He half smiles, the lines in his face easing, a dimple denting his cheek. “I wasn’t going to tell you over a text. Plus, I felt like a huge ass because I forgot I had Marissa tonight. What kind of dad does that?”
“Marissa?” I ask.
He nods. “She’s eight. It’s not my usual weekend with her, but my ex went to a concert in the city, so I said I’d watch her tonight. It slipped my mind because . . . well, you know.”
“I do?”
“You,” he says. “You’ve stolen all my sense since I met you. You’ve dominated my thoughts.”
I melt a little. He must notice, because he slips an arm around my waist to pull me against his body. “You look good tonight.”
“I’m wearing practically the same outfit I was last night.”
“That’s why I like it.” He runs the tip of his nose along the bridge of mine. “I can’t let the door shut. It locks automatically. Come in.”
As good as it feels to be back in his embrace, he was right when he said his personal life is complicated. This is the last thing I expected to find tonight. “I should’ve respected what you said. I thought—I don’t know what I thought. My friends convinced me to come here.”
“Who are these friends?” he asks. “You haven’t mentioned any yet.”
“Oh, they’re not really friends. It’s just Benny, my assistant, and a friend of hers.”
“Well, I’m glad that—Benny?”
“Short for Benedicta.”
“I’m gladBennytalked you into it. I really did want to see you, I just didn’t think it’d be a good idea to explain things like this.”
“I understand.” I tilt my head up, angling for a goodbye kiss I probably don’t deserve. “I’ll let you get back to her.”
He just tucks some of my hair behind my ear, distinctlynotkissing me. “Kendra’s picking Marissa up first thing in the morning. God forbid she lets me have her for longer than twelve hours duringherweekend.”
I’m not sure how to respond. “I’m sorry.”
“Not your fault. Stay tonight. You can sleep late while I hang with Marissa. She’ll be gone by the time you get up.”
“No. I’m not here to butt into your life.”
He looks at me thoughtfully. “I think I like your butt in my life.”
“I can’t—”
“I insist.”
I chew the inside of my cheek. It’s tempting, and thankfully, I know how persistent he can be. Otherwise we wouldn’t be standing here. “Are you sure?”
He nods. “It’s probably too soon for . . . all of this. But you’re here, and I don’t want you to leave.”
Crossing paths with Marissa sounds terrifying—for all of us—but I showed up because I wanted to spend time with Finn. That hasn’t changed. I smile. “All right. I’ll stay.”
He glances over his shoulder. “She’s asleep.”
“I’ll be quiet.”
He takes my hand and leads me through the apartment. It’s dark and still, as if they’ve been snoozing a while. Jenga blocks are scattered on the coffee table. We pass through the hallway and I remember the other closed door that isn’t his studio or his bedroom. It must be hers.
When we’re in the master, he gently closes the door behind us. “You’re probably not even tired.”
“I’ll be fine. I’m a good sleeper.”
