Page 11 of Built to Last

I exhale slowly and admit to him what I’ve never told anyone else. “Yes, I am.”

“Velma,” he says, his voice full of tenderness.

It makes my heart ache.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Why would I? I’ve actually never told anyone because it’s not really anyone’s business.”

“Are you ashamed?” he asks.

“No. Yes. I don’t know, maybe a little, I guess. It’s not like I’ve been saving myself for some big romantic reason. I just didn’t in college, and then I was busy with graduate school and research and my dissertation. But now I’m pretty sure it just puts me in the dried-up old crone category.”

“There is nothing dried-up about you. If I’d known, I would have been more careful.”

“We were just kissing, Finn. You didn’t do anything wrong. I’m just inexperienced.”

He releases a low groan, “You don’t kiss like you’re inexperienced. You kiss like a goddamn goddess.”

That makes me chuckle. “Thanks for saying so. You’re always so sweet to me.” I press my palm to the door and once again I wish I had the courage to open it, invite him in to rid me of my pesky virginity.

“You’re my Velma. I’d do anything for you.”

I skip over responding to that because I don’t know what to say. I feel like the biggest fool in the world that I wish this was all real and not my best friend’s big brother pretending to like me so I can get the attention of a man I’m not even attracted to.

“You know, this was my first happy hour with work people. They’ve never invited me before,” I tell him.

“What? Those assholes. Why wouldn’t they invite you?”

“I talk about kelp too much. And my cats. I’m not exactly the life of the party.”

chaptersix

FINNEGAN

I didn’t want to leave Sadie’s house, but I couldn’t very well sleep on her front porch. So eventually I said good night and that I’d see her later. I didn’t sleep worth a damn, which is why I’m currently sitting at the small square kitchen table where I grew up, nursing a giant mug of coffee.

My brother Declan and I have shared our family’s home since our dad died a few years back. Dec’s already gone this morning since he’s doing some odd jobs for a friend of his.

It’s Saturday, so I don’t have to work in Sadie’s lab today.

“Please tell me y’all have grits.” My sister, Jillian, blows into the kitchen and goes straight to the pantry.

“I think we have some instant packets in there. Usually do anyways. What’s up?”

She pats her belly. “Baby needs grits.”

“And you couldn’t go to the store?”

“Ah-ha!” She holds up a box triumphantly. “This seemed faster.” Jilly moves about the kitchen as if she still lives here with us.

“Where’s Levi and Ry?” I ask.

“Ry stayed at a friend’s house last night and Levi is recovering.” She waggles her eyebrows at me.

“Gross, Jilly. I don’t wanna know that.” I shudder. “I don’t like thinking about you having sex.”

“Then don’t think about it. But it’s obvious from Ry and now this one,” she points at her belly. “That I do have sex.”

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