Page 95 of Rules in Love
Those arrows all pointed at me. My anger was squarely focused on me. But I didn’t have a clue how to change directions.
“Penny for your thoughts.” Finn’s face popped in front of mine, and he planted a long, deep kiss on my lips. “Are you okay, Red? We’re okay?”
Swallowing my own needs again, I plastered the brightest smile on my face and lied. “Yeah. Yeah, of course we are, Silly Billy. Everything is fine.” I returned the kiss and continued to do so until Ben and Iris appeared by our side, my son looking unimpressed.
“Eww. Are you ever gonna stop kissing?”
“Hmmm, let me think.” Finn kissed me again, a nosy, sloppy, gross-even-for-me one. Ben pretended to gag, and Iris swooned. “Nope. Never stopping.”
“Awe you two going to get mawwied and have babies?”
“Ohh, good question, Iris. Answer your daughter, Finn.” I rested my elbows on my knees, propped my chin on my hands, and waited.
“Uhh, I…well… How about, for now, we do this instead? Let’s go to the Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center together. Remember the big one I showed you on the telly, Iris? That would be fun, wouldn’t it?”
“Hmm, that would be fun…but that’s ages away. I want something now, Dad!”
“I hate to burst your bubble, kiddo, but babies take much longer. I’m sure you can wait for a couple of weeks.” Iris flopped to the ground with disappointment.
“I have an idea. Thanksgiving isn’t too far away. Ben and I didn’t celebrate either last year, and you two were still chasing kangaroos in Australia. Why don’t we make this American holiday season our first official one and spend it together?”
That did the trick. Iris’s lethargy disappeared, and she was up on her feet, flossing with joy, and back on the playground, and I got my people-pleasing dopamine fix.
“Nice save, Red.” Finn smiled with relief.
“Thanks. I could see you were shitting bricks. Now I have a question.”
“Am I gonna shit myself again? God, it’s not about babies, is it?”
“Relax, your little swimmers are safe for now.”ASK HIM ABOUT THE PLAN.“It’s about…turkeys and if you know how to cook one.”
Finn
“Where have you been, Finn? Iris is almost frozen solid.”What is with women asking me where I’ve been?
“Yes, thank you, Evie, but I do know how to take care of my child.”
“Oh my God. I never said you didn’t. I was just—”
Nate walked up behind Evie and dragged her away. “Let him be, Lil Gidge. He’s a big boy. He knows what he’s doing.”
Lil Gidge?The affection sent a shiver to my core.
The nauseating lovebirds headed toward the kitchen, but I reached for Evie’s arm and squeezed her hand. “Guys, wait, I need to talk to you.” I turned to Iris, picked her up, and gave her a quick kiss and cuddle. “Thanks for a fun night, bubs, but it’s time to get ready for bed.”
“Aww, okay. Love you, Daddy. I weally like Scawett. She’s weally pwetty.” I was kissed again and watched my baby waddle off to her room.
Evie eyed me with suspicion. “Iris met Scarlett? You were so dead against it. What brought that on?”
“You and your big mouth did, sis, and for once, that trap of yours was right. I owe you an apology. You too, Nate.”
“Well, well, I’m all ears.” Evie sat on the couch and crossed her arms, legs, and face.
“You’re not going to make this easy on me, are you?”
Evie shook her hair, her blonde curls tickling Nate’s face. He really seemed to enjoy it, almost basking in each golden swish. I didn’t. “Nope. I don’t get an apology from you often. I’m gonna make this count.”
“Jesus Christ,” I mumbled under my breath as I sat before my sister and my best friend. “As much as it makes me want to vomit and gouge my eyes out, I accept that you two are a couple and that there is a chance you may actually be good together.”
