Fine Make 84

CHAPTER 084: Cleaning Their Messés
CHAPTER 084: Cleaning Their Messés
This has got to be the worst weekend in the history of weekends.
First, Hunter decided to accuse me of destroying his wedding. Then Serena, my own sister, went full psychologist on me in the car, practically diagnosing me with mommy issues and abandonment issues. And if that wasn’t enough, Hunter’s car rammed into the back of my car, a BMW I’d barely had for a week.
And now?
Now, Victoria Hartley-Knox and Finn’s mother-is implying that I shattered Finn’s heart.
He’d need to have a damn heart to begin with.
I’ve had it.
“Does anyone else have anything they’d like to get off their chest?” I say, raising my voice. “Now might be a good time to accuse me of changing the weather and instigating the first world war too.”
“You’re not even sorry,” Victoria says.
“Sorry about what? That I left Finn? Friendships start and end. If he can’t cope with being left, then that’s his problem. Get him help.”
“What do you think I’m here for?” Her eyes flash. “What do you think Knox called me into this populated city to do? Every time something happens between them, I end up in the middle of it, fixing things. Finn barely eats. He barely talks. All because of you and Knox.”
“Oh, that’s just rich.”
Hunter clears his throat. “Guys, maybe we shouldn’t do this here,” he says, sounding a lot more composed than earlier. “It’s going to attract attention. Someone might call the cops.”
“Let them,” Victoria snaps. “Maybe they’ll tag her for reckless driving.”
“You hit me from behind,” I counter. “Who do you think is more likely to be blamed?”
“Please, try to pin this on us. There’s a dashcam. You’ll pay for damages.”
“Hey, hey,” Serena says, jumping in. “Don’t raise your voice at my sister. Who the hell are you people anyway?”
“That’s your sister’s boyfriend’s mom,” Hunter says, still too close to Serena for my comfort. “And I’m a friend of the family.”
Even though the crash happened near the side of the road, traffic is already reacting.. Cars are swerving around us. One driver leans out his window, honking and yelling for us to “get off the damn road.” A few people walking by have slowed down, watching us with interest.
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CHAPTER 084 Cleaning Their Messés
Hunter steps forward. “Sloane, I’m really sorry about the crash. It was a coincidence. I swear, I wasn’t following you. I’ll pay for the damages.”
Victoria whirls on him. “Why are you being nice to her? She caused this.”
He meets her eyes. “Because we need to get off the road. And she might be the solution to your problem.”
“What problem?” I ask.
“Can we just park somewhere and talk?” Hunter says. “Before you say no, this is really important. You once cared about Finn. I think part of you still does. Let’s just have a few minutes. A real conversation. No drama.”
I glance between them. My annoyance is nowhere near ending, but I am curious. I need to know what this problem is that I might have a solution to. I’d listen just long enough to get satisfaction from telling Victoria Hartely ‘no’.
Without a word, I walk back to my car and climb in. Serena follows, quietly this time.
Hunter’s driver is the first to start his engine, pulling back so I can move. As we drive, I feel Serena watching me.
“I’m sorry, Sloane,” she says. “I shouldn’t have said all that stuff. You attacked me, and I got defensive.”
“I didn’t attack you. I was just being honest. But you psychoanalyzed me like I was your textbook case.”
“It came out wrong. I’ve just been… off. With everything going on.”
“Who hasn’t?”
A public park appears on the right, and I pull in. There’s an empty spot near a line of trees, quiet enough for whatever this conversation will be. I park. A moment later, Hunter’s car pulls in beside us.
We all get out. Victoria looks more irritated than ever. Good. The feeling’s mutual.
“So?” I say, crossing my arms, leaning against my car. “What is it you wanted to tell me?”
Hunter adjusts his cuffs. “Just so we’re clear, you and I still have unfinished business, Sloane. But right now, this isn’t about you and me. It’s about fixing something bigger.”
“Stop beating around the bush, Hunter,” I say.
“Well, just like Victoria said, your boyfriend asked her to come see Finn.”
I’ll admit, I never imagined Knox caring enough to invite his mother here about Finn. That doesn’t sound like him. Part of me, maybe half, thinks they’re making it up just to guilt me into something. But the other half? It’s not so sure. Because as strange as it sounds, I can’t figure out what they’d gain by lying about this.
Hunter continues, “When Victoria arrived, Finn was a mess. Broken arm, jaw, nose.
Tooth missing. Depressed. And yeah, he said it happened because you broke his heart.”
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CHAPTER 084: Cleaning Their Messés
I almost laugh. “Of course he did.”
Victoria speaks up now. “Finn’s in recovery. His therapist thinks reconnecting with his brother might help. It could be the start of healing. I’ve tried to get Knox to come, but he refuses. Nothing I say works. I even asked Hunter to talk to him-”
“He won’t listen to me,” Hunter cuts in. “Your son is stubborn, Victoria. Don’t act like you don’t know him.”
