"Why do you keep saying ‘thank you’, aren't you tired?" Finnian glanced at her again.
He led Amara to a nearby rock, gesturing for her to sit. As he looked at her slender back, he shrugged off his suit jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
Amara's eyes widened as the warmth of the jacket enveloped her. Suddenly, the chill she felt seemed to vanish. Despite the comfort, she felt a twinge of anxiety and quickly tried to give it back. "Mr. Everly, there’s no need, I'm not cold."
"Wear it," Finnian interrupted, wrapping the jacket back around her shoulders. He glanced at her bare arms. "You're having goosebumps even. Don't tell me you're not cold."
His voice was gentle but carried a tone of authority that brooked no argument. Amara hesitated. She hadn't expected him to not only come to her rescue but also offer his jacket. Finnian seemed exceptionally nice to her.
Given the situation, though, this was good as she knew she needed it more than he did. She was at risk of catching a cold without it, while Finnian, in his long-sleeved shirt, seemed to fare better in the chilly air. Hence, she didn’t refuse.
In the dimly lit cavern, the divorced couple sat side by side on a rock barely big enough for the two of them, their bodies almost touching. After a while, Amara found herself feeling a bit uncomfortable.
She stared at the dark ground beneath them, asking, "Mr. Everly, what were you trying to tell me when you called?"
"Nothing much," Finnian replied nonchalantly. "You disappeared, and I just wanted to know where you'd gone."
Amara found his response puzzling. Why was he concerned about her absence? If they had been friends, she might understand the check-in, but apparently, they weren't.
"Are you cold?" Finnian asked again.
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