Going Full Throttle

Chapter 24

We had barely finished dinner when Finn's eyes started drooping. We'd stayed out on the deck to enjoy the setting sun and ate with our plates balanced on our laps. His head kept falling slowly back before he'd catch himself and try to shake himself awake. A few times his plate slipped and he almost dropped it until Tyler grabbed it and placed it on the table in front of us. Finn finally seemed to accept defeat when he slumped onto Tyler's lap and dropped his head against Tyler's stomach.

"I'm thinking it's an early night," I said quickly as I stood from my seat and reached a hand out to Finn. I couldn't take anymore of the emotions that surged through me whenever they interacted. Finn's insane trust in Tyler did things to my heart I didn't want to acknowledge. Finn grumbled under his breath and turned his face away from me, keeping his eyes locked close. "Finn, c'mon," I pressed, "I don't think I can carry you in the dark."

"I'm not sleeping," Finn mumbled defiantly with his eyes closed. I huffed in frustration and crossed my arms. It wasn't easy to win a battle of wills against a child.

Tyler shuffled his arms around Finn and stood. "I'll carry him," he said as he nodded at me to lead the way. I tried to act like there was nothing remotely weird happening while I turned and walked toward my cabin. At several points this summer already, Finn had been carried by Tyler, Scotty, or Beau. The only difference was now Tyler and I had some kind of flirtationship slash friends-with-benefits scenario happening. I tried to keep my cool but suddenly every little interaction just felt more meaningful.

"Good night," I said quietly to the others who watched our little scene with varying curiosity or in Scotty's case—suspicion. Everyone called back softly, wishing Finn and I a good night. Twyla stood at the same time and tugged Beau toward the door, saying that she was tired too.

Once we were inside, we walked up the stairs of the cabin and by habit I skipped the squeaky one. Finn was fast asleep in Tyler's arms but he shot awake when Tyler walked on the loud step. I spun around and glared at him and he glared right back. He mouthed, "I didn't know" with a pointed stare to say that was my fault.

"Aunty," Finn mumbled.

"Almost there," I soothed him with a pat to his chest. I led Tyler into Finn's room and gestured for him to put him on the bed. He stepped back immediately after he did it and walked back out the door. I helped Finn pull his clothes off then passed him a soft pair of pyjama shorts to slip on. He fell back against his pillow and I pulled the blanket up tight to his chest.

"I missed you," I said softly and squeezed his leg. I wasn't even sure if he was still awake but I needed to verbalize how much more complete I felt with him back.

"Aunty?" Finn mumbled again. "Can you sing?"

He flipped onto his stomach and pushed his face into the pillow. I rubbed slow circles on his back as I hummed aimlessly until a tune came to me. It seemed fitting to go back to the song that now instantly reminded me of Finn. I sang You Are My Sunshine softly into the darkness until I felt Finn's chest rising and falling in equal breaths. I stood up and kissed the back of his head then straightened and walked to the door. I almost fell when I walked into the hallway and stumbled over Tyler leaning against the wall.

"I thought you left," I hissed as his hand fell to my waist to stabilize me.

He shrugged and rubbed his jaw. He didn't seem to have an excuse for listening in so he shoved his hands into his pockets and walked downstairs. We both skipped the squeaky step this time and ended up back in the living room noiselessly.

I shifted on my feet and wrapped my arms around myself. I wasn't necessarily shy to sing in front of people but it was nerve wracking when I didn't realize he was there. I wasn't the best singer ever and the emotion behind the song made me vulnerable.