Lies Inside (6 page)

The next few weeks were nothing less than glorious. Finn believed they were in that first stage of the relationship—the stage he’d heard was always the best. Finn made it perfectly clear to any man who looked Lucy’s way that she was all his. Most of the time, he had her sitting in his lap at lunchtime. He had found a little spot behind her right ear that seemed to be her undoing.

Before they knew it, Valentine’s Day had arrived. Finn had a special evening planned at his house. In the kitchen, everything was ready and waiting to go when Lucy rang the doorbell. He met her with one long-stemmed red rose. “For you, my dear.”

She accepted it, bringing it to her nose to cover her sweet smile.

He brought her into the kitchen to show her what he had in store for the evening.

“Pizza?” Finn couldn’t tell if she was upset or just surprised.

“What’s wrong with pizza?”

“Nothing. Do I get to see you toss the dough in the air and everything?”

“Of course.” Finn floured his hands and started kneading the dough. He flattened it and gave it his best shot, throwing it up in the air. Miraculously, he caught it each time.

“Bravo. You might have a future in a pizzeria if you decide to give up music.”

“Yeah, I don’t think that will happen anytime soon.”

She helped him spread the sauce on the dough. Then they put all of their favorite toppings on before finishing it with about a pound of cheese.

He shoved it in the oven. When he turned back, he saw a large envelope with a big red bow.

“I thought we said no presents.”

“Hey, you gave me the rose. Plus, it hardly cost anything, and it’s something you need.”

Finn removed the bow and tied it around her wrist. He opened the envelope and pulled out what was hiding inside.

“Lucy, it’s perfect,” he said, looking at the twenty or so pages of blank sheet music with his name scrolled across the bottom.

“You’re always jotting notes down on whatever is around. I thought maybe this way you’d be a little more organized. I wasn’t sure how to make it so I looked it up on the internet. Then I drew it out myself and made copies. Is it okay?”

“It is. I love it. Thank you.” He brought her over and took her in his arms, squeezing her tight. “I love you.” Oh, shit. Did I really say that? His mouth had betrayed him.

She pulled back from him. He wasn’t sure what she was going to do. She looked shocked and overwhelmed. A little like maybe she was going to be sick. Then she took a deep breath and tipped her head up for a kiss. “I love you, too,” she whispered in between kisses.

Relief washed over him, but he wasn’t at all expecting what came next.

“We never really talked much about our past...experiences. I know we said we weren’t ready, but I was just wondering...have you ever?”

A large lump formed in his throat. He knew he needed to choose his words carefully. “You want to know if I’ve ever made love before.”

“Yes. I know you said you never had a girlfriend, but...”

“No. I’ve never made love before.”

She sighed with relief. “Good, neither have I. It’s good to know we’re in the same boat.”

“Are you saying you think we’re ready to?”

“No. No. I just thought, someday. Not today, but someday.”

“Someday soon?” He tried to swallow the large lump, but it didn’t seem to want to go away.

“I won’t lie. I’ve thought about it. I’ve dreamed about it. I know my body wants to, but...” Her voice softened as her eyes darted to her lap and a blush formed on her cheeks.

“But what?” His heart raced and his palms started to sweat.

“I’m a little nervous. Rylan says the first time is a little awkward, and it sort of hurts.”

That’s what Finn had heard too.

He tried to shake the image of Rylan and Jack having sex out of his mind when the buzzer rang. He just stood there as Lucy went over to the oven and turned it off.

“Come on. Let’s try some of our creation.” She pulled it from the oven and placed it on the stove.

“As long as there’s no more talk of Jack and Rylan’s late night activities, okay?”

“Fine. You cut me a couple of slices, and I’ll find us something to drink.”

“Finn?”

He looked up to see a small woman with sandy-blonde hair waiting to take him back to the doctor’s exam room.

She checked all his vitals: weight, height, blood pressure, and temperature. After she left, he waited with all the questions that invaded his mind for the past few months.

“Finn. Nice to see you back, son. What’s it been?”

“About five years, sir.”

He looked down at Finn’s chart. “Seems about right. So, we’re doing a check up today? Make sure everything’s in working order?”

“Yep.”

“Alright then. Let me take a listen to your chest.” Dr. Pine came over and put his stethoscope to Finn’s chest. “Deep breath in...and out.” He moved it above his heart. Finn could feel it beating wildly in his chest. “Again, in...and out.” He moved to his back. “One more time.” He took another deep breath in and slowly let it out.

“Your heart rate is a little fast. I don’t hear a murmur or anything of that nature. Have you been having any problems? Dizziness, fatigue?”

“No, just nerves, I guess.”

