheritance to a murderer,” Finn jokes back, giving me a fake glare.

“But is it really murder?” I tease, making Finn laugh.

“I love how easy things are with you,” he tells me as we make our way to my car.

“Me, too. I’m really glad you gave me a chance and didn’t write me off because I’m a stupid jock.”

“Same,” Finn whispers while beaming at me.

God, I love this man. He makes me happier than I ever dreamed possible. He’s my future. The one person I want to spend the rest of my life with. And I don’t care that it’s crazy to say that so soon because I’ve felt like this since our first kiss.

The drive to the restaurant is quick, and Finn gasps when he sees where we are.

“Babe, you didn’t have to take me to such a fancy place,” he states, and I wave him off.

“I know I didn’t have to, but I wanted to. You deserve to be treated like the treasure you are because that’s what you mean to me. I want to wine and dine you and show you off. I love you, Finn, and I want to give you the world someday,” I tell him, causing his eyes to go as wide as saucers. “You don’t have to say it back,” I assure him when he remains silent. “I just wanted you to know how I feel. I hope that’s okay.”

Again, Finn doesn’t say a word and I’m beginning to think confessing my feelings was a mistake. Shit, am I scaring him off?

“Are you okay?” I ask quietly, unsure of what else to say.

Finn blinks a couple of times like he’s coming out of a trance before nodding and launching himself into my arms, which is a little awkward with the center console between us.

“I love you, too,” he whispers into my ear, easing all my fears.

“Thank fuck,” I breathe out, making Finn chuckle.

“Sorry it took me so long to respond. I guess I was just in shock. I think I knew how you felt, but I didn’t want to assume. And honestly, I’ve been trying to deny that I’m in love with you to myself, but I can’t do that anymore. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me, Isiah Williams, and I love you so much.”

There’s nothing else to say, so I smash my lips to his, loving that we are both on the same page. Finn is my sunshine on a rainy day and I’m beyond lucky to get to call him mine. I know that the world is full of uncertainties, but one thing I’m sure of is that no matter what happens, I won’t ever let this man get away from me. He is mine and I will love him until the day that I die.