Page 14 of Falling for Finn

“Oakley Benson. She’s the painter my grandma hired. She’s also mygirlfriend.”

I don’t know why those words come out of my mouth, but I say them with my full chest. Before Oakley can react, I interlock my fingers with hers. I’m relieved when she moves closer to me and smiles. Oakley goes on her tiptoes and places a kiss on my cheek, adding the perfect touch to this lie.

I see something flicker behind Aspen’s eyes—anger, jealousy, disbelief that I moved on from her.

“Oh my God! You’re such acutecouple. How long have you been together?” Aspen’s squeaky voice can nearly be heard across the farm.

“Um…it’s recent,” Oakley says.

“Like a month,” I interject because I know Aspen’s already mining for information. It’s how she manipulates people into thinking she cares.

“If you’re dating, why can’t she sleep at your place?” Aspen asks, and I wish I had thought of that before I blurted out those words.

“Not that it’s your business, but we’re taking things slow. You’ll need to find somewhere else to stay,” I say firmly.

Her nose scrunches, and she pouts as if she’s not used to being told no. “You know the inn is fully booked for the celebration. And all the hotels in Maplewood Falls are already booking with out-of-towners for the fall festival.”

“Did you look outside of the area?”

She scowls. “Of course I didn’t. I came here as a favor for your family and didn’t worry about accommodations because?—”

“Because youassumedyou’d have a place to stay. Not our problem. You can always sleep in your Mercedes.”

Aspen scowls, shaking her head furiously. “Absolutely not. How dare you even suggest that after everything we’ve been through?”

“The past doesn’t matter anymore,” I snap.

Before Aspen can argue, Oakley clears her throat. “If you have nowhere else to go, you can have the cottage. I’ll stay at Finn’s. That okay,baby?”

Oakley wears a cute little smirk, and I shoot daggers at her, wondering what the hell she’s doing. This wasn’t a part of the plan, but then I remember there was no plan. Still, she doesn’t have to be so nice. Aspen doesn’t deserve the courtesy.

“Thank you.” Aspen beams, satisfied to have gotten her way. “Now that’s settled, I guess we’ll see each other around. Oh, do either of you have the keys to the cottage? I’d like to drop off my luggage before going to the bakery to get started.”

“I’m not handing them over until I pack myoverly generousgirlfriend’s things.”

Oakley smiles wide. “Gah, you’re the best. Isn’t he thesweetest?”

“Yeah, he is. Finn was always so thoughtful.” Aspen’s gaze lingers on me, and it takes every ounce of control I have not to tell her to fuck off.

“He is.” Oakley turns to me. “The bestboyfriendI could’ve ever asked for. It’s like one day, I woke up, and boom, we’re dating.” Oakley’s tone says it all—she’s pissed.

Aspen doesn’t seem to notice the tension between Oakley and me, so I’m convinced she buys it.

“I’ll meet you at the cottage, then,” Aspen tells me before walking to her car. Once she drives away, I release Oakley’s hand like it’s burned my skin.

“What the hell were you thinking?” She scowls, crossing her arms. “What’re we going to do now?”

“There is nowe. You’re going into the inn to eat dinner while I deal with Satan.”

“You don’t want me to join you?”

“No, you haven’t eaten since lunch. Plus, you’ll have a better time listening to my grandmother talk about the birds she saw in the backyard this afternoon than having Aspen grill you about our relationship. And trust me, she will.”

She’s nothing if not predictable.

Oakley pulls the cottage keys from her pocket and places them in my palm. “Be careful with my shit and pack it with care. Also, you’rewelcomefor going along with your idiotic idea, and you now owe me big time.”

I shake my head, cursing under my breath as Oakley walks inside.

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