Page 90 of Strictly Business

“I’m an asshole?” I scoff and look toward the Heavens for some kind of answer. All I receive is a twinkle of a nearby star. “You’re telling me, David gets a pass to be a narcissist for four-fucking-years, but when I call you out—”

“He’s still my husband,” Michaela cries. “Finn, I'm sorry, but we have so much history and–"

“You know what, Michaela? I get it."

Except, I don't get it. I don't understand how she could even consider going back to that asshole. I guess it’s not for me to understand. As long as she does, that’s all that matters. At least, that’s what I’m going to tell myself.

"I want you to be happy.” I lean in close, our faces mere inches apart, and I can hear the small hitch of her breath. “Is getting back together with your ex-husband going to make you happy?"

"He's not my ex-husband,” she stutters. I’m certain there’s a tinge of red in her cheeks, but it’s too dark to tell.

"Pretty damn much." She takes a step back into the stone wall when my voice rises, and I pinch the bridge of my nose. "Is that going to make you happy, Michaela?" I look up to meet her gaze. It’s wavering and conflicted. It tells the truth even though she won’t. This isn’t what she wants, and I know it, she knows it, but she’s too damn stubborn to admit it. I take the two steps between us, caging her against the wall with my arms, and lean in, my breath on her lips. “Is it?”

Michaela hesitates.

Her lips barely brush against mine and I’m about to close the gap between us…

I step back.

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you, Shortcake?” I shake my head. “You want me to kiss you, to make the decision for you. I’m not going to make it easy on you this time, Michaela. You wanna know something? Old me would have fucked you up against this wall in front of the entire guest list.” Her breathing ragged as if I had done just that. “But I’m not going to do that, and I will not make this decision for you. You want to say you’ve grown up?” I lean forward, my lips ghosting the shell of her ear earning a small whimper. “Prove it.” I pull away and turn on my heel without looking back.

I hasten my steps through the garden trying to get out as fast as possible, everything in me screams to turn around. Go back into that garden to show her why this is not a good idea…

I can’t believe she’s going to do this — go back to David. Has she forgotten the past few months? Has she just erased everything he’s said and done to her?

He’s still my husband.

What a bullshit reason to—

“Dean, stop!” A feminine voice says and a giggle follows the soft command. “Someone could see us.”

“Don’t worry, sweetheart. No one is gonna come looking.” Across the landscape, I see Dean catching up to a woman in a burnt orange colored dress.

“Not even that girl you were dancing with?”

“What girl?”

“That one bridesmaid.”

“Rae?” He chuckles. “No, she’s just my best friend.”

I roll my eyes at Dean’s antics. Of course, he’s sneaking away with some girl. Too bad he can’t see what’s right in front of him. It’s only a matter of time before Rae gets tired of his shit.

Dean pulls the girl close, but she whispers something and takes off again leaving him behind. He chuckles to himself before catching my eye. He smirks and shrugs with such nonchalantness, it makes me queasy. It reminds me of… Well, it reminds me of a younger me. I force a slight nod and keep moving.

“Where the fuck is Josh?” I mumble. I need to get out of here. Scratch that, I need to get a drink and then get out of here. I need to— “Shit! I’m so sorry, I— Nina?” Not exactly who I expected to see coming back from our little escapade, but I’m not entirely shocked either. I clear my throat and step back, “What are you doing out here? Shouldn’t you be enjoying the final moments of your wedding?”

“Oh, I needed some air.” Nina offers a knowing smile, “Care to join me?”

I want nothing more than to decline her offer and get out of here, but despite the growing pit in my stomach, I can’t refuse. She takes my arm when I extend it and leads me alongside the garden’s edge.

It’s quiet for a beat until she asks, “You okay?”

“Of course, why would—”

“Finn, I know…about her and David.” Of course, she does. It doesn’t surprise me Michaela would tell her first. What does surprise me is how okay she seems about it. “She told me a few days ago. She was going to tell everyone else tomorrow.”

“Why didn’t you tell me, Nin?”

---