Page 59 of Revived Noble
Anything. Whatever gets me away from this roaring inside my veins. The barbed wire around my heart shreds as it scrapes.
My arms fold themselves to my stomach after I change and we say our goodbyes, climbing back into Rory’s jeep. We came, made our point, and now that’s settled, the hellhounds can have the rest of their night back.
Finn never comes back down—at least not while we’re around. The spikes of metal dig underneath my ribs, gouging me as they fill his absence the entire drive back to the Caspers’.
I don’t want Finn. Ican’twant him.
twenty-six
Finn
IcouldhavekissedHailey the other night. The even more infuriating part is how desperately I wanted to.
Had she not forced herself away, drawing the blunt tip of yet another arrow of disappointment, we would have. I saw it, my dickfeltit…she wanted me too.
I’m only human and can take so much, so after I made sure we both safely got back, I dumped her. The girl’s flirting with my sanity and it’s become blatantly obvious to me that my willpower is nonexistent, no matter how many threats I toss out.
If Hailey Williams is a catastrophe, then I am a man on the brink of diving toward its edge. Willingly.
…That’s the most terrifying part.
Hooking up in those woods with someone wouldn’t have been my first choice, but doinganythingwith Hailey in them would’ve annihilated the memories I had with anyone else before her.
It’s probably a good thing one of us had some self-control, chalking mine up to my intake of alcohol andnotthat dress she was wearing.
Even now, I could weep at the irony. She was wearing a fucking dress. She couldn’t have planned better.
They say if a tree falls in the forest, but no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? Well, I could tell you with certainty that if Hailey would’ve let me have my way you would’ve heard more than a rumble. The entire forest would’ve sat in awe, witnessing one hell of a show…
Narrowly, I dodge a toy car, going cross-eyed as it’s catapulted straight for my nose.
“You’re timing is impeccable, Aiden,” I goad with a sigh. My devilish thoughts are swiped away with the same ferocity as my chin was to react.
Resituating myself, I smooth the blanket Aiden messed up while playing.
The weather has peaked in warmth for the summer. The breeze has helped with the sweltering heat enough that I decided to take Aiden to the park today. We played for a while on the jungle gym and swings before taking a break from the direct sunlight and have been here under this tree ever since.
Despite the baseball cap I brought for Aiden—he looks absolutely adorable, in case you're wondering—his cheeks and the pert tip of his nose have somehow managed to grow red underneath and I know it’s time for us to leave.
Folding up the blanket and packing away all our things, I check the time on my phone and realize Hailey and Rory still have another thirty minutes of volleyball practice left.
If my timing’s correct, it’s only about a twenty-minute drive and if we hurry, we should be able to make the end of it.
“What do ya say? Wanna go see Mommy and Auntie Rory in action?” I croon, snapping Aiden into his seat.
His head bobs with so much excitement at the mention of Hailey that even in my turmoil, I can’t help the chuckle that leaves my throat.
I nod shortly. “Volleyball court it is.”
Hand in hand, Aiden and I make it in time to watch as Rory sets a pass. Hailey’s eyes are glued upward as her knees flex, steadying herself before she jumps, spiking the ball over the net with ease.
Seeing Hailey, Aiden’s pudgy fingers withdraw, stretching as they reach above his head, wanting her. “Mommy, Mommy!”
It isn’t me who he wants to be picked up by, but I end up doing it regardless to eat up the distance between us and them more quickly. All attention was lost on the court as soon as Aiden opened his mouth.
“You seem to be doing better,” I lie to my sister. I have no idea how well Rory is out here. My expertise is on a floor made of polished maple and not sand.
Grunting, Lil Sis disregards my comment, taking a seat as she wipes her neck with a towel instead. I blame the heat for her attitude.