Out of Mind by Jen McLaughlin Read Free Book Online Page A

bottle on the table. It was almost empty. “I went looking for my dad, but I couldn’t find him.”
    Riley picked up his cup and headed across the room, talking about having another drink. I trailed behind him, my eyes on Finn. He seemed as if he was being friendly enough. He hadn’t called him Miley or anything else that was close to his name, but not quite right. “I was just talking to him when I came home. He went out to the store.”
    “Oh.” He ran his hand over his head. He used to tug on his curls when he was nervous. Is that what he was trying to do? “I would have gone with him if I’d known. He shouldn’t be going out alone.”
    But he hadn’t wanted to go shopping with me? I wasn’t sure what that meant. “Sorry, I didn’t think you’d want to.”
    He smiled at me. “It’s fine. Now I get to spend time with you…and Riley.” He popped the lid off the whiskey and poured Riley a good amount. “Can’t let you drink alone, now can I?”
    Riley grinned. “Course not. Short Stuff over here isn’t old enough, so I’ve only got you.”
    “Yeah, she’s not quite old enough yet,” Finn murmured as he poured himself another glass. He watched me as he poured, almost as if he was daring me to say something. To start a fight with him. And, man, I wanted to. “We’ve had a few discussions about that, though, haven’t we, Carrie?”
    I curled my hands into balls and bit down on my tongue. Glancing at his glass pointedly, I said, “We have. Too much alcohol is never a good thing.”
    He laughed. “She thinks I drink too much when I’m stressed out.” He turned to Riley and held his glass out for a toast. “Lately, that’s been all the time, hasn’t it?”
    “Finn…” I started, but he threw his arm over my shoulder and hugged me close. I stole a quick look at Riley. He was watching Finn with concern in his gaze. My cheeks heated. “You doing okay?”
    “Fabulous now that you’re back.” He kissed my forehead, his lips lingering. Despite my uneasiness about his current state of mind, my heart flared to life as the gesture. It was so much like something the old Finn would do. “I missed you.”
    “Did you nap?”
    He fingers tightened on his glass. “Yep.”
    I wanted to ask him if he’d had the nightmare again, but I wouldn’t in front of Riley. “Great. So I see you met Riley?”
    “I did.” Finn led me to the couch, making sure I sat between him and the arm of the couch. Riley sat on Finn’s other side. “We were talking about the night you two became friends.”
    I stole a quick glance at Riley. “Oh yeah?”
    “Yep.” Riley sipped his drink, looking slightly uncomfortable if his furrowed brow was any indication. “How long are you two staying here?”
    “We go back on the thirtieth.”
    “Is that what we decided?” Finn blinked. “I thought we were leaving on the twenty-seventh.”
    I shook my head and rested my hand on his thigh. “No, because you have an MRI that morning.” I softened my voice. “Remember? I put it on a Post-it.”
    “No. I don’t remember.” Finn took a long drink, his leg going hard under my hand. I could practically feel the frustration rolling off him. “How long are you in town, Riley?”
    “Through the afternoon of the first. Then it’s the red-eye flight back to California that night.”
    I nodded. “We were going to stay through then, too, but I thought it would be best if we got Finn back to Cali so we could start setting up his physical therapy appointments, and all the other stuff that goes with his injuries.” I lifted a hand before letting it fall to my lap. “There’s a lot to organize before classes start.”
    Finn cursed under his breath and stood. “You make me sound like I’m an old man who can’t take care of myself. I’m injured, not useless. I can organize it all.”
    “I know. I didn’t mean—”
    “I know you didn’t mean anything by it, Carrie. It’s just that I’m realizing I’m not your boyfriend