Page 52 of One Forbidden Moment

Finn.

For a heartbeat, neither of them moved.The shop noise faded.The world narrowed to the space between them.

Jillian's voice broke through the static."Babe...are you okay?"

He didn't answer.Couldn't.

Finn blinked once, slowly, like he wasn't sure if he was seeing a ghost."Moe?"

Jillian turned sharply, eyes darting between them."You...know him?"

"Yeah."Moe swallowed hard, voice rough."I know him."

Finn took a step forward, eyes wide with something between shock and recognition."Jesus Christ.It really is you."

Jillian moved closer to Moe instinctively, her hand brushing his arm."I think we should go.We got the battery."

"No."Moe didn't look away from his friend."That's Finn."

She grabbed onto his hand and held on.He approached Finn, taking in the changes.He looked older.More gray in his hair, a few more wrinkles.Even with the differences, he would've recognized him anywhere.

He'd been hunting this man—chasing him, really—ever since he'd seen Finn and Kallie slip through the veil.He'd followed them because Finn was the only link he had to the world he'd lost, the only person who might understand what the hell had happened to him.

And now here he was, standing in a motorcycle shop like it was any normal day.

Moe stepped forward."Where the hell have you been?I followed you through the veil and looked for you for weeks.It was like you disappeared."He glanced at Jillian."I went back to Everstill and returned here to find you."

"Moe."Finn lifted a hand, palm out."Slow down."

"Slow down?"Moe barked."I've been stuck in a world that ain't mine for twenty-nine years, and you want me to slow down?"

Finn grabbed his arm and pulled him closer."I get it.I do.But we can't talk about that here.I'm working.I'll meet you somewhere after I get off, where we can talk in private."

Moe opened his mouth to argue, but Jillian's hand slid around his arm, quieting him.Her touch didn't calm him, not exactly, but it kept him from exploding.

"You can have your friend come to the house," said Jillian.

Finn glanced at her, then back at Moe."I'm off at six.I'll need to go home first to get Kallie."

Jillian gave Finn the address.Then his friend looked at him one last time as if he had a thousand things to say."Seven o'clock."

Then he turned and disappeared back into the bay.

Jillian tugged gently on Moe's arm."Come on.Let's get your battery."

He let her pull him to the counter, though his mind was still spinning.She paid quickly, sliding her card across the counter while Moe stood gripping the battery like it might vanish if he blinked.

Finn was alive.He was here, working in a shop with the Columbia Brotherhood patch hanging over the damn door.How was that even possible?

Jillian guided him toward the exit, her hand warm on his back."We'll go home," she said softly."You can breathe.And then you can talk to him tonight."

He couldn't reply because he had too many questions.