Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 73330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 367(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 367(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
“Want to see some small things I’m working on?” Oakley asks, and Fallon immediately agrees. They move to the far side of Finn’s place, and I’m grateful for Oakley’s ability to keep the conversation flowing. She’s really great at making anyone feel comfortable.
“Would you guys like some adult eggnog?” Finn asks.
I follow him into the kitchen as he pulls everything from his fridge, along with the amaretto and rum.
As the girls are busy talking, Finn sets out four glasses, then stares up at me. “You fucked her, didn’t you?”
I narrow my eyes, trying my best not to give myself away. “Don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He furrows his brow as if he’s waiting for me to break, and I eventually do. “It’s not like that.” It wasn’t just a one-night stand for me even though that’s ultimately what it turned into.
Finn laughs. “That’s what they all say.”
“She’s different,” I mutter, keeping my voice low while stealing a glance over at the girls.
“Wait, you actually like-like her.”
“Shut up,” I say, not wanting them to overhear.
“C’mon, spill the beans.”
I lean my lower back against the counter, watching Fallon as Finn mixes our drinks. “Something happened between us that she’s made clear she doesn't want to happen again.”
“Ah, I see. The tables have turned, and you’re finally doing the chasing.”
“I’m not chasing anyone,” I argue. “That hasn’t changed.”
“It will. I basically said the same thing. It’s what we like to call denial, especially when we meet the one.”
I glare at him.
“Whatever. You’re too stubborn to admit shit, I get it. Good luck because you’ll need it when it’s time for her to go. Letting her leave will be the hardest thing you’ve ever done. Take it from someone who experienced that kind of heartache.”
“Yeah, I remember…” He was a goddamn mess. Luckily, Oakley returned two weeks later to put him out of his misery.
He hands me my glass, then delivers the others to the girls.
Fallon will only be here for another week, and I’ll keep her at arm’s length until she leaves because that’s what she wants.
As if she knows I’m thinking about her, she meets my eyes from across the room, then takes a sip. Her gaze lingers a little too long, and I break the spell by looking away. I swallow hard, not wanting to think about what she stirs inside me, replaying the words she said the next morning.
Finn returns and grabs his eggnog. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah,” I say, following him to the living room. Fallon and I sit on the couch, our arms brushing as we get comfortable.
After Finn sits in the armchair, Oakley takes his lap.
“So we have some news,” Finn says.
“We’re engaged!” Oakley quickly announces before I can even guess.
“I proposed last week, but we wanted to tell you in person,” Finn explains.
“Congrats!” I stand to give Oakley and Finn each a hug. We’re all smiles as Oakley explains exactly how it all happened. It’s impossible not to notice how they look at each other—with intense love and admiration.
After we’ve finished our first round of spiked eggnog, Finn gives us refills.
“I guess it’s time to tell all the embarrassing stories about Levi,” Finn taunts when he returns with fresh drinks.
“Oh, yes please,” Fallon quips. “Though I have a couple of my own already.”
I shake my head. “Bad idea.”
“Perfect idea,” Oakley counters.
“So there was this one time when Levi’s parents went out of town for a day right around Christmas—”
I quickly interrupt him. “Come on, man. You don’t have to tell this one.”
Based on the look he gives me, the rum is already making its way through his system.
“Anyway, Levi asked if I wanted to come over after school, so I did.”
Oakley snickers like she’s heard this story before.
I narrow my eyes at her, silently warning her to stop engaging.
“What?” She shrugs. “I know how this ends.”
Fallon eagerly waits for him to tell the rest.
“So I have my mom drop me off, and what does Levi do? He makes me keep watch for his parents as he meticulously opens several gifts under the tree. He was so good at it, too. He’d slip the boxes back in the same paper, and you couldn’t even tell they’d been touched.”
“Wait, how old were you?” Fallon asks me.
“Twelve.”
She smirks. “So…old enough to know better.”
“Oh yeah,” Finn agrees. “Anyway, he’s in the living room playing this game when his parents drive up. When his mom walks into the living room and sees the box on the table and the toy in Levi’s hand, she nearly loses her shit.”
“Oh no.” Fallon laughs.
“Levi tries to lie his way out of it, but Mrs. White doesn’t take the bait. She demanded he donate all his gifts to charity so he’d learn a lesson.”
Fallon’s eyes widen. “Ouch.”
I sigh. “Trust me when I say I have never been able to live it down. All these years later, Lucy brings it up anytime she can.”