Page 46 of Hound Dog
“Shhhhh. Maisie, God. My head…” I groaned, turning off my keyboard and putting away the sheet music from my nine o’clock lesson this morning.
“Oops, sorry!” she lowered her voice substantially, but it still wasn’t quiet enough for this freaking hangover. Not after listening to an hour long lesson of a girl belting her little heart out on some Les Mis.
“It’s just… you and Benneversing together.”
“Yeah, because Ben’s not a singer.”
“Neither is Finn, though, right? He’s a… what is it he does again?”
“He’s a matchmaker.” I smirked, knowing he would hate being called a matchmaker.
I grabbed a bottle of Ibuprofen and popped the cap off. Even though I had taken a couple when I first woke up, I needed more to help with this pounding headache, even though I’d only had one stupid drink last night.
That was the thing when you didn’t drink a lot… one strong beverage could do you in.
“What’d you wear last night?”
My eyes flicked to the discarded miniskirt on the floor of my bedroom. It was way too short, and judging from the way Finn had stared at my legs all night, it didn’t go unnoticed.
A shiver jetted down my spine at the memory of his searing green eyes locked onto me.
“Something inappropriate,” I answered with a sigh.
Maisie grinned. “That’s my girl.”
“Maisie, no. It was bad. I have a boyfriend.”
“Yeah, a boyfriend who didn’t come help you when the only family you have left had an emergency.”
Her snort was one I’d heard a million times when the subject of Ben came up. It was hard enough that Aunt Meryl and Freckles didn’t like him. But the fact that Maisie hated him too was almost too much to bear.
“Maisie…”
She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah. I know. Youloooooovehim.”
I gulped. That was usually what I said to her in response. But today was different. I wasn’t sure if it was Finn or Aunt Meryl or what. But I didn’t really feel like defending Ben.
“Maybe,” I said, my voice cracking.
She went silent, standing so still that I thought for a second the screen had frozen. Finally, she repeated, “Maybe?Wow. That’s… that’s big.”
Emotion clogged my throat. I wasn’t good at change. “I don’t know, okay? I’ve never had someone else come into the picture and make me question things with Ben before, you know?”
“Is that what Finn’s doing? Making you question?”
Yes.“No. Not exactly. But to your point, Ben should have been here with me. At least for a couple days. And Finn’s just been surprisingly helpful. What does it say about me, about us, that a guy I hate is being more supportive in my time of need than my boyfriend?”
“Okay, listen to me Haylee. You know I’m not Ben’s number one fan. But I love you and want you to be happy. So just… be careful. Don’t give up on Ben because there’s a hot guy giving you attention.”
I rolled my eyes. “That’s not what this is about.”
“I know. I know. Ben is coming for your birthday, right?”
With my nod, she continued. “Give him that chance, okay? Then if you’re still doubting your relationship, you know I’ll be the first one to throw you a Haylee’s Single Party!”
I chuckled. “Thanks, Maze.”
“Anytime. And as for Finn? You better only wear sweatpants and zit cream in front of that boy from now on. At least until your decision is made.”
