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“I try.”
After we finish with the cake, we place all the plates on two large trays and carry them to one of the tables. Zane makes room, collecting the empty food trays.
“Did you guys get the silverware?” Benjamin asks, looking down at the table.
Shit. Finn is always so damn distracting. I swear I left half my brain back there as well. “No, but I’ll go do that now.”
I rush toward the house without so much as glancing back and when I can’t find the forks on the counter or island, I check the walk-in pantry. Sure enough, on the middle shelf rests three boxes of forks, spoons, and knives. I grab the first one but before I can turn around a door shuts behind me.
I jump where I stand and warm arms wrap around me, settling the uneasiness inside me. “The hand holding wasn’t enough to get me through the night. I had to come hold you too.” Finn’s face rubs against my neck and he kisses my shoulder and cheek.
“You know that door doesn’t lock.”
“Relax. Everyone’s outside. So hurry up and kiss me so they don’t think you got lost on your way back.”
My stomach flutters and I turn around until we are nearly nose to nose.
“Hi, baby.”
Once again I’m a puddle of goo. How does he do that? He’s definitely a man of many talents. “Hi,” I say softly.
He brushes a few fingers through my hair and his lips press to mine softly. His tongue slips between my parting lips and I lose myself in his warmth. It’s so easy to do. My toes curl in my shoes the deeper he thrusts his tongue and I lose my grip on earth.
A gasp comes from behind us and something crashes against the floor. My heart plummets in my chest and I break away from Finn, ready to explain myself to my brother. Except it’s not him. Instead of being met with an expression of anger, in front of me stands a grinning Zane. “I fucking knew it. Nothing’s going on my ass. This is seriously someFlowers in the Atticshit, and I’m here for it.”
Finn bursts out laughing and I’m frozen in place, my whole face heating from embarrassment. I can’t see the humor in the situation as easily as they can.
“Fuck, Zane. Are you trying to give people a damn heart attack? And can you please keep your damn voice down?”
“Ah I get it. You two are keeping it on the down low. Don’t worry, everyone else is still outside. But we should probably get back soon before they assume we’re all three in here fucking.”
Finally able to move out of my trance, I roll my eyes and Finn laughs even harder, his whole body vibrating. He shoots me a sweet smile, rubbing my arm, and mutters the words, “It’s okay, baby.”
My heart settles and I nod. His best friend walked in, discovering what’s been going on between us, and the only one in panic mode is me. He was telling the truth. Finn really doesn’t care who knows.
“Yeah, we should all go back.” I squeeze past them. “I’ll see you two out there. Try not to take too long in here either or else your mom might start planning your wedding by the time you come outside,” I say playfully, earning me snorts from both of them. Lydia has been hoping those two would get together for years. She clearly doesn’t see what I do. The only love they have in their eyes for one another is fully platonic. I know because it’s how I feel for Kevin and how I used to think I felt for Finn. It probably was true once but I’m not so sure now. It’s funny how quickly things can change when you stop fighting and allow them to happen.
Thirteen
Finn
“What’s wrong, baby?” I ask, pressing a kiss to Theo’s shoulder. He’s been quiet for far too long, staring at the wall as I wash him under the warm shower water.
“Nothing,” he says after taking too long to respond.
“I sure hope you’re not lying to me. What happened to being honest with each other? I admitted my stalker ways, so you can tell me what’s bothering you.”
He releases a soft chuckle between moans when my nails scratch against his scalp as I wash his hair. “I… Before Isaac and I broke up, he booked us a surprise trip. It was to this event in Lake Tahoe I’ve been wanting to attend for a while but never had the courage.”
“Are you still going?” My stomach twists.
He nods, not turning to face me.
“Yes, but not with him. He transferred the event registration to me and emailed me my plane ticket, only keeping his. The hotel is under both of our names but I was going to trade his card information for mine when I got there to take his name off the room.” His voice is shaky by the time he reaches the end. My heart finally settles as his words come over me like a wave of comfort.
“Is he asking for your ticket back or something?”
He shakes his head, pressing his hand on the wall in front of him and dipping his head in the water before pulling back. “I didn’t want to go alone. I don’t like traveling alone. It triggers a lot of anxiety for me, you know, because of everything I went through with…” He pauses.
