Inside the house, Finn felt like he was suffocating. The laughter and music seemed to close in around him, and every time he glanced across the room, his gaze landed on Hanna and Marco, their easy smiles, the way they seemed so naturally in sync. The jealousy that simmered inside him was fierce, sharper than he’d ever felt, and he struggled to keep his expression neutral as Bella talked animatedly beside him.
But Bella seemed to sense it, her voice fading as she followed his line of sight to Hanna and Marco. With a sigh, she turned to him, her tone light but firm. “Finn, you don’t have to stay here and pretend. If you’re not over her, then don’t waste your time—or mine.”
Finn looked down, guilt mixing with frustration. “It’s not that simple, Bella. I thought I could just… move on.”
She offered him a small, understanding smile. “Sometimes, moving on isn’t something you can just decide to do. Maybe you need to figure out what’s holding you back.”
With that, she patted his shoulder, slipping away into the crowd, leaving him alone with his thoughts.
Needing air, Finn headed outside, breathing in deeply as he tried to shake the knots in his chest. But he wasn’t alone for long. The door creaked open, and Marco stepped out, his expression unreadable as he approached Finn.
“Mind if I join you?” Marco asked, crossing his arms as he leaned against the wall.
Finn shrugged, his gaze fixed on the ground. “It’s a free country.”
Marco watched him for a moment before speaking. “Look, I’m going to be straight with you, man. Hanna’s been through enough. If you’re just going to keep stringing her along, you need to let her go.”
Finn’s head shot up, anger flashing in his eyes. “I’m not stringing her along.”
“Could have fooled me,” Marco replied coolly. “I mean, you’re here with another girl, but it’s obvious to everyone you’re still hung up on Hanna. It’s not fair to her, Finn. She deserves someone who’s all in. If you can’t be that person, then step aside.”
The words stung, but Finn knew they held a painful truth. He clenched his fists, frustration welling up inside him. “You don’t understand. My family… they don’t want me with her.”
Marco’s voice softened slightly, though his gaze remained steady. “Maybe it’s time you decide what you want, not what they want. Because right now, you’re hurting her more than helping.”
Finn looked away, struggling with the realization that Marco might be right. He wanted Hanna, but he couldn’t deny the impact his family’s expectations had on him. He felt trapped, torn between his loyalty to them and the feelings he couldn’t shake.
“Think about it,” Marco said quietly, giving him a small nod. “You’ve got a great girl with you. I’ll take care of Hanna.”