Page 35 of Falling for Finn

“Works for me. The less I have to listen to her squeaky voice, the better.”

That makes me snort. “She wasn’t always so damn annoying.”

She gives me adoubt itlook. “You were probably too blinded by love to see it.”

Probably true.

Before we leave, I say hello and goodbye to my grandparents. They chat with the guests while they check in. Thanks to Aspen’s loud mouth, my grandma thinks Oakley’s my girlfriend, so now we have to play the part when she’s around too.

“You two make the sweetest couple,” she gushes. “Are you planning to date long distance, or are you moving here?” She directs her question at Oakley, and again, I feel awful that she’s put on the spot, so I quickly chime in.

“We’re still figuring things out, Grandma. Nothing’s set in stone.” I wrap my arm around Oakley, pulling her into my side. She snakes her arm behind me and pinches my waist.

“I’ll be visiting often,” Oakley tells her.

“That’s great to hear.” My grandma smiles.

After we escape the inn, we unglue ourselves on the way to my truck.

“I finished that painting,” she tells me once we’re buckled.

“Yeah? I’ll have to find a place to hang it. There’s a nice empty wall above the toilet.”

She punches my bicep as I drive us out of the parking lot. “You better not. I don’t want you thinking of me when you’re taking a piss.”

I chuckle at how easy it is to push her buttons.

Once we’re at my house, I get out and walk inside with her.

“Wow…” My brows shoot up when I see the finished painting. “It’s…breathtaking.”

I glance at her wide smile, admiring the other beautiful thing in my house.

“I’m glad you like it. I’ll find a place to hang it because I don’t trust you.”

Chuckling, I shrug. “Go ahead.” As long as it’s not in my bedroom because that will haunt me long after she’s gone.

I wash my hands in the sink, then as I dry them, I turn toward her. “Oakley.” I grab her attention. “I’m sorry for last night. I shouldn’t have acted how I did or treated you that way.”

She lowers her eyes as if she hadn’t expected me to apologize, but I can admit when I’m wrong. Even to her.

“Thanks. Sorry for getting on you for being a slob. I was talking to my sister and complaining about how you didn’t offer me any pizza, and my frustration snapped when you came in.”

She meets my gaze, and I frown. “You mean when you were painting and listening to your porno book?”

She shoots me a glare. “I’d been working for hours and was starving.”

I scrub a hand over my scruffy jawline, feeling like shit for not asking if she was hungry. “I figured you’d help yourself to the food in my fridge like you do with everything else around here.”

“Or you were worked up from all the panting and moaning.” She smirks.

I shake my head, not jumping into another battle with her. “I’ll be back in a few, then I’ll shower and get ready for the worst date of my life.”

She gasps. “I take offense to that! I’m a great date, thank youverymuch. Even when I end up with assholes like you.”

Oakley flashes a cheeky grin.

“It’s not arealdate,” I remind her. “It doesn’t count.”

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