“Sounds like you’ve got it al worked out. Why are you here, then?”

“Because I love her, and I want her to be happy. But her idea of happy now includes you too. Therefore …”

Finn winced, rubbed at his chin with the palm of his hand. “And why are you okay with sharing her, anyway?”

“Because, she comes first with me. And … because I’m partly responsible for getting you two together.” Daniel took his turn at the bottle, unable to raise any remorse for the way they were burning up the liquor between them. “A long time ago, I had one messy-ass marriage and made some mistakes I won’t ever be repeating. Hopefully. You want it to work then you have to work at it. Whoever said this sort of thing is easy?”

“Nice bumper sticker. Pity no one’s buying.” Finn snatched back the bottle, downing it fast and hard enough to make even Dan wince. “Maybe it should be easy if it’s meant to be.”

“Give me strength. What are you, twelve? You f**king show pony. She’s not a present your Mummy left for you under the Christmas tree. Not everything in life is given to you, Finn. Sometimes you’re actually required to put in a little effort.” Feeling more than a touch pissy, he grabbed the bottle before the kid could throw some more down his undeserving gullet. “Dickhead.”

“This thing with Erin … Al could have talked to me about it like a rational adult. Did you lecture her like this, you prick?”

Dan shook his head and the world spun some. “No, I don’t need to. She knows she messed up. But you intimidate her so it’s going to take a little time for her to work out how to deal with it. Then maybe a little more time to work up the courage to actual y do it. Who knows, she’s awful fond of you. I’d be surprised if you’re left to rot here too long.”

“I intimidate her?” Finn scoffed, held his hand out and clicked his fingers for the bottle. “Stop hogging it. Why would I intimidate her?

I’m not the oversized old man always on her ass trying to push her into things.”

Dan shrugged. “She has a very nice ass.”

“Trust me, I’m aware of that. Gimme the bottle.”

“I don’t push her into things. I make helpful suggestions regarding her future wel being is all.” Daniel gave up the liquor, feeling the effects of their speed drinking hitting him hard. “Shit. She’s gonna be so pissed we’re pissed.”

The kid shrugged and drank. “It’s all on you. I’m not going home.”

“Rebel, suit yourself. I’l have her al to myself, half-asleep and cuddly as a kitten. My very own pretty pu**y, I can’t wait. We had sex after you stormed out. She felt needy after that scene. I feel so … used. Dirty, almost.” He grinned wide and the kid gave him a face made of lemons, al puckered lips and squinty eyes. What a situation, mediating between his girlfriend and her other boyfriend.

Ridiculous.

“Go f**k yourself.”

“Finn, she didn’t want you to leave. She was giving you the choice. Come back with me.” Dan held up the last quarter of scotch and swirled it around in the bottle. “Come on, we’re running out anyway and that bed does not appear comfortable.”

The kid shrugged.

“Come on.”

“What did you learn from this messy-ass marriage?”

Dan sighed again, loud and proud, and rested his head back against the cool of the concrete wall. It felt nice. “Well, it’s important to say you’re sorry, even if you don’t mean it. Sometimes, especially if you don’t mean it.”

Finn choked on a laugh. “That’s terrible.”

“Terrible but true. Sometimes you need to make the peace and work it al out later. Being together is what’s important.”

“This is your version of wisdom? I think I’ll pass.” The kid leant back on his elbows, laughed again and shook his head.

“I better head back. Certain you’re not coming?”

“No.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Finn woke up alone just before dawn with a brain-splintering headache. A shave and wash in the police station bathroom did nothing to alleviate it.

People started dropping in shortly thereafter, small-town gossip having made the rounds. He greeted all comers, sunglasses firmly in place. The dark lenses were small protection against the glare of daylight bursting through the front windows, threatening to boil his eyeballs in their sockets.

It seemed like everyone in town had come calling. Everyone except for the person he wanted to see.

He ignored the pounding in his head, smiled and nodded and said nothing. Committee members stopped by, Sam included. He waddled in with his big belly leading the way. Plenty of people dropped by, smiling and making the right noises about his promotion to town cop.

Time would tell. Finn had wanted to wear the badge since about the age of five, but what it meant now, he didn’t know.

Two bored teen girls were practicing their wiles on him when Al wandered in midmorning. The sight of her did things to him that made life less simple. She was a punch to the chest. He could feel his heart flop over and offer up its bel y.

The girls stopped and stared at him and Al. And then stared some more. Then they scurried out with much excited whispering.

“Hi,” she said.

“Hey,” he said back.

She wore a denim skirt and a t-shirt with her hair down. Morning light did beautiful things to her, while it had tried to annihilate him.