“I see. My son, too. Guess it’s a son of a doctor thing.”

He continued with his exam and tried to make small talk. Then it came to the part Finn had been dreading, but he knew he would have to get through.

“Everything seems to be in order. I’ll want you to keep track of your heart rate for a couple days. Just give my nurse a call if you have any problems. Do you have any other questions?”

Finn swallowed hard. “Yeah, a couple.”

“Okay.” He sat down on his chair, leaving Finn on the exam table.

“It’s just...I’m needing...”

Dr. Pine put up his hand. “I think I know where this is going.”

“You do?”

“You’re seventeen now, right?”

“Yes.”

“I was seventeen once myself. I know what boys your age think about. It’s fine. Anything you tell me is strictly confidential. I won’t tell your parents anything we say.” Finn nodded his head as he twisted his fingers together. “Are you sexually active already?”

That’s when the lump came up again. “Yes.”

“I see, and how many partner’s have you had?”

Finn took a few deep breaths. He was so nervous, he felt like he might hyperventilate. “Only one, but it’s over now.”

“How long ago?”

“December.”

“And you’d like to get tested just to make sure everything checks out okay?”

“Yes.” Finn was so relieved the doctor was getting what he couldn’t say.

“I’ll have to do a prostate exam, get a swab and some blood. Are you okay with that?”

“Yeah, I want to make sure that I can’t pass on anything.”

“Got a new girlfriend?”

“Something like that.”

“Sure. I’ll go get the supplies I need while you get into this.” He pulled out the standard issue hospital gown and handed it to Finn before leaving the room.

Dr. Pine was very understanding of Finn’s nervous behavior. He said he had dealt with it many times before.

“When do you think you’ll have the results back?”

“I’ll give you a call. Shouldn’t be more than a couple of days.”

“Will you be sure to call my cell phone and not the house? My parents don’t know about any of this.”

“I told you, everything is confidential. I’m sure everything will be fine.”

It had been two days and still no call from Dr. Pine. Finn practically jumped every time the phone rang. He tried to distract himself by throwing everything into the new piece he was writing. Lucy was content just to lounge in his chair and listen to him fumble with each chord.

He felt his phone vibrate in his pocket, and he abruptly stopped. He answered it before even looking at the caller ID.

“Hey, buddy.”

“Aiden, how’s it going?” Lucy perked up when she heard Aiden’s name.

“Going good. I wanted to check and see if your family was planning on coming for spring break.”

“I don’t know.” Lucy sat on the window seat next to Finn. “I was kind of hoping to spend spring break with Lucy.”

“Bring her. I’d love to finally meet her.”

“What’s he talking about?”

“Aiden wants us to come for spring break.”

“Is that Lucy? Let me talk to her. I’ll make her convince you.”

Knowing it was possibly a huge mistake, he put Aiden on speakerphone anyway.

“Aiden?”

“Aw, Lucy. Nice to finally put a voice to the face.”

“You too. So, what’s this I hear about spring break?”

“Finn’s family usually comes to my parent’s beach house for the week. It’s right on the water. I’m sure it will be much more fun than hanging out all week in Manhattan.”

“That’s for sure,” she responded with a note of sarcasm.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea.” Finn wasn’t sure meeting Aiden was the best thing yet. He and Lucy were still so new—in the honeymoon stage. He wasn’t ready to let her in on those years of his life. Then she did it. Those big puppy dog eyes that he couldn’t resist.

“Please. It sounds like so much fun.”

“Come on, Finn. You can teach her how to surf, and I promise no lectures.”

Finn knew what he meant. “No one else from Two Roads will be around?”

“No.”

“Please. Our first boyfriend-girlfriend vacation. We can lie on the beach. You can rub sunscreen on me. I’ll even wear a bikini.”

“Oh, man. You’ve got to come. I’ve totally got to see that bikini.”

“As long as you remember, she’s my girlfriend.”

“So, is that a yes?” Aiden was pleading as Finn got the puppy dog eyes again.

“Alright, I’ll check with the parents about it. I’m not making any promises, though.” Lucy’s arms surrounded Finn as she doused his cheeks with wet sloppy kisses. He loved it when she ended her trail by pressing her smile to his lips.

“I’ll have my mom call your mom. I know it will be fine. Hey, are you guys making out?”

Lucy pulled her lips from his. “Just a little, thank you.”

“I got to meet this girl, Finn.”

“Fine, I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“O—” Finn didn’t give him a chance to finish. He shut the phone off and got back to something much more important.

“Bikini, you say?”

She nodded. “A purple one.”

He returned her nod while picturing it. “Might have to make the trip just for that.”