“So, stay and eat here,” he said, setting the spoon down and crossing his arms over his Henley-covered chest. His muscles pressed against the fabric, and I took him in. He really was a beautiful man. He had fans and women that fawned all over him, but he was still just Finn.
The boy who’d convinced me at the young age of five years old that if we left food out at night for our gummy worms, they would come to life while we were sleeping.
The boy who’d gone with me to get my ears pierced when I was ten years old because I was too afraid to go alone.
The boy who’d always saved a spot for me at lunch right beside him, from kindergarten through high school.
Even when I was dating Carl our senior year, he’d still hold that spot for me, just in case I didn’t want to sit with my boyfriend that day.
He was also the boy who went to every single chemo treatment with me for months. He never missed one. A lump formed in my throat at the memory—how Finn had somehow made my treatments tolerable.
“I need to go talk to him and find out how serious things are with him and his new girlfriend.” I cleared my throat. “See if we can salvage this.”
He studied me for the longest time as I reached into my purse and popped a mint into my mouth. I didn’t know what to expect tonight, but I wanted to be prepared. “Yeah, yeah, sure. A lifetime of boring sex and being a doctor’s wife sounds really appealing.”
“Says the guy who doesn’t do relationships. You don’t know what it’s like out there, Chewy. I don’t want to waste years looking for Mr. Right when I’m fairly certain I’ve already found him.”
He nodded and looked away. “I just want you to be happy, Miney.”
“I am. I’ve been so happy being back home and here with you. With the holidays coming up, it just feels really good.”
“It does. I’m glad you’re here. But I’ve got to say, I don’t think it’s cool that he changed the plans to dinner tonight.”
I pursed my lips and studied him. “Why does that matter?”
“Because you’re my woman, right? I mean, as far as he knows. He can’t just take you to dinner without running it by me. That’s all I’m saying.”
“I think that chili pepper has made you a little crazy. You don’t need to play the role of the caveman boyfriend. This is what we wanted to happen, remember?”
He turned away and huffed, and I couldn’t help but laugh. He was being ridiculous.
The doorbell rang, and we both startled. “He’s here. He insisted on picking me up.”
“I’ll bet he did. What a fucking gentleman.” He made no attempt to hide his irritation as he tried to shove past me.
“You do not need to walk me to the door,” I whisper-hissed, moving in front of him.
“What kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn’t make sure that he knew I was paying attention?”
I shook my head and grumped. “The fake kind?”
“Hey. I take my role very seriously. Don’t underestimate me.”
Finn opened the door and immediately glared at Carl as I slipped into my jacket.
“Hey. You look—” Carl paused and looked at Finn before turning his attention back to me. “Nice.”
“Nice observation. But she always looks nice. Come here, baby.” Finn reached for my hand and spun me until I slammed into his chest. He tipped my chin up, and his lips covered mine. We hadn’t discussed any pregame kiss, but he was the professional actor, so I’d follow his lead.
His lips were soft, just like the last time he’d kissed me. I’d thought about it a lot since it had happened. The man could definitely kiss.
His tongue slipped in, and my hands moved on instinct to his hair as I urged him closer.
God. I’d never been kissed like this, not before Finn.
A loud noise pulled me from my daze, and I realized Carl was clearing his throat, reminding us that he was there.
Finn pulled back. “Don’t stay out too late, Miney. I’ll be waiting for you.”
“Yeah, of course,” I said, my words breathy as I patted my bun into place, and Carl pulled the door open and walked briskly away from us toward his car.
I turned around and gave two thumbs-up to Finn as I couldn’t hide the smile spreading across my face, and whispered, “So freaking good. I think we’re getting under his skin. Have fun with your brothers.”
I tugged the door closed and jogged down the walkway to where Carl was holding the passenger door open for me.
“Sorry about that. He just can’t keep his hands to himself sometimes,” I said as I slipped into the car and reached for the buckle.
“I can see that.” He closed my door and was in the seat beside me quickly. I noticed the way his jaw clenched as he stared out the window at the road.
The drive to the restaurant was quiet, and I suddenly felt a little awkward. It had been a year since we’d spent any real time together. So much had changed, and I didn’t know how to feel about that. There was this nagging fear that we might not be able to get back to what we had before, and then what? I’d be single for the rest of my life and living in my best friend’s guest room?
Don’t overthink it.
You were engaged to this man.
You want to spend your life with him.
He surprised me when he pulled into the driveway of his house and came around to open my door.
“Oh. I thought you said that we were going to Reynolds’?”
“I just figured we’d have so many people in our business if we went there, and I ordered us takeout from your favorite Italian restaurant. It’ll be delivered in fifteen minutes.”
My heart squeezed at his words.
He remembered.
He’d made an effort for us to be alone because he missed me.
“The ravioli and the Caesar salad?” I asked.
“Of course. It’s what you always chose when it was your turn to pick.” He put the key in the door and pushed it open for me to walk in.
I sucked in a breath. I was supposed to be living here by now.
It looked exactly the same. Mid-century modern décor. I’d helped him decorate it when he’d bought the place, even though I found his style to be a bit cold for my liking. I’d planned to warm it up once I’d moved in.
“I could have just driven here. You just mentioned that Finn’s house was on the way to the restaurant,” I said, slipping my coat off and hanging it on the coat rack by the door.
“I wanted to come get you.” He shoved his hands in his pockets and studied me. “You look good, Reese. I think London agreed with you. Or it’s just that your new boyfriend makes you really happy.”
Here we go.
Should I tell him the truth?
My heart raced, and the words were on the tip of my tongue.
But for whatever reason, I couldn’t say them.
He was dating someone. Carl’s relationship was real. I wasn’t ready to admit that mine wasn’t.
“He does make me happy. And it appears Christy Rae Lovell makes you very happy.”
He nodded, but something in his blue gaze told me things weren’t that simple. This was exactly what I was hoping for. A chink in his armor.
“Come on. Let me get you a glass of wine.”
“I’m assuming your girlfriend is okay with me coming to your house for dinner?” I answered, following him toward the kitchen.
“I told her we were getting together tonight. I didn’t mention where we were going because it’s not important. She’s working the night shift at the hospital.” He poured me a glass of Cabernet and handed it to me.
“She hasn’t moved in with you?”
“No. You know how I feel about that. I didn’t want us to live together before we were engaged. I see Finn doesn’t mind making up the rules as he goes.”
“I think everyone’s allowed to make up their own rules, Carl. If you recall, I wanted to move in with you sooner. That was your rule, and I respected it. But I have my own rules that I live by now.”
And when we got back together, I would not hold back from sharing what I wanted moving forward.
“Just be careful, Reese. He’s not the kind of guy who wants to take things the whole way. I mean, have you not watched any of the interviews with Jessica Carson? He really did a number on her.”
I rolled my eyes. “I think I know Finn pretty well, don’t you think? He’d never do anything to hurt me. And Jessica Carson is just looking for her five minutes of fame. They never slept together. She’s making all of this up for attention.”