Page 126 of A Little Secret
I won’t let him.
Not even for me.
And so, before I can talk myself out of it, I blurt out, “Griff said you’re gonna pull your name.”
His jaw locks, but he doesn’t look at me, proving me right. “Of course he did.”
“You can’t.”
“Fin, I’ll be fine.”
“Let me clarify. I won’tlet youdo that.”
“You’re not the boss?—”
“Uh, first of all, I’m one hundred and ten percent the boss, but it’s cute you don’t think I am. Now, if you don’t promise me?—”
“It’s too late.”
My expression falls as my body tenses, and the familiar beat of my heart echoes in my ears. Too late? It can’t be toolate. He can’t throw his future away all because of me. All because I’m pregnant, and Griffin lied, saying he’s the father so he can stay close to me. To us.
“Ev—”
“I’m good, Fin,” he interrupts. “Raine’s good. I already talked to her, and?—”
“No. No, you’re not good, and Raine’s not good, and I’m not good?—”
“Fin—”
“Don’tFinme,” I snip, losing my earlier sass and replacing it with full-blown bitch mode because this is ridiculous. He can’t fall on a proverbial sword and sacrifice his future for me. It isn’t fair to him or Raine or…anyone. With a huff, I argue, “Yes, I am having a baby, and yes, it would be more convenient if Griffin was here, and yes, I would love to keep my same doctors, but I’m a big girl, and I’m more than capable of handling this pregnancy no matter where Griffin plays next season, so don’t you dare bend over backward under the guise of helping me when I’m the one who got into this mess in the first place, do you hear me?”
He smiles. It stretches slowly across his face and is almost genuine enough to cover the smallest hint of disappointment and resignation shining back at me. Almost.
“Love you, little sister.”
“Did you already pull your name?” I demand.
“Fin.”
“Did you already pull your name?” I repeat, elbowing him in the ribs. “Answer the question.”
“Not yet, but?—”
“No buts,” I snap. “And no talking. Not until I’m finished.”
His eye twitches, but he keeps his mouth shut.
“Good,” I say. “Now, you know me, and you know I canbe a hell of a lot more stubborn than you if I need to, so listen up and listen closely. I am a big girl. And you are a big boy. You are going to let me handle my future like a grown-up, and I’m going let you handle your future like a grown-up. Independently of each other. Do you know what that means?” I don’t wait for him to answer. I simply barrel forward. “It means you are not going to call Uncle Henry and pull your name. You’re going to accept the fact that you and Griffin played incredibly well tonight, and you are going to accept the fact that either one of you would be an excellent fit for the Lions. You’re also going to accept that, no matter the outcome, all parties will be excited for one another. And lastly, you are going to accept the fact that I do not need to be babied to be supported. You telling me you love me and offering to spoil my baby is all the support I want. Do you understand?”
His brows kick up as I finish my monologue. “Am I allowed to talk now?”
“Depends. Are you going to give me a hug and say you agree to my terms, or are you going to try and overstep your bounds like you usually do despite Raine’s insistence that you really are getting better about the whole overprotective thing?”
Eyes narrowing, he scratches his jaw. “Does Griff really find this cute?”
With a cheeky grin, I toss my hair over my shoulder. “First of all, I’m adorable?—”
“And a pain in the ass.”