“I’m not asking for advice,” I reminded him, and it was doubly true now considering Finn was obviously working through some messy and complicated sort of heartbreak. “He said he was in love with me, but I wasn’t supposed to hear it. It was on the back end of a video he sent me earlier today.”
“A video,” Finn mused.
“Oh.” I lifted my glass, ignoring the amusement in his voice. “I also made partner today.”
“Nice try to change the subject.”
“No, really.” I leaned forward and set my drink down on the coffee table, pressing my knees into the outside of Finn’s thigh. “I made partner.”
His expression went from weary to elated in less than two seconds, and then I was in my brother’s arms, his face buried into the crook of my neck.
“I’m so fucking excited for you,” he said into my skin.
I clapped him on the back, and he tightened his arms around me, which felt so fucking good. Finn held me for longer than he had in years, but by the time the hug ended, the pressure of it had shifted. He was the one holding on to me, and my handagainst the back of his head kept him steady and still against my chest. He breathed heavy and hard, and I knew him well enough to know he was fighting back tears.
I also knew they had nothing to do with my new partnership.
“I’m so proud of you,” he said, trying to pull away even though I stopped him. “You’ve worked so hard for this.”
I nodded, smoothing my hand down the back of his neck.
We stayed in that embrace for another few minutes, finally untangling our arms from the other at the same time. Finn’s eyes were red, but mostly dry, and he ran his hand over the front of his shirt and smiled at me.
“You’re the first person I’ve told.”
“You’ll bloat my ego, Hunt, be careful.” He smoothed his hair back, but there was no keeping the stray strands in place. “Is this news for dinner on Friday then?”
“Yeah, probably.”
“Is Silas’ little bestie also news for Friday?”
Jesus, Finn was a master at keeping the conversation right where he wanted it to be and not a smidge offtrack.
“Marshall already knows and so does Smith.”
Finn frowned. “That counters all the work you just did on my ego.”
I chuckled, shaking my head. “Smith and Lincoln have become friends, and I wanted to make sure he was okay with the idea of us dating. And Marshall obviously knows because of Silas.”
“Sounds like excuses.”
I shrugged and held my hands up helplessly.
“And he’s in love with you?” Finn asked.
I nodded.
“Why is that so bad?” he rasped, voice cracking.
I cocked my head to the side and arched a brow at his break.
Finn cleared his throat and shook his head, and I loved him enough to not press the issue further.
“I…” I didn’t have a good answer. “It’s just new.”
“That’s not a real reason.”
“I know,” I whispered.
