Page 62 of A Little Secret
Maverick and Ophelia cheer us on from beneath a bundle of mistletoe hanging off the gutter while Dylan laughs her ass off a few feet in front of us. She’s trying to stay on Reeves’ back, her glasses askew, when he tumbles to the icy ground.
“Shot!” I yell as we race past them.
When Griffin reaches the edge of the hot tub, he looks over his shoulder at me, and I nod. “Now or never.”
Hot water soaks through our clothes as we stumble into the hot tub and position ourselves under the mistletoe, the timer counting down on the big red clock, contrasting with the dark sky.
Steam swirls around us, and I stare at the bold red numbers.
Five, four, three?—
“Happy New Year, Fin,” Griffin murmurs.
I lift my head and meet his gaze. His eyes are glassy from the alcohol, his hair is mussed, and a lazy, crooked smile teases the edge of his mouth but doesn't rise to the surface. Not fully. I’m pretty sure he’s never been sexier. “Happy New Year, Griff.”
He leans closer, and I swear he’s going to kiss me, but I turn my head at the last second, letting his lips brush against my cheek instead. My chest caves in disappointment while everyone squeals around me, cheering in the new year.
Everyone but Griffin.
I gave him the cheek. Why did I give him the cheek? Oh, wait. I know why. Because he’s Everett’s best friend. He has a future. He means something. I did the right thing. I know I did the right thing.
Didn’t I?
The air around us crackles as he slowly pulls away.
“You’re a good actor, Fin,” he rasps. “So good, I almost forgot how well you push people away.”
Grabbing the edge of his coat, I force him to look at me. “You’re the one who rejected me last night, remember?”
“I’m also the one who held you as you cried and kept us both in check so you wouldn’t do something you’d regret. Guess I made the right choice, huh?” Scanning the yard, he yells, “Boyle!” and lifts our cuffed hands into the air. “Where’s the key?”
The guy rushes forward. Standing on the edge of the hot tub, he unlocks the handcuffs, careful not to get wet, unlike Griff and me who are soaked from chest to toe. As soon as Griffin’s free, he trudges away, his soaked clothes clinging to his body, and even though I’m standing in the middle of piping hot water, both figuratively and literally, I’ve never felt more cold.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
FINLEY
He isn’t talking to me. We’re back to square one. Only this time, I’m the person to blame. Not Drew. Only me and the baby in my uterus. I stand in front of the mirror and press my hand to my lower stomach. It doesn’t look any different. Doesn’t feel any different. If I hadn’t heard the baby’s heart beat, I wouldn’t believe it myself. A small part of me still doesn’t believe it. I can’t be pregnant. I can’t be. It’s like the size of a blueberry. So small and inconsequential, yet earth-shattering, too, and I know my world will never be the same.
“Knock, knock!” someone calls.
My attention flicks to the locked door. I lower my T-shirt and open it.
“Hi,” Ophelia greets me. She’s sporting her dad’s baseball hat, her messy, strawberry-blonde hair falling around her shoulders.
“Hey.”
“So, Dylan and I were thinking…” Her voice trails off.
“Yes?”
“Well, since the girls’ side of the duplex is officiallydone, and you’re moving out next weekend, what if we have a girls’ night tonight? Maybe a sleepover in the family room? The boys are leaving for a couple of away games, so the timing is perfect. Maybe you can convince Grandma Taylor to give you the famous chocolate chip cookie recipe, too?” Her eyebrows bounce up and down, making me laugh.
“Sure. I’ll see what I can do.”
“Yes!”
When she pulls me into a hug, I return it, letting my body sag against hers.