Page 22 of The Nicest Thing
I knew I needed to move, but my brain was not communicating with my body.My eyes widened as it came closer, but before I could panic, Finn's hand shot up.He plucked the ball out of the air like it was nothing.I exhaled heavily, and Finn's eyes were on me, his hands checking my shoulders, neck, face.
"Are you okay?" he said.
"Yeah," I said, nodding."Are you?
"I'm fine."
"That ball was moving fast.Your hand must hurt like a mother."
Finn shrugged then turned to the baseball players, a fierce frown on his face."What the hell is wrong with you?You could've hit her!"
"Nah man, we knew you'd catch it," Graves said confidently.
"Maybe you'll come play with us now?" Wasserman said.
Finn was not amused.
"I said"—the youngest O'Brien drew back his arm and fired the ball at the smiling player—"I'm busy."
The ball flew into the man's glove, and he winced.
Shaking his hand out, he said, "Why aren't you on the team again?"
Finn just shook his head before his eyes fell on me.His voice turned soft when he said, "You sure you're okay, Rose?Always tell the truth, remember?"
"Yeah," I said, standing up and backing away."Hey, I need to run to the bank.I should go.You go ahead and play."
"But—"
"Bye, Finn."
"Bye, Rose."
I sped walked to the parking lot, not stopping to take a breath until I was safely inside my car.The vision of Finn reaching in front of me to catch that ball replayed over and over in my mind.Why was that so…hot?I felt warm all over but tried to bring back some calm.I was almost there when I noticed the contract in my lap.Looking down, I re-read the words Finn had written.Our rule, one promise, one sentence that was supposed to preserve our friendship.
We always tell each other the truth.
I chuckled quietly, the sound a little sad, the irony not lost on me.
There was only one truth I'd withheld from Finn.
A lie by omission.
Looking back toward the field, I saw him and sighed.
My truth was this: I was in love with my best friend.
Had been for a very long time.
Though I'd tried to deny it, ignore it, stop it, I couldn't help feeling this way.
I was in love with Finn O'Brien—and he could never, ever know.
CHAPTER 4: Rose
"What did you just say?"
Director Redmond's slick smile didn't slip an inch as he said, "I think you heard me."
