Page 69 of Strictly Business
“DAYUMMMM,” COLIN DRAWS OUT the last syllable of the word catching sight of my face.
It has been three days since Josh unexpectedly knocked on my door, but the discoloration has shown little sign of retreat. The morning of my board meeting, Michaela spent a good thirty minutes applying (and reapplying) concealer and foundation trying to cover it. Luckily, no one on the board seemed to notice, and Nina seemed happy enough with Michaela’s work when I walked into her office.
Colin sets the bag of to-go food on the island before coming closer to get a better look at me. “What happened to you?”
“Josh,” I say. Josh and I still haven’t spoken, and I suspect it’s because Josh doesn’t want to be first to wave the white flag and I don’t want to get punched again.
“Let’s just say my brother wasn’t too happy when I answered the door the other morning,” Michaela says walking out of the bedroom freshly showered and dressed in a pair of high-waisted jean shorts and one of my black t-shirts. She’s supposed to meet Caitlin and Liv for lunch. I’m sure they heard through the grapevine that I’d shown up at Nina’s office with a bruised face.
“You’re joking,” Colin answers with a hint of disbelief. His wide eyes move from her to me looking for confirmation.
“I wish she was.” I lean over the island cradling my head in my hands. “Josh showed up Wednesday morning and Michaela may or may not have answered the door in my shirt.”
“That’s not so bad; at least she wasn’t naked.”
“Only in my shirt.”
“Oh, dude,” Colin laughs. “You’re lucky you’re not six feet under. I would’ve murdered you had it been me.”
“In our defense,” Michaela says over her shoulder pulling a water bottle from the fridge, “Josh showed up unannounced.” She takes a long sip and kisses my unblemished cheek. “I’ll tell Liv and Cait you said hi.”
“Give them all the juicy details,” I say.
She grabs her purse and gives me a quick kiss. “Behave yourselves, boys,” she says before leaving.
When she’s gone, Colin lets out a low whistle. “Can’t wait ’til Knox hears about this.”
“He can’t make it today,” I say tearing into the plastic bag, my mouth watering from the thought of Mr. Joseph’s Panang curry.
“He can’t make it, or you didn’t invite him?”
The three of us were supposed to meet at the court for a game and head over to Benny’s afterward for lunch, but considering my…condition, I decided it was best to stay in. I didn’t want to risk further injury before the fundraiser next weekend and Colin seemed more than happy to swap a day in the sun for a day inside with take-out and video games. I told Knox we’d have to reschedule; something came up at work.
“He doesn’t need to know about this,” I say handing Colin his to-go container. “What kind of an example am I setting if he knows I got this for lying to my best friend about dating his sister?”
“Well, you wouldn’t have to worry about it had you just told Josh,” Colin shrugs digging into his Pad Thai. “I believe this is what they call fuck around and find out.”
“I wanted to.” I pull two beers from the fridge passing one to him. “I wanted to tell him, Nina, Nick…all of them, but Mic hadn’t even told them about the divorce.”
“Please tell me they know now.” He puts his hands up in defense when I shoot him a glare. “I’m just asking.”
“She told her parents but asked them not to tell Josh. She wanted to do it. I respect wanting to tell him in person, but— I don’t know, it felt like she kept putting it off.”
“Was she?” Colin lifts his brow taking a sip of his beer.
“I don’t think so… I don’t know. I like to think it was just bad timing.”
“You sure she’s totally over this ex of hers?”
“You met the guy,” I laugh, but Colin doesn’t.
“I’m serious, Finn. She’s coming out of a marriage, that’s tough shit. Are you sure she’s not using you as some rebound?”
Dumping my rice onto a plate, I spoon some curry on top before taking a large bite. I can’t lie, the thought has crossed my mind once or twice. I was there when she needed someone to get her mind off David, but she wouldn’t have stuck around and told her parents if she wasn’t serious, right?
“Finn—”
“Yes,” I stop him. “I’ve thought about it, but— Colin, I don’t think that’s what this is. She’s told her parents, and now Josh knows… We’re going to Nick and Nina’s wedding together.”