Page 112 of A Little Secret
“What the hell was that, Griff?” she finally demands.
“That was me saving your ass.”
She scoffs. “No, it was you sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong.”
Ignoring the sharpness in her words, I murmur, “You don’t need to feel stupid.”
Her jaw drops. “I don’t?—”
“You do. It’s why you’re acting like a brat.”
Hurt hits her eyes, but she only lifts her chin in defiance. “Maybe acting like a brat comes naturally to me.”
“No, you’re using it as a defense mechanism,” I argue. “And even though I usually find it cute as hell, I’m gonna need you to breathe.”
Glaring at me, she snaps, “Don’t tell me what to do!”
“Your brother’s out of line, Fin.”
“Duh.” She folds her arms, avoiding my gaze and looking…small. Uncomfortable. Hurt.
“And he had no right to call you irresponsible,” I add, “especially when we both know he’s hooked up with a shit-ton more people than you ever have.”
“Yet it’s always the girl's fault for winding up pregnant, right?” She scoffs again and stares out the bedroom window. “Talk about a double standard.”
“You’re right. And I’ll talk to him about it?—”
“I don’t need you to stand up to my older brother for me. I’m more than capable of putting him in his place.”
With a smirk, I step closer. “No one’s doubting you.”
“Yet here you are, telling people you’re the father?” She laughs and covers her face with her hands. “Seriously, Griff? Don’t get me wrong. I appreciate your…chivalry or whatever, but no one’s going to believe?—”
“Why not?”
She drops her hands to her lap and looks up at me. “Well, like I already pointed out, the math doesn’t exactly add up. I mean, we could probably get away with it for now until the baby comes two months early, you know? Wow, that’s a pretty big preemie, guys,” she mocks.
“Already covered that,” I argue. “We lie and say we slept together before you officially broke things off with Drew.”
“So, I cheated.”
“You and Drew took a break, which is when you fell for my charm. Then, Drew came groveling back, and because you have a heart of gold, you decided to give him another chance. But, when he found out about our little…rendezvous, he asked you to keep your distance from me.” Stepping closer, I nudge her chin up with my knuckle and give her a lopsided smirk. “It works out that your ex was a controlling dick who didn’t want us to be friends anymore.”
“And I’m not a cheater.”
“Exactly.”
Her lips purse. “Okay, let’s say they do believe it. It still makes zero sense for you to make up something like this. I know you care about me, and I care about you more than you’ll ever know, but…”
“But what, Fin?” I push.
Grabbing my wrist, she lowers my hand from her chin and wets her lips. “What if it doesn’t work out?”
“It’s gonna?—”
“You don’t know that,” she argues. “Yes, things feel pretty freaking perfect right now, but why in the world would you sign up to be my...beard or whatever? And to what end? Ope.” She snaps her fingers and drops her voice a couple octaves. “Looks like you and I aren’t as great of a fit as we’d thought, and I fell in love with someone elseandfound my future wife. Peace out, fake baby mama.” The girl gives me two thumbs up. “Yeah, that sounds like a brilliant idea with zero chances of blowing up in our faces.”
“Who says this won’t work?” I demand. “And who says I’m gonna fall in love with someone else? Look, you told me you’re scared to do this alone?—”