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T H I R T Y O N E
- Maeve -
When Finn turned down the sidewalk towards the YMCA, I froze in my tracks. “This is as far as I go,” I said, unwilling to embarrass myself. Sex was one thing, but sports? Finn did not need to know how deeply uncoordinated I was. “If you want to see what I look like bent over in yoga pants, just ask. But I don’t do sweaty.”
His eyes sparkled with amusement.
“Whatever you’re planning, I’m not dressed for it,” I said. Nor do I have the hand-eye coordination required. Had he not noticed I wore my freaking hair down today? Did he know how many times I regretted that on the ride over? The only reason I even risked it was because it seemed like a low stakes time to give it a try. That, and the fact that my new earmuffs made me look pinheaded with my hair pulled back.
“Would you relax?” he asked. “I didn’t come here to get your heart rate up.”
“It’s the Y,” I said. “Why else would we be here?”
He groaned. “God, you’re stubborn. You really think I’d take you for donuts and then make you exercise?”
“I don’t know. It wouldn’t be your first twisted idea.”
“Name one other twisted thing I’ve done.”
“You attacked me with the whipped cream,” I said, trying not to smile. “And you handed me that falcon at the zoo last weekend like it was an unassuming breadbasket.”
“He was harmless.”
“He could’ve pecked my eyes out!”
“He was wearing blinders.”
I wracked my brain. “You pretended you were a working musician instead of a celebrity.”
“I’m not a celebrity. That’s a gross exaggeration. And you said you were glad you held the falcon.”
“I don’t do sports, Finn.”
“I didn’t bring you here to make you do sports.”
“Then why did you bring me here.”
“Can’t it be a surprise?”
“I’m surprised enough.”
He sighed. “I want you to meet my kids.”
I felt like I’d been sucker-punched.
“A few of them, anyway. Namely the ones who like me best.”
My mind was going haywire like it did when someone sprung a math problem on me. “I’m confused.”
“They’re not really my kids.”
“If I found out you were hiding children on top of the rock star thing, I’d be really pissed.”
“Are you coming or not?” he asked, leaning towards the door. “Because I’m not going to disappoint my star students just because you don’t trust me.”
“I do trust you.”
“Hi Finn!” a little boy shouted as he hopped out of a black car that pulled up to the curb.
