He pulled away, searched my face, and trailed his lips across my mouth. Sweet breath inebriated me. When I closed my eyes to lean into his kiss, the door creaked open.

"Finnley, what have I told you about leaving the door open with girls in your room?" his mother asked.

He looked at me with unspoken words and then laughed. The thrill of what we had just done encapsulated me.

We broke apart from one another. Finn's hands trailed down my arm, and he interlocked his fingers with mine.

"Sorry." He said it with a sweet innocent smile on his face, knowing that he had fucked me on the wall right next to where his mother stood.

"I've been missing saying that to you. Carry on lovebirds, but not too long. The next train leaves within the hour, and Luke must return tonight."

"Alright, we're coming."

Once his mother left the room I added, "Again?"

"Soon."

We walked down the stairs. Franklin's face was red, and laughter completely overtook his body, so much so that I laughed because he was. Finnley looped his pinky with mine, just a little reminder that he was there. When Luke looked over at us, Finn glazed over and forced back all emotions.

Their burning love for one another made me wish I had a brother or sister. Someone to share my life with: family. Being with his made me miss mine that much more. Sometimes I felt like a ship lost at sea, adrift at night, with no one to rescue me. Though I knew that was ridiculous.

Luke once told me that family was nothing more than the company we kept, and the people we loved, with love being the key word.

Luketon and Finnley took turns hugging Emma and Franklin, who then hugged me.

"It was so nice to meet y'all," I said.

"You're so cute, Jennifer. You're welcome back at any time," Emma said.

"Take care of her, son. And don't be too much of a bloody arsehole," Franklin said.

Finnley hugged his dad, and Franklin squeezed his shoulders. "I'm serious. If I catch wind of you being you, we will both be on a plane to the states to knock some sense into you. Luketon, make sure of it."

"Alright, alright. Love you, dad, mum," Finn said.

"I'll be back this weekend," Luke said and grabbed his coat, then hugged his mother and father goodbye. We said our final goodbyes and the three of us walked to the car that awaited us. I had the pleasure of sitting in the middle of the two in the backseat. Talk about awkward.

Luke finally spoke. "Told you she wouldn't bite."

"But she could have," I responded, and turned my body slightly toward him and whispered, "and why didn't you warn me that he would be there?"

"Because he told me not to," Luke said.

"Do you always listen to what he says?" I asked.

There was no response, so I continued, "Not warning me was wrong."

Finnley cleared his throat, and when I turned to look at him, I saw his reflection in the window. He smiled. That bastard. I smiled, too.

I crossed my arms and leaned back in the seat.

"You both suck."

Finnley whispered in my ear, "Out of the three of us, I'm positive you're the only one that sucks anything."

He wrapped his arm around me and snuggled in close. I breathed in his smell and soaked in his warmth.

"You're such an asshole for that," I said to him.

"Choose your words wisely, Miss Downs," Finnley said, and Luke laughed.

The car stopped at the train station. Luke slid out, and I followed him without a second glance.

"Why would you do that to me?" I said. He walked toward the boarding platform.

"Because it was necessary. I knew you wouldn't have gone if I would have told you, and you were already nervous enough. The way you two act is annoying sometimes. But you're in love each other, and it's disgustingly obvious. It radiates from you both."

"But–"

"Stop it, Jennifer. Sometimes you're just as hardheaded as him. I know that we will never have anything. And while it's fun to pretend, it's not real."

"Pretend?"

Luke lifted an eyebrow, leaned down, and kissed me on my cheek.

"Yes. What you and my brother have is real. What we have is just a silly one-sided infatuation. Now go to him. He's waited long enough to see you."

I walked after him and grabbed his hand to stop him. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For being who you are. For loving your brother. For caring for me. You're going to make someone very happy, Luketon."

He ran his fingers through my hair and down my cheek then sucked in a deep breath. "I know."

And that was the second time he walked away. Before he boarded the train, Luke turned and gave one of those sweet smiles he wore so often. "Your things will be waiting for you tomorrow. Don't leave him waiting. Go on," he said, and the door closed. Moments later, I watched as the train sped away into the darkness.

Because you are in love with each other. Love.

The word seemed foreign at times, and like my best friend at others. As much as I like to think I didn't know what love was, I thought about it way too often. If a person's name can draw strong emotions from one's core, or if the sound of their voice makes the heart flutter, that's love. Just the thought of Finnley controlled me, and unlocked places in my heart that I'd never been before.

When I was younger, my mother told me that a person never forgot the first time they fell in love. That it was something that will live even after death. Love was an emotion that was so powerful, so lovely, that even the memory of it could conjure those specific feelings that were felt at a previous time in our lives.

Some people think magic doesn't exist, but as long as love has survived, I'd like to think they were wrong. Love could bring light to a dark room. Love could move mountains. Love made people write silly songs, and sing them at the top of their lungs. Finnley did know what love was. He described it perfectly the night that he melded himself with me.

As much as I wanted to deny it, to run from it and hide, I knew that I had fallen head over heels, stupid-sappy-girl-movie in love with Finnley Felton. I took a moment to stare at the empty station, then walked back to the car that held the man that could roll me around in his palm like putty. The man that I wanted to push away, although it was impossible. The outline of his body called me, and I would go to him, and press my lips against his, and tell him how much I missed him.

The thought of us being together encapsulated me, covered me, and I was nervous and excited all at once. I had never really admitted it to myself, but Luke knew, hell, even his mother and father knew. The only question was, did Finnley?

I studied Jennifer as she watched the train in a statuesque manner. The lights faded away but she stood there for a few more moments. I wondered what she was thinking and if I was still the man she dreamed about when she drifted into solitude from the world.

Jennifer Downs had met my fucking parents. Talk about moving the relationship to the next level. But I had planned it for weeks, along with the perfect evening at the vacation home I rented. Everything would be complete with her in my arms, sleeping next to me. I would lay her down, tell her how much I missed her, and kiss that smart-ass mouth until she shut it. She had to know that I needed her and how she made me feel. Jennifer Downs was the only woman that uncovered the man that I hadn't been in years. I would do anything for her.