Page 65 of Strictly Business
Looking over the Hudson, my mind wanders back to last Tuesday. Everything was perfect from the music to the food to him. “You know, this is my favorite place in the museum,” I said, walking through the maze of sculptures, feeling like I was amongst friends. He stood on the other side of the La Crainte des Traits de l’Amour, a sculpture from 18th-century France, watching.
“I know,” he said plainly, and when I looked over my shoulder a blush crept into my cheeks when our eyes met.
Finn is everything I always wanted David to be but never was — it’s not even fair to try and compare the two.
Strong arms wrap around my waist before he kisses my temple. I lean back into his warm embrace, and he steals my mug taking a sip of coffee. "Finn!" I smack his chest ripping it back from his hands and holding it close to my chest. "Michaela doesn't share coffee."
"There's plenty in the pot, Shortcake," he mumbles against my forehead, and it's only then I realize he's fully dressed in a white button-down with black pants.
"Going somewhere?"
"Gotta meet Nina quick, then I'm all yours." Another kiss to my forehead.
"Nina?"
"I have a few things to go over with her. We’re meeting at her office at Designs, then heading to the venue; she wants to walk it before the fundraiser next week.” Finn shrugs a sand-colored blazer over his shoulders and uses the floor mirror in the hallway to double-check his appearance.
“I’m supposed to meet Josh for lunch,” I say, wiping a piece of dust from his shoulder. “But I shouldn’t be too long; I don’t think he’ll want to stick around for much conversation.” He leans in for a kiss. Before our lips meet, three knocks sound through the condo. We share the same questioning glance. Paul never called to confirm whether to let someone up. The list of people allowed up without prior consent is very small… “I got it,” I say tugging on the hem of his button-down from yesterday, but it’s already reached max coverage. I pray this is just Paul bringing something up or a neighbor hoping to get a cup of sugar. I shouldn’t assume it’s someone we know, someone who doesn’t know about us or my divorce. Opening the door, my heart stops. No fucking way. It takes a moment for the other person to register the scene before him – his eyes move from my face to the coffee mug in my hands to my clothing (or lack thereof).
“Who is it?" I hear Finn’s footsteps behind me falter when he meets my brother’s venomous gaze.
Chapter Thirty-Three
MICHAELA
"WHAT THE FUCK?" JOSH practically growls, his eyes shooting daggers into Finn. He looks between us unsure who he should lay into first.
"Josh–"
"No," he stops me. "I don't want to hear your shit, Michaela."
Finn pulls me behind him trying to shield me from my brother’s wrath.
"What the fuck is going on here, Sheffield?" The look on my brother's face breaks my heart. I don't think I've ever seen him look so hurt, so betrayed, so furious. "This better not be what I think it is."
Finn sighs, straightening his broad shoulders. He's preparing to take the brunt of this, but it's not even his fault. This is only happening because of me. Because I was too scared to be honest. Because I wasn’t ready for everyone to know the truth. Because I waited to tell my brother about the divorce, about Finn. I half expect him to shake off my touch when I reach for his hand, but he doesn't. He accepts it, lacing our fingers together, and squeezes gently.
"You bastard!" Josh lunges, and Finn pushes me away before Josh’s fist connects with his face.
"Josh!" I scream.
"How could you do this, Michaela?" His fury turns on me blocking me from Finn. And fuck, if the look of pure disappointment doesn't almost kill me right here and now. "How could you cheat on David?"
How could I cheat on David? Doesn't he know me better than that?
“Josh, what is wrong with you?”
“What’s wrong with me? You’re the one—”
“This is what I wanted to talk to you about at lunch.”
“At lunch,” Josh scoffs. “Michaela, this isn’t something you casually throw out over some sandwiches.”
"Get the fuck out." I shove him towards the door, but he plants his feet. “Josh, you need to leave, right now. If you don’t get the fuck out, I’ll call the police.” He doesn’t believe me; hell, I wouldn’t believe me. Usually, I’d never even think about threatening my brother with something so drastic, but right now I’d do anything to get him away from here. He needs to calm down. Needs to breathe so he can think rationally. “You just assaulted your best friend, and for what? Your adult sister making adult decisions? You can’t just come in swinging!”
Slowly, his grip loosens on my wrist, and I turn to check on Finn. I pull his hand from his face to examine the damage done — a bruise already forming on his left cheek near his jaw. There is some coverage from his stubble, but not enough.
When his brown eyes meet mine, my heart breaks in two. This is exactly what he didn't want, what he was afraid of. We knew Josh might have trouble accepting our relationship at first. I thought I could break it to him slowly and not with Finn around. Thought that would help lessen the blow.