Chapter 15

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

I ’m Not That Guy Anymore

Finn

“I’m sorry, what?” Jacob asks, looking at me flabbergasted after I told him Charlie’s father is having some sort of health crisis, and I am going to make sure she gets home all right.

“You heard me, Jacob.”

“Fuck, Finn, do you like her? Is that what this is about?” Jacob asks.

“No, we’ve become friends since she’s been living in my house,” I explain, hating to lie to my brother. However, it’s a necessary evil because if I did admit to liking Charlie, as my brother he would be super happy for me, but as my coach he may kick me off the team if he finds out we’ve done anything inappropriate.

“You don’t have friends who are girls,” he says dryly. This is the problem with having your brother as a coach. He knows too much about me.

“That isn’t true. I have plenty of friends who are girls. In fact, I made a friend in the lab this week,” I fire back.

“And you hang out with her?” he asks.

Fuck, he’s got me there.

“Not ye…t,” I stammer.

“Thought so. You know you don’t have to constantly feel like you need to save everyone,” he accuses, watching me with concern.

“I’m not trying to save Charlie. She was practically hyperventilating. She’s a shaky mess. I’d feel bad sending her on her own.”

Jacob blows out an exasperated breath. “This is about you trying to save people. At some point, you’ll need to accept not everyone wants saving.” His words cause a pang in the middle of my chest. Chelsea’s younger brother got sick when he was about nine years old. He got a kind of cancer that wasn’t curable. He was sick for a long time, in and out of the hospital. Then he died. Chelsea was a mess. We had been friends until that point, then we hooked up and got together but she became a wild child. She was always acting out by drinking too much and getting arrested. I always put up with it because I knew the reason. Hell, even our town sheriff knew. I figured she’d eventually calm down. By senior year, things worsened when I told her I got accepted to Riverside U. That’s when she did the unthinkable. She cheated. Meanwhile, I took her brother’s death in a different way. I became obsessed with finding a cure. I took sciences in high school so I could get accepted to a top-notch college, problem is I didn’t have the funds to attend a place like Riverside U. That’s why I played hockey competitively as a means to an end. I wasn’t expecting to be as good as I am, but I wasn’t surprised either. Dad had all us boys on skates by the time we turned two. Now I am a biochemistry major headed for the NHL because I can’t say no to the paychecks that line of work will provide.

“Why can’t you just drop her at a bus terminal or airport?” Jacob asks.

“She’s a mess. I’m sure her friend, Ruby, would go with her but she’s four hours away from here. I’m not a hundred-percent sure but I think her dad is her only family.”

“Damn, Finn, you’re making me out to be an asshole here,” Jacob chides, placing each of his fists on his hips. Jacob is like a father figure to me. My parents may have been out to lunch, but my siblings would be there for me in a heartbeat.

“Because you are.” I grin.

Jacob shakes his head. “Jackass.”

“I’ll be back on campus by tomorrow night,” I assure him.

“Make sure you’re on time for practice on Monday morning, and do not take that girl to bed. She’s an employee of the team. I don’t need that kind of trouble for you,” he warns, pointing his finger at me.

“She’s not even my type.” I shrug. I feel bad lying to my brother. Charlie is definitely my type. The sex we just had was off-the-charts. It felt different than sleeping with the regular girls who hang around the team. I don’t feel anything with them, but with Charlie I am feelings things. A connection, but my helping her tonight has nothing to do with it.

I head to my room and collect my things, and then I text Charlie and head to the lobby.

When I arrive to the lobby, I check my phone but there is no response. Then I see her at the check-in desk. She’s returning her key card.

“Hey,” I say from behind her.

She turns around. “Finn,” she says my name with surprise. “I didn’t think you were serious.” Her eyes are red and it looks like she’s been crying.

“I’m dead serious about making sure you get home all right,” I promise.

She bursts into tears. “I’m sorry.”

“Damn, Charlie, I’m not good with crying girls. Tell me what to do,” I beg.

“I need to go,” she hiccups.

“On it. Calling an Uber for the airport now. I’m assuming there’ll be standby tickets,” I offer.

