“Aunt Harper said you woke up because you had a bad dream. Do you want to tell me about it?” I rub soothing circles on her back.
“I can’t remember it.”
“Why are you dressed like that? Have you been out?” Finn rakes his gaze over me. “It’s two AM. Shouldn’t you be in bed?”
I put Lily back on the stool. Folding my arms across my chest, I reply, “Couldn’t sleep.”
“Couldn’t sleep or couldn’tsleep?” Finn wiggles his eyebrows with mirth as he bounces Avery in his arms.
Finn is onto me. I’m still going to try to get him off the scent. “I went for a drive.” What I do in my own time is none of his business.
“Must have been a gooddrive.” Finn points to my chest. I look down. In my haste to hightail it out of Alyssa’s apartment, I’d mismatched the buttons of my shirt. Shit! I quickly adjust them.
“Anyone we know?” Harper whispers with a smile, trying not to let Lily overhear the conversation. Thankfully, she’s flipping through a book, showing no interest in what we’re saying.
“No,” I lie. There’s no point denying I’ve been with a woman, but I don’t have to tell them who I was with. I don’t know how Harper would feel about me leaving her best friend in bed without an explanation. Although, if they’re close, Alyssa might tell Harper what an asshole I am. I’ll deal with that when or if it happens.
“Damn, I hope we didn’t disturb you before you finished. That would suck, considering how long it’s been since…you know…” Finn glances at Lily. “You read a book.” He gives me a cocky grin. I want to wipe the smug smile off his face. It’s times like these I wish I wasn’t so close to my brothers. We know too much about each other’s personal lives.
I scowl at Finn.
“I take it that the book didn’t have a happy ending?” Finn snickers.
“This book has a happy ending, Dad. You can read this one.” Lily slides the book on the counter toward me. So much for her not listening.
“Thanks, Lily Pily.” I throw Finn a filthy look. It only makes him grin harder.
“Lily, let’s take Avery to the nursery. You can help me change her diaper before we put her back to bed.” Harper lifts the sleepy baby from Finn’s arms.
It’s surreal seeing my younger brother with a kid of his own. Not so long ago, after a terrible breakup, he’d sworn off relationships forever, and now he’s a husband and a father. It suits him.
Lily slides off the stool and holds onto Harper’s free hand, following her from the room.
As soon as the girls disappear, Finn turns to me with a huge, shit-eating grin. “Man, I’m sorry we interrupted your night.”
“Your joyful expression says otherwise,” I say derisively and perch onto the stool Lily vacated.
Finn scratches the stubble on his chin. “I didn’t get the name of the woman you were with.”
“You know perfectly well, asshole, that I didn’t give it to you.”
Finn chuckles, not taking offense at the name-calling. “So, who is she?”
My lips are sealed tight.
Slapping his hand on the counter, he laughs. “Itissomeone we know!”
“I didn’t say—”
“It’s written on your face. I know you too well. How long have you been seeing her? Is it serious? How have you hidden this from us?”
Squirming in my seat, not comfortable with the interrogation, I grumble, “What’s with the twenty fucking questions?”
“I’m curious.” Finn shrugs a shoulder.
“Well, it’s none of your damn business.” Since when has Finn become a gossip?
“Come on, man. Give me something. All I talk about these days are dirty diapers, baby bottles, and feeding schedules. I haven’t slept in weeks.”
