Page 32 of Finn Rhodes Forever

I wiggled my eyebrows at her. “Hell, one of these kids might grow up to be a firefighter like me.”

Jen smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes. “You can’t say hell in front of seventh graders, Finn.”

“Shit. Sorry. I mean—” I caught myself again. “Heck. Shoot.”

Liv snorted.

ThankfuckMiri Yang appeared beside us with a big smile. “Hello, volunteers.”

“I’m going to use the ladies’ room before we start,” Jen said, stepping away.

Miri gasped at my eye and missing tooth.

“Surfing,” I cut in before she could ask. “My surfboard hit me in the face.”

Miri shook her head. “My goodness, Finn, trouble finds you everywhere, doesn’t it?” She glanced between Liv and me, and her expression turned smug.

At slightly over five feet tall, Miri was physically tiny but socially powerful. Emmett had admitted that convincing Miri Yang of his and Avery’s fake engagement had been key to winning over the entire town. The woman was feral for gossip.

She sighed, looking wistful. “I always knew you two would get back together.” She nudged me with her elbow. “Didn’t I say it at Sadie and Holden’s wedding? You remember?”

How could I forget?

Four brothers, four weddings, she had said with a gleam in her eye.

No, I was quick to tell her.No way.

At that time, I believed what everyone else did—I was bad news for Liv.

Now, I wanted her to have the job of her dreams, and I wanted to be the right guy for her.

“What?” Liv’s eyebrows shot up and she shifted. “What are you talking about?”

“Four brothers, four weddings,” Miri sang, bouncing with excitement.

Olivia’s eyes widened with terror and I stiffened.

“Oops!” Miri grinned and made a mouth-zipping motion. “I’ve said too much. I’m going to get the class’s attention and we can get started.”

She hustled into the classroom and Liv turned to me with a look of disgust.

“Please tell me you’re not going to propose.”

I huffed a laugh. I knew how that would go. She’d toss the ring off a cliff.

“I’m not going to propose.” My mouth hitched. “Not yet.”

“Finn.”

I snorted, grinning wider. “What? I’m not going to push you to do something you’re not ready for. I didn’t make you kiss me yesterday, did I?”

She rolled her eyes. “Like you’re ready to get married.”

“To you? I’d get married this afternoon,” I said without thinking. “Would have done it twelve years ago if I was smart enough.”

Panic streaked through me. I didn’t mean to say that. I didn’t want to freak her out. I shot her a wary glance, and she blinked up at me, expression blank.

“You don’t mean that. You’re messing with me.” A little frown grew between her eyebrows and I itched to trace it with my fingers. Before I could respond, she stepped into the classroom.

---