Page 11 of Strictly Business

So much for today being relaxing.

“Is it just me, or does everyone seem a little on edge?” Alex asks, plopping down on the couch next to me.

“Definitely not just you.” I follow Finn’s movements as he plays some imaginary game with Ophelia in the corner. She screams with delight as he swoops her off her feet, spinning in a circle, and crashing into the large pillow fort she had built with Dad earlier. Ophelia lands on top of him when they fall, and she uses her body to cover his chest, giggling the whole time. Uncle Jimmy appears from the kitchen and counts to three declaring Ophelia the winner.

“I beat you, Uncle Finn!”

Since when is he Uncle Finn?

Alex pokes me in the arm pulling my attention away from the duo. “Hello, earth to Michaela.”

“Huh? Sorry, what’d you say?”

“I asked if David was in D.C. this weekend?”

“Probably.”

“Probably? You mean, you don’t know?”

“I think he said they were traveling this weekend. He doesn’t tell me everything, you know. He was home for a day last week, that’s the most I’ve seen of him.”

Good Michaela, really good, keep digging the hole deeper.

“That’s why you’re so on edge — haven’t gotten any action lately?”

I roll my eyes. “For your information, the only thing bothering me right now is the fact my brother invited that asshole to the party.”

“Who, Finn? Oh, you’ve got to be kidding, Mic. Are you still hating on him? It’s been like ten years.”

“Your point?”

“Grow up,” he laughs.

“You should stop staring, might give someone the wrong idea,” Finn interrupts before I have a chance to tell Alex to fuck off. Looking around, the room had cleared out leaving only the three of us.

“I was making sure you weren’t being inappropriate with my niece.”

“Michaela,” Alex hisses.

Finn looks unimpressed with my comeback, and honestly, so am I. It was lame, but what else am I supposed to say? I was staring.

“Finn, she didn’t mean that.”

“I know she didn’t.” The smirk that spreads across his lips infuriates me. “She can’t admit to staring at me, now can she? Like I said, might give someone the wrong idea.”

“In your dreams, Sheffield,” I scoff.

“You have no idea, Shortcake.” Finn’s voice drops lower than I’ve ever heard before, and it sends a shock straight to my core. He winks and holds my gaze for a second too long before turning back to Alex. “Josh still in the kitchen?”

“He and Dad went to his office before I came in here,” Alex says skeptically. When Finn is out of earshot Alex turns to me with a wide look. “Did really he just say that?”

“Don’t take it to heart. He’s always saying shit to get under my skin.”

“But he—”

“Wouldn’t be the first time, probably won’t be the last.” I finish the rest of my sangria before leaving him to get a refill.

“Oh good,” Elizabeth says when I walk into the kitchen. “Can you grab Nina?” She swipes crumbs from the counter into the palm of her hand before washing it down with a sanitary wipe. “She was on the phone out front, we’re about to do cake.”

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