Fighting Redemption(25)

“Long shift tonight at work, but he’s taking me out tomorrow night, and then he’ll be at the party.”

The farewell party. Ryan felt a dull ache pound through his temples as he stared at his reflection in the car window. Two more days of Fin and most of it belonged to Ian.

Whose fault is that, you dumb f*ck?

He shook his head. Fin was right. He was still carrying around a load of hurt and he couldn’t let go of it. It did own him—that deep shaft of guilt, the pain that had caused his family to implode—had him in its grip. And until he owned it, just like she said, he could never be the man she needed—only the man who wanted her with every burning fibre of his body. The only question was how would he let go of the secret he’d kept hidden from the one person who meant more to him than anyone else? His Mum and Dad had turned their back on him and Ryan couldn’t blame them. What if Fin did too? He wouldn’t survive it.





Her cousin, Laura, sidled up next to Fin and muttered, “Smile, Fin. It’s your farewell party, not your funeral.”

Fin tore her eyes away from where Ryan stood across the room—so unbelievably handsome in his military dress uniform—and smiled at Laura.

A passing waiter paused in front of her, and she plucked a glass of champagne from his tray with a murmured thank you.

Her previous farewell party had been more of an impromptu barbecue in the backyard, but with both Jake and Ryan at home this time, her mother had gone all out.

Now here they stood under glittering lights, black tie and evening gowns, drinking and eating finger food while her stomach tied itself in knots.

“Fin?”

Fin sipped at her champagne. “Hmm?”

“Where’s Ian?”

She thought back to the conversation she had with Ian last night and swallowed the bitterness.

“It’s probably a good idea I’m not there,” he’d told her.

“But…it’s my farewell party. I’ll be gone early the next morning.”

He shook his head. “I don’t think I’m up for celebrating you leaving, baby.”

Rachael bumped her shoulder. “Earth to Fin?” She ran her eyes over Fin’s low cut, shimmery gold dress with admiration. “Glad you retired the sweatpants for the evening,” she joked.

“Ian couldn’t make it,” she blurted out.

Her champagne glass held aloft, Rachael raised a brow at her. “Why not?”

“Work,” Fin lied and tossed back the rest of her drink. The bubbles fizzed going down her throat, and she scrunched her nose.

“That’s a bit rich,” Rachael muttered.

Taking a deep breath, Fin plastered a smile on her face and nudged Rachael. “So where’s this so-called best present that ever lived?”

Rachael nodded towards Laura. “It’s from the both of us, and Laura’s already had Jake put it in the car for you.”

“You have to take it with you,” Laura told her, smirking in a way that made Fin nervous. “Don’t open it until you arrive at Casey Station, okay?”

Fin pressed her lips together, tears blurring her vision as she grabbed blindly for Rachael’s hand. She gave it a squeeze. “I’m going to miss you two.”

“Group hug!” Rachael cried.

They huddled in together and she saw a flashbulb go off. Then a hand grabbed hold of her arm and Jake was elbowing his way into their huddle.

“Quit hogging my little sister.” He looked down at her. “Dance with me?”

Laura burst out laughing at something Rachael said as Jake dragged her away.

One hand on her waist, the other on her shoulder, Jake twirled her around the dance floor. “How many whales are you saving this time, Fin?”

She rolled her eyes at him. “I’m not on a save the whale crusade, Jake.”

He grinned down as he spun her around. “Really?”

“We’re testing pollutants and the progress of climate change in the Antarctic,” she told him snootily. “It’s important work.”

“Preaching to the choir, honey.” His eyes softened on her face. “I’m proud of you.”

She nodded, a lump rising in her throat. “I know. These two weeks have gone so fast. I can’t believe I’m leaving in the morning.”

“Onwards and upwards.”

“You’ll take care of Crookshanks while I’m gone, won’t you?”

“That conceited ball of fluff will be just fine, don’t you worry.”

As the song started winding down, Ryan cut in. “May I?”

Jake took a step back and looked between Ryan and Fin. He gave a short nod. “Of course.”

As she stepped into Ryan’s arms, The Scientist by Coldplay started threading its bittersweet song around them. Ryan placed both hands on her hips, pulling her close, and she wound her arms around his neck. With his dark eyes locked on hers, the words of the song filtered through and tears blurred her vision.

“Fin,” he whispered thickly.

“Smile!” she heard her mum yell. Fin pulled Ryan in close and they both turned, smiling as the flash went off.

They started dancing again when her mum moved off, snapping more photos.

“Ryan, I don’t know what to say.”