I can't tell if Finn's face is more parts confused or shocked or if both feelings have equal measure in his expression. His brows draw close together and his head tilts to the left. He takes a tentative step forward but I hold my hand out like that might somehow stop him which it does.

"Don't,"I warn. "Please." To be honest, I don't even know what his offence is exactly. I just know that the thought, the possibility, of him being capable of lying to--who? A friend, a girlfriend? Who is Lilah?

I should ask him. I should calm down and ask him but the words won't come. Emotion kicks logic out. The only thing my mind entertains is the idea of Finn with anyone but me. Petty. Yes. Jealous. Yes. True. Yes.

He doesn't say a word as he turns and heads to his luggage to retrieve some clothes. When he heads back to the bathroom, I grab the pull handle to my suitcase and fight with the flimsy aluminium to get it to lock into place. I don't know what I'm doing, or why, but I have to get out of here. I only have time to see Finn emerge from the bathroom in a pair of grey shorts, a white t-shirt and sandals and then I close the door behind me.

"Delany!" his voice follows behind me. "Wait."

Every step I take my heart shatters a little but I try to let myself feel it for two reasons. One, so I never let myself love someone this much again and two, because if I feel it, instead of try not to, I may get some decent writing out of it. Silver lining.

"Laney," he yells again. "What the hell happened?"

I don't look back. The cheap plastic wheels on my suitcase catch on miniscule pebbles on the sidewalk and the thing teeters a couple of times. I curse under my breath.

"Delany, enough. Stop."

Who does he think he is?

A gigantic bald man with a handlebar mustache is standing outside the door to his room with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth. He's taking huge drags of the smoke while his eyes are fixed on me, and no doubt a flustered Finn at my heels.

"You alright little lady?" he asks. His eyes narrow and burn into Finn.

"Fine thank you," I say. "Just trying to get away."

The man nods in understanding and the second I pass him, I feel the air behind me shift. I spin around to see he's turned his body to the side and is taking up the majority of the sidewalk.

His voice dips, low and menacing. "Going somewhere, slick?" he's speaking to Finn and for a fraction of a second I'm scared. But Finn has never been stupid and can recognize when he doesn't have a hope. The next words out of his mouth prove to me that he hasn't changed--at least that way.

He puts his hands up in the air submissively. "Nope," he says. "Wasn't going anywhere."

Bald man takes another long and exaggerated drag of his smoke. "Good son, that's what I thought."

With that, I leave Finn behind for the second time in my life.

I'm still walking, the wheels are still tripping all over themselves and a raincloud has rolled over. Literally, it's like a scene from a movie where the camera pans slowly across the sky then zooms in on an out of focus heroine and when the audience gets good look, she's simply broken. It's the climax of the novel where all the odds are stacked against the main character and it seems like nothing will ever resolve itself. Not so fun when you're living it.

The muscles in my legs begin to cramp and I'm angry with myself for being so quick to distrust him.

I can't continue further. I can't stay here exposed in the rain, so even though I know it's insane, I stick my harm out to the side and raise my thumb. I utter a small prayer that some lady stops to get me instead of Jack the Ripper and I wait.

But forever passes and no one stops. My teeth start to chatter so hard I feel them rattle my brain. Dejected, I move onward.

I am not sure how far I make it before the dull drone of an engine purrs behind me, slow and deliberate. My heart begins to race and the ice that is running in my blood is replaced with trepidation. I freeze but dare a look over my shoulder. To my relief the shiny chrome grill of Finn's black chevy comes into focus. The raindrops are cold as they make contact with my skin, the tears that join the are painfully hot.

I'm crying for so many reasons, I can't name one. Because I'm hurting. I feel betrayed, whether reasonable or not. I feel angry--at him--at myself--at my ability to just fall in love with him at a moment's notice, to lose all common sense and go chasing an impossible dream. At the temporary relief I feel that it's Finn behind me and not some chainsaw wielding crazy man, ready to hack me to pieces. But I can't make myself get in.

Lilah. Lilah. Lilah. Her name sits on my tongue like a drop of poison.  

"Laney," Finn's voice breaks my thoughts, "Get in the car."

I pull my luggage along and shake my head.

From my peripherals, I can see him, one hand on the steering wheel, his body stretched the length of the seat. "Get in the car," he repeats. "Now."

I ignore him and continue to push forward. My mind is positively screaming at me to listen to him but my heart is grateful for the hesitation.

The tires of his car roll and crunch over the gravel. They come to a complete stop and then I hear the door shut hard. His voice is more firm, more commanding than I've ever heard him be. "So help me God, Delany if I have to pick you up and throw you over my shoulder, I will."

"Temping Finn but I'll pass. Leave me alone." I can't believe I just said that. I should bolt for that car. I should be grateful that he's rescuing me.

"You're trying to hitch hike. Do you have any clue how dangerous that is, how stupid? Get in the car."

"No."

"Delany, stop being ridiculous. I saw he text from Leo. I know that's what you're mad about and if you trust me, there is an explanation. Things aren't necessarily what you might think."

I stop walking. "Think? What I think?" I put my hands on my hips and glare at him. "I don't even know what I think anymore, Finn. I thought I could trust you. Who is Lilah?"

He ignores me. "Please come back to LA with me," he says. "I can explain everything."

"Is she your girlfriend?"

"She was. For a while but she's not anymore."

"Then why are you still talking to her, let alone lying to her?"

"It's complicated," he says, "But if you come with me, I can explain. God, you took off like a bat out hell. You scared me, Laney, please. It'll be so much better if I can show you rather than try and tell you. I promise, it's not what you think. Just come with me."

I look up at the sky, the black rainclouds have expanded until they cover the entire visible space above us. My luggage is going to fall apart within moments, I'm sure. My hair and face are probably a wreck and I can't think straight. Finn extends his arm to me and maybe because I'll love him forever--I take it.