Page 112 of Hound Dog
But the truth was, she also deserved so much better than me.
Ahellof a lot better than me.
If my dad couldn’t make six marriages work, then what were the chances that I could do any better?
I ached. I actually ached as I watched Haylee from across the room, chatting with her friends. Because I knew I’d never be enough for her. I’d never be able to give her what she needed. How the hell was I supposed to be in a healthy, equal partnership when I never grew up with one?
I rubbed my exhausted, burning eyes. I needed to get it together and go talk to her. Because even though I knew I had to end it with her, tonight wasn’t the night for that.
Tonight was a celebration.
I wasn’t a monster. Our breakup could wait until tomorrow.
Across the room, she stood chatting with her friend, her delicate fingers cradling a glass of red wine. Tipping her head back, she laughed, and it was the most beautiful, genuine sound.
She wasn’t even shaken by what just happened with Ben.
Her friend pinched her cheeks, then walked a few steps to get Addy’s attention and order another drink.
This was my moment to slip in. With a deep breath, I crossed the few steps toward Haylee.
She met me with a huge smile and slipped her arms around my waist. “Hey, you.”
I tried to smile back but could feel how weak it was. “Hey back.”
“I’ve been texting you all day.”
“I know, I’m sorry—” I started to say, but she cut me off.
“No,I’msorry. I shouldn’t have said all that this morning. This stuff with my dad is overwhelming, but that’s no excuse to take it out on you.”
I squeezed her tighter into the hug. “You didn’t take it out on me. You were right. I’ve been a coward this whole time, not confronting my dad.”
She closed her eyes and shook her head. “Finn, no. God, I’m an asshole. You’renota coward.”
“Hey, birthday girl,” I cupped her jaw, a shudder tearing through my chest as I touched her face. Would this be the last time I ever got to hold her? To touch her? “Don’t talk like that. Not on your special day. Not ever. You’re not an asshole.”
Her friend popped her head back into the conversation with a new pink mixed cocktail in hand. “Who called you an asshole?” she asked. “Was it Ben? BecauseBen’sthe asshole.”
I grinned and offered her my fist to bump. “No argument there.”
Haylee rolled her eyes, but still smiled. “Finn, this is my best friend, Maisie.”
“Maisie! It’s so nice to meet you, finally,” I said. “I’ve heard a lot about the famous Maisie who pulled the fire alarms in high school to get out of taking midterms.”
She held out her hands. “The one and only. And they never officially caught me! Even though they suspected.”
Haylee rolled her eyes. “And she’s the reason they put security cameras in every corner of that school.”
“Well, when you start selling your dad’s old Playboys out of your locker, the faculty get a little intense about their security,” Maisie said, taking a swig of her cocktail.
A laugh tore from my throat. “Shut up. You ran a porn shop out of your locker?”
Maisie curtseyed. “I was pretty much responsible for every unrealistic body standard and sex fantasy to come out of that school.”
I snorted a looked to Haylee. “Um… congratulations? I guess?”
Reaching out, Maisie tapped the edge of her glass to mine. “Cheers to that.”
