Page 99 of The Nicest Thing
Unlike myself.
I gave a mental sigh, and almost as if she'd heard it, Ana linked her arm with mine.
"Back off, Margot," she said."She's working on it."
"Clearly," Margot snarked, gesturing to the other side of the yard.
We watched as the chili pepper eating contest commenced.The other guys were hamming it up, flexing, cracking their necks side to side.I shouldn't have been surprised.But Finn didn't flinch.Even as he ate the third chili pepper.Then a fourth…seventh…thirteenth.I lost track after that, wasn't sure how many they were on, but it came down to Angelo and Finn.The others were talking smack as they stared at each other.Angelo was sweating bullets, but Finn looked relatively cool as they both popped yet another pepper.
And then suddenly Angelo's eyes went round.
He made a beeline for the flowers—but before he could get there, Derek tackled him to the ground.I thought I heard him say, "Not today, asshole," but I couldn't be sure.My senses wereall focused on Finn.He wore a smile as Louis congratulated him, and Carlos begrudgingly gave him a fist-bump.
The surprises didn't stop there.
They played cornhole, and Finn won by a landslide.
That wasn't a shock, but instead of being pissed, my cousins actually looked impressed.He dominated, and they liked him better for it.Crazy.After making the rounds, saying goodbye to everyone, we slipped out of the house, and I brought up this conundrum as I walked Finn to his car.
"You whipped my cousins' asses," I said with a laugh, "and they loved you anyway.You really are magic, Finn O'Brien."
"They respected my competitive nature," he said with a happy sigh."That went both ways."
"I thought they'd tear you apart."
"Should I be insulted?"
"No," I said, nudging him with my arm."I knew you'd survive—though I was worried after all the chili peppers."
Finn groaned."Please, Rose.Never mention those words again."
I laughed quietly.
As we reached his car, Finn turned to me and gently pulled me into a hug.
I clung to him, enjoying the thrill being in his arms way too much.
"Drive carefully, okay?" I said.
"I will."
"I mean it.I need you for Romance or Die."
He nodded."Wouldn't want to lose your assistant."
"Yeah, plus, I like you."
"Your grandma liked me," he said after pulling back with a smile."I liked her too.Your whole family."
"They couldn't stop talking about you," I murmured."Finn O'Brien magic."
"See you tomorrow, Rose."
With that he got into his car, and I walked a few paces away before remembering.Rushing back over, I took off Finn's jacket.
"Hey," I said, handing it back to him through the window."Don't forget this."
Unable to stop myself, I leaned in and laid a kiss on his cheek.Finn's eyes were piercing when I leaned back.
