If He Had Been with Me, #2
If Only I Had Told Her
by Laura Nowlin
Contents
Finn — Eight
Overview
Finn reads Autumn’s newly finished novel while she anxiously waits nearby. He recognizes their childhood woven into Izzy and Aden and realizes Aden’s love for Izzy reflects his own feelings for Autumn. Worried she might fear his misreading, he drinks for courage but stays engrossed, determined to finish.
Summary
Finn brings Autumn into his house. She refuses rum, nervously hands over her laptop, and insists it is time for him to read. Finn begins, noting Autumn’s anxiety and his own desire to reassure her, then quickly becomes absorbed.
As Finn reads, he recognizes parallels to their childhood: shared rituals, swapped talents, and imagined adventures. He sees Izzy and Aden composed from fragments of Autumn, Finn, Jamie, and others, with details altered into a kaleidoscopic fiction that is both them and not them.
The story shifts into romance between Izzy and Aden, which Finn knows Autumn may fear he will misinterpret. He notes Jamie-like gestures in Aden but also unmistakable traits that match Finn’s bond with Autumn. Finn steps away for water, takes a swig of rum, and returns to reading.
He observes scenes echoing real events—like a muddy soccer triumph—transformed through fiction. More importantly, Finn recognizes that Aden’s attentive, intuitive love for Izzy mirrors his own enduring feelings for Autumn and his constant encouragement of her writing.
Autumn moves about the room, trying to distract herself, while Finn remains engrossed. Aware of the novel’s quality and its personal resonance, he retrieves the rum again, settles on the couch, and commits to finishing the manuscript that night.
Who Appears
- FinnNarrator; reads Autumn’s novel, recognizes their lives within it, sees Aden’s love mirroring his own, drinks rum, resolves to finish.
- AutumnAnxiously shares her finished manuscript with Finn, stays nearby while he reads, revealing vulnerability about their shared past.
- IzzyProtagonist of Autumn’s novel; a composite reflecting Autumn and others, entering a romantic relationship with Aden.
- AdenIzzy’s love interest in the novel; blends traits of Finn, Jamie, and others, his love for Izzy mirrors Finn’s feelings for Autumn.