17. Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Finley

" F inley!"

I spin to see who's calling my name and find Jethro striding toward me across the first floor lobby. How the hell did he catch up with me before I even left the building? He must have taken the stairs, but he doesn't look winded, and it should have taken much longer than the elevator.

"Mind if I tag along?" He's wearing a playful grin, but there's a tension in his shoulders that lets me know he's worried for my sister, too.

"Did he send you to make sure I didn't run off to the airport?"

"No."

"But he did send you? "

"Yes, though I heartily volunteered. Mind if we take my car?" Without waiting for an answer, he places a hand on my back and leads me back to the elevator. "Can I let you in on a little secret?"

"I guess."

"My motives for accompanying you are not entirely pure." Once in the elevator, he presses the button for the garage. "Your friend Sora has utterly and completely captured my heart."

It feels good to laugh even if it's a small one. "I don't think that's much of a secret. You couldn't stop staring at her at lunch."

"And I haven't stopped thinking of her since." He smiles, and it's so sweet I find myself rooting for them. Just because I can't find love doesn't mean I can't appreciate the potential for my friend to have it. And Jethro seems like a good guy. A bit over the top, but sweet and fun. Despite his taste in friends.

"I'll let you come with me if you tell me why Cyrus sent you."

"For your protection, Ra'ia."

I don't reprimand him for using the nickname this time. I'm not sure when it happened, but he's become a friend. One of the few I have right now .

"Is he still worried someone wants to kidnap me?"

"He is." Jethro nods, expression growing slightly serious as he studies me. "But it's more than that, Ra'ia. He cares for you."

"Ha! Right." I turn away from him as the elevator doors open onto the underground parking garage, eager to get out of the confined space. "If he cared for me, he wouldn't have acted like I was a bacterial infection the moment I touched him in front of you."

"He has his reasons." His voice is harder than I've heard before, and it makes me pause.

"Right, I'm too young. Bullshit."

His jaw ticks tensely, but he doesn't say anything. He pulls his car keys out of his pocket, pushes a button, and the black car in front of us beeps. He opens the passenger side door, closes it, and walks around the front to get in the driver's side before he speaks again. It might be the longest I've heard Jethro stay silent since we met.

"Trust me when I say he's trying to be honorable by keeping his distance, and it's not because he wants to."

Jethro starts the car while I chew on his words and pull out my phone to let my best friend know I'm coming.