She nods and sniffles. She’s wearing a pair of off-white jogging pants and a matching oversized sweatshirt that drowns out her fit body. Her hair is a little messy and her eyes are puffy.

“Thanks, Finn. I’m sorry I’m such a mess. I’m just terrified,” she says.

We head outside of the hotel and wait in front for the Uber. I take Charlie’s bag and place it on my shoulder.

“Shouldn’t the neighbor get him to a hospital or something?” I ask.

“He won’t go with her. He needs me and I left him. I feel like the worst daughter right now,” she sobs.

All her crying makes me feel uneasy. I have a sister, but in my house we weren’t the best at expressing our emotions, so I never really saw Willow cry like this except when she came home pregnant. That was the exception, and I had my other brothers there too.

The Uber arrives and we head to the airport. I am on autopilot as I order two tickets to Buffalo.

Charlie places her credit card on the counter and says to charge one of the tickets on her card.

“It’s okay. I got it.” I smile to the person working the desk.

“Are you fucking crazy, Finn?” Charlie asks.

“No.” I laugh but her reaction is a little eccentric. “I got the funds. I heard you saying things were tight.”

“I thought you were a scholarship student,” she says.

“I am, but can I explain on the plane?” I ask.

“I can’t let you pay for my ticket. It’s a nice gesture, but no, mmm, can’t do it,” she comes back, pressing her lips together. This girl is beautiful, opinionated, and right now I appreciate the fact that she doesn’t want my money, but she needs it.

“Don’t be difficult,” I tell her.

Her gaze narrows to slits. “I’m never difficult, Finn, but I don’t want to owe you anything. It isn’t how I roll.”

“Okay then, let me pay and you can pay me back when you get paid or something,” I bargain with her.

“Fine, but I feel bad you’re spending money on a ticket you shouldn’t be buying,” she informs.

“Sorry, but you’re holding up the line,” the person working for the airline says.

“Sorry,” Charlie replies.

“Here you go. Two tickets, please, for standby to Buffalo, with a return to Riverside, Michigan for tomorrow night,” I say.

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to leave him tomorrow,” Charlie states.

“Charlie, you have class on Monday. I’m sure you can get your father into a hospital and have someone close by check in,” I suggest to her.

She looks uneasy but she nods.

We get our tickets for a flight, leaving in an hour.

When we get to the boarding area, she calls her neighbor back home to check on her dad, and the woman must not have good news for her because Charlie starts crying again and feeling guilty. When she gets off the phone, she swipes at her eyes with the sleeve of her sweatshirt and asks, “How do you have money to throw around for random flights?”

“The flight isn’t random. You’re a bit of a mess, if you haven’t noticed.”

“You’re generally not a nice guy though.” She chuckles through tears.

“Ouch.” I wince.

“Come on, Finn.”

“I’m nice to my friends,” I clarify.

“Are we friends now?” she asks, her brows furrowing in a way I shouldn’t find adorable.

“Fuck buddies.” I smirk. “I like the benefits.”

She shakes her head but laughs. It feels good to hear her laughter.

The plane boards and I still haven’t answered her question but as the plane takes off, she places her hand over mine, and says. “Thanks for doing this, Finn.”

She looks at me with such sincerity, it cuts me deep. She isn’t wrong. I’m usually not nice to girls. I like to keep my hookups as hookups. I find being nice leads girls to believe I want more when I don’t. Maybe I have become a bit of an asshole since Chelsea, but for due reason. The guy I was in the past was a fool. I know Chelsea was broken, but she took advantage of my kindness and hurt me in a way I don’t think I’ll ever get over.

“It’s nothing,” I say sighing. It is now close to 1:00 a.m. and I am exhausted. My eyes lull shut.

A gentle nudge pulls me away from my deep slumber.

“Go away, I’m tired.”

“Uh, Finn?” That voice.

I open my eyes. “Charlie,” I say her name like it’s a breath of fresh air. This isn’t good. I’m not here to get into Charlie’s pants again. We had a good go, but I’m not that guy anymore. I usually never hook up with the same girl twice. I’m strictly here to be a friend to her. Even though we aren’t really friends.

“We’ve landed,” she states.

We both get up and reach for our bags. Then we leave the plane and I begin to wonder what exactly I have gotten myself into.