Page 37 of A Little Secret

“Ecstatic might be a bit of a stretch, but you two will figure it out.”

“I’m glad someone’s sure,” I mutter.

“You love him,” he offers. “He loves you. You’ll figure it out because you have to. It’s what people do when they love each other. They figure shit out.”

I shouldn’t find his confidence annoying, but I kind of do. It’s like he’s saying two plus one equals three. And sure, it does, but only if it’s two plus one. What if I’m the only one who shows up? What if it’s two plus zero? Then the answer is two, and what if two isn’t enough? What if I’m not enough to hold this relationship—this family—together?

“I must’ve really knocked you on your ass,” he notes. “Breathe.”

“It’s just…You make it sound so simple.”

“Nothing in life is simple, Fin. And loving someone who’s a pain in the ass is tough as shit, but you’ll get through it.”

I smirk. “And here I thought you were referring to me being the pain in the ass, not Drew.”

“Depends on the day.” He bumps his shoulder against my bent knees still pressed to my chest. “But first, you have to tell him.”

Tell him. I have to…tell him. The idea alone makes me feel like an elephant is sitting on my chest, but I hate it because I know Griffin’s right. I know there’s only so much procrastination to be had, and I’ve already used it all up. Now it’s time to…pull on my big girl panties and face the music.

“Fine,” I murmur.

“Fine?” Griffin challenges, not even trying to hide his surprise at my compliance.

“Yes. Fine,” I grumble with a mock glare. “I’ll let you drive me to see Drew.”

“And Frankie?”

My nose bunches. “I mean, we might not be gone long. He could totally survive?—”

“Fin.”

“Fine, he can come, too, but only because my motherly instinct is starting to kick in, and it feels wrong to abandon him.”

He chuckles. “Well, all right, then.” He slaps his hands against his knees and shifts forward. “You should get some rest. We’ll leave early tomorrow.”

“What kind of early?”

“Four.”

“In the morning?” I screech.

“It’s a twenty-two-hour drive, Fin,” he reminds me as if I wasn’t the one to point it out minutes ago.

“Well, yeah, but…” My bottom lip juts out. “I really like my sleep.”

“Pretty sure Drew finding out he’s gonna be a dad is more important than your beauty sleep.”

“First of all, sir, I think that’s debatable,” I hmph. “But fine. I’ll just sleep in the car.”

He snorts. “What am I? Your chauffeur?”

With a grin, I say, “Apparently.” My smile falls. “There’s only one minor flaw in our plan.”

“Only one?” he quips.

I smack his chest. “Drew won’t like the idea of you driving me to his place.”

“I’ll keep my distance,” he offers. “He’ll never have to know I’m there.”