“You haven’t even tried.”
“We’re not exactly on speaking terms.”
Serena finally steps forward. “And what does this have to do with Sloane?”
Hunter sighs. “I didn’t think of it untiCHAPTER 084: Cleaning Their Messés
CHAPTER 084: Cleaning Their Messés
This has got to be the worst weekend in the history of weekends.
First, Hunter decided to accuse me of destroying his wedding. Then Serena, my own sister, went full psychologist on me in the car, practically diagnosing me with mommy issues and abandonment issues. And if that wasn’t enough, Hunter’s car rammed into the back of my car, a BMW I’d barely had for a week.
And now?
Now, Victoria Hartley-Knox and Finn’s mother-is implying that I shattered Finn’s heart.
He’d need to have a damn heart to begin with.
I’ve had it.
“Does anyone else have anything they’d like to get off their chest?” I say, raising my voice. “Now might be a good time to accuse me of changing the weather and instigating the first world war too.”
“You’re not even sorry,” Victoria says.
“Sorry about what? That I left Finn? Friendships start and end. If he can’t cope with being left, then that’s his problem. Get him help.”
“What do you think I’m here for?” Her eyes flash. “What do you think Knox called me into this populated city to do? Every time something happens between them, I end up in the middle of it, fixing things. Finn barely eats. He barely talks. All because of you and Knox.”
“Oh, that’s just rich.”
Hunter clears his throat. “Guys, maybe we shouldn’t do this here,” he says, sounding a lot more composed than earlier. “It’s going to attract attention. Someone might call the cops.”
“Let them,” Victoria snaps. “Maybe they’ll tag her for reckless driving.”
“You hit me from behind,” I counter. “Who do you think is more likely to be blamed?”
“Please, try to pin this on us. There’s a dashcam. You’ll pay for damages.”
“Hey, hey,” Serena says, jumping in. “Don’t raise your voice at my sister. Who the hell are you people anyway?”
“That’s your sister’s boyfriend’s mom,” Hunter says, still too close to Serena for my comfort. “And I’m a friend of the family.”
Even though the crash happened near the side of the road, traffic is already reacting.. Cars are swerving around us. One driver leans out his window, honking and yelling for us to “get off the damn road.” A few people walking by have slowed down, watching us with interest.
1/5
CHAPTER 084 Cleaning Their Messés
Hunter steps forward. “Sloane, I’m really sorry about the crash. It was a coincidence. I swear, I wasn’t following you. I’ll pay for the damages.”
Victoria whirls on him. “Why are you being nice to her? She caused this.”
He meets her eyes. “Because we need to get off the road. And she might be the solution to your problem.”
“What problem?” I ask.
“Can we just park somewhere and talk?” Hunter says. “Before you say no, this is really important. You once cared about Finn. I think part of you still does. Let’s just have a few minutes. A real conversation. No drama.”
I glance between them. My annoyance is nowhere near ending, but I am curious. I need to know what this problem is that I might have a solution to. I’d listen just long enough to get satisfaction from telling Victoria Hartely ‘no’.
Without a word, I walk back to my car and climb in. Serena follows, quietly this time.
Hunter’s driver is the first to start his engine, pulling back so I can move. As we drive, I feel Serena watching me.
“I’m sorry, Sloane,” she says. “I shouldn’t have said all that stuff. You attacked me, and I got defensive.”
“I didn’t attack you. I was just being honest. But you psychoanalyzed me like I was your textbook case.”
“It came out wrong. I’ve just been… off. With everything going on.”
“Who hasn’t?”
A public park appears on the right, and I pull in. There’s an empty spot near a line of trees, quiet enough for whatever this conversation will be. I park. A moment later, Hunter’s car pulls in beside us.
We all get out. Victoria looks more irritated than ever. Good. The feeling’s mutual.
“So?” I say, crossing my arms, leaning against my car. “What is it you wanted to tell me?”
Hunter adjusts his cuffs. “Just so we’re clear, you and I still have unfinished business, Sloane. But right now, this isn’t about you and me. It’s about fixing something bigger.”
“Stop beating around the bush, Hunter,” I say.
“Well, just like Victoria said, your boyfriend asked her to come see Finn.”
I’ll admit, I never imagined Knox caring enough to invite his mother here about Finn. That doesn’t sound like him. Part of me, maybe half, thinks they’re making it up just to guilt me into something. But the other half? It’s not so sure. Because as strange as it sounds, I can’t figure out what they’d gain by lying about this.
Hunter continues, “When Victoria arrived, Finn was a mess. Broken arm, jaw, nose.
Tooth missing. Depressed. And yeah, he said it happened because you broke his heart.”
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CHAPTER 084: Cleaning Their Messés
I almost laugh. “Of course he did.”
