Chapter 9

CHAPTER NINE

MONSTER

How the hell did I forget today was Valentine’s Day? Honestly, the only reason I found out was because a bunch of girls in my first class came in with bouquets of flowers and a few of them had ‘Happy Valentine’s Day’ signs sticking out of them.

It made me wonder if I should get something for Finn. I know we’ve only had one date, but it still would feel rude not to get him anything. And sending him a text sounds lame. But what exactly do you get a guy who you only started seeing and aren’t really officially anything yet?

An idea hits me as I make my way to my next class. Hopefully I’ll be able to pick up the gift I’m thinking about during my break before lunch. But I still need to plan to see Finn at some point today in order to give him said gift.

I pull out my phone and shoot off a quick text to Finn, praying he’s free at some point today.

Me: Are you free at any point today… maybe for lunch?

After the text is sent, I finish making my way to class, smiling when my phone vibrates as I’m entering the room. I grab a seat before fishing my phone out again and reading Finn’s response.

Finn: I could be free for lunch… were you wanting to meet up?

Me: I am. Thursday is too far away to wait to see you.

Finn: You’re too sweet. Where would you like to meet?

Me: You pick.

Finn: How about the sandwich shop by the main library?

Me: Perfect! 12 work for you?

Finn: Yup! I’ll see you then.

I’m grinning like a Cheshire cat as I grab my books out of my bag and wait for the professor to start the class. I can’t wait to see Finn again and hopefully, I won’t scare him off with a Valentine’s gift.

It’s five minutes until noon and I’m waiting at a table inside the sandwich shop with an envelope in my shaking hand.

I’ve been second guessing buying Finn something all morning long. I don’t want to come across too strong, too fast, but I also believe that he deserves to be treated special. And since he already agreed to a second date, I don’t think it’s too soon to give him something small. At least I hope it isn’t.

Finn arrives exactly at noon and heads over to me with a giant smile on his plump red lips.

“Sorry I’m late,” he tells me when he gets to our table.

I shake my head as I stand. “You’re not late,” I assure him. “You’re right on time.”

My heart is racing as I open my arms and step toward him for a hug. He doesn’t think twice before following my lead and wrapping his tiny arms around my wide body, giving me a squeeze. I return the gesture being as gentle as possible since he’s so tiny compared to me.

“I got you a little something,” I tell him after I release him even though I kind of don’t want to let him go.

I hand Finn the envelope then shove my hands into my pockets feeling a little awkward. “Happy Valentine’s Day,” I whisper.

Finn beams at me before he opens the envelope with the little note I wrote for him and a gift card to the coffee shop where he ran into my sister, and we had our first real conversation on our little walk to class at the beginning of the week.

“Oh my goodness, this is perfect,” he says before pulling me in for another hug.

Damn, he feels amazing in my arms.

“I’m not going to lie, I forgot today was Valentine’s Day, but when I found out I felt like I had to get you something because you deserve to be treated special. I hope it’s okay,” I murmur, feeling awkward once again.

Finn rises up onto his tip toes and kisses my cheek. “It’s perfect. I also got you a little something,” he states, reaching into his bag to pull out a tiny box. “I had no idea what to get you, so I hope you like it.”

He nibbles on his lower lip and I’m pretty sure he’s just as nervous as I was when I was giving him his gift.

I open the box and smile as I pull out the baseball keychain. It’s not a GSU one so I wonder how he had time to pick this up. Unless he didn’t forget about Valentine’s Day and got it last night. It honestly doesn’t matter either way because I love it.

“It’s perfect,” I repeat his words back to him, leaning down to give him a kiss on the cheek in return.

A blush creeps across his cheeks making his already rosy cheeks an even brighter shade of pink.

“How about you tell me what you would like for lunch, and I’ll go order for us. You can save our table,” I tell him, which results in a sassy look from Finn.

“You don’t have to buy me lunch. You bought dinner last night. It should be my turn to pay,” he replies with a lifted brow.

“I like treating you,” I say, reaching for his hand. “Is there something wrong with that?”

Finn almost looks taken aback by my response and nibbles on his lower lip again. I kind of hate that habit of his because his lips are far too perfect to take that kind of abuse. It also draws my attention there and makes me want to kiss him each time he does it, which isn’t something I’m used to at all.

“I guess not,” he murmurs after a couple of seconds go by.

“Good. Now tell me what you would like to have for lunch,” I instruct him.

He gives me his order and I head to the front counter. I might not be made of money, but my momma taught me how to treat a partner, and I meant what I said to him. I like treating him. I want to show him with my words and actions that I’m different from any baseball player he’s ever met.

Finn is special and I want to show him just how much he means to me already.