Victoria speaks up now. “Finn’s in recovery. His therapist thinks reconnecting with his brother might help. It could be the start of healing. I’ve tried to get Knox to come, but he refuses. Nothing I say works. I even asked Hunter to talk to him-”
“He won’t listen to me,” Hunter cuts in. “Your son is stubborn, Victoria. Don’t act like you don’t know him.”
“You haven’t even tried.”
“We’re not exactly on speaking terms.”
Serena finally steps forward. “And what does this have to do with Sloane?”
Hunter sighs. “I didn’t think of it until I saw her earlier at her workplace. I was dropping something off, and Victoria was in the car, waiting for me to come up with a solution to her kids’ problem. Then the elevator opened-and there was Sloane. A perfect solution.”
“A solution to what? You threatened to make my life miserable. Was that your idea of a solution?” I say.
“That’s a separate issue,” he says. “This concerns a man’s life, Sloane. Right now, I need you to talk to your boyfriend. Talk to Knox. Make him see that his brother needs him. Just a little brotherly affection.”
“What’s brotherly affection supposed to do?” I ask.
Victoria cuts in, “Believe it or not, Finn loves his brother. You just have to convince Knox to have him at his house for a couple of days, let them bond. And everything will be back to normal. Trust me, I know the drill.”
If this weren’t annoying me, I would have laughed. “You think he’ll do that just because I asked? What do you think I am? His remote control?”
Hunter looks at me seriously. “I think you underestimate his feelings for you. I’ve
known Knox for years. I never saw him with a girlfriend. When you both destroyed my wedding, do you know what I asked him to do? I said I was only going to forgive him if he left you. He picked you. That son of a bitch.”
Maybe Serena was right after all, that I like being chosen over other people. Because words cannot explain the warmth that’s filling my chest right now at Hunter’s words.
“I don’t know what you did to him, Sloane,” Hunter says. “I’m just asking that you do it again. Talk to him.”
I shake my head. “I really appreciate the level of trust you have in my ability to control Knox. But I already know his answer. This will never work.”
Victoria’s expression shifts. She looks… uncomfortable. Hesitant.
“There’s something else,” she says. “Something I didn’t want to say over the phone or text. You can use it as leverage. As a last resort.”
3/5
CHAPTER 084: Cleaning Their Messés “What?”
Her eyes meet mine.
“Tell him Lydia’s alive. And if he agrees to help Finn, I’ll tell him where she is. But he’s
not to mention it to Finn.”
My breath catches.
“Lydia? As in their dead sister?”
Victoria nods. “Sister is what they like to call her. But Lydia’s not dead. I sent her away. Told both boys she died. Like I said, I’m the one who always ends up cleaning their messes.”
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l I saw her earlier at her workplace. I was dropping something off, and Victoria was in the car, waiting for me to come up with a solution to her kids’ problem. Then the elevator opened-and there was Sloane. A perfect solution.”
“A solution to what? You threatened to make my life miserable. Was that your idea of a solution?” I say.
“That’s a separate issue,” he says. “This concerns a man’s life, Sloane. Right now, I need you to talk to your boyfriend. Talk to Knox. Make him see that his brother needs him. Just a little brotherly affection.”
“What’s brotherly affection supposed to do?” I ask.
Victoria cuts in, “Believe it or not, Finn loves his brother. You just have to convince Knox to have him at his house for a couple of days, let them bond. And everything will be back to normal. Trust me, I know the drill.”
If this weren’t annoying me, I would have laughed. “You think he’ll do that just because I asked? What do you think I am? His remote control?”
Hunter looks at me seriously. “I think you underestimate his feelings for you. I’ve
known Knox for years. I never saw him with a girlfriend. When you both destroyed my wedding, do you know what I asked him to do? I said I was only going to forgive him if he left you. He picked you. That son of a bitch.”
Maybe Serena was right after all, that I like being chosen over other people. Because words cannot explain the warmth that’s filling my chest right now at Hunter’s words.
“I don’t know what you did to him, Sloane,” Hunter says. “I’m just asking that you do it again. Talk to him.”
I shake my head. “I really appreciate the level of trust you have in my ability to control Knox. But I already know his answer. This will never work.”
Victoria’s expression shifts. She looks… uncomfortable. Hesitant.
“There’s something else,” she says. “Something I didn’t want to say over the phone or text. You can use it as leverage. As a last resort.”
3/5
CHAPTER 084: Cleaning Their Messés “What?”
Her eyes meet mine.
“Tell him Lydia’s alive. And if he agrees to help Finn, I’ll tell him where she is. But he’s
not to mention it to Finn.”
My breath catches.
“Lydia? As in their dead sister?”
Victoria nods. “Sister is what they like to call her. But Lydia’s not dead. I sent her away. Told both boys she died. Like I said, I’m the one who always ends up cleaning their messes.”
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