Well, hell.
“Fin likes Aunty Maggie, Daddy, that’s why.”
Dylan laughed at the shock on Fin’s face.
“How observant of you, Grace, and yes, you’re right, he does,” Dylan said, pulling his phone out of his pocket as it started ringing.
“Howard,” he answered.
Fin took the time to get his shit together and work out how he was going to get out of this. Grace thought he liked Maggs, which he did, but he wasn’t sure how she knew. Added to that was the knowing look in Dylan’s eyes.
“Fin can give us a lift, Pip. We’ll see you there,” Dylan said before finishing the call.
“So, get my daughter being intuitive.”
“About?”
“You and Maggs.”
“She was guessing,” Fin said.
“Aw, come on, Fin, you and Maggs have been dancing around each other for years. Kids pick up on that kind of thing.”
“No, they don’t. Kids are mimics. She got that from the adults around her, and let me just say that I don’t like being the recipient of your matchmaking, as I’m sure Maggs doesn’t.” He was being too defensive, and Dylan knew it, but unlike the Trainers, he wouldn’t push.
“Denial is not just a river in Egypt, it seems” was all Dylan added. “You can take us to the bake-off.”
“What?” Fin looked at Maggie’s front door, which was where he now stood. He didn’t think she was hiding inside.
“The bake-off is today. You can take us. Pip’s already there with Blake. We were just about to head there when we saw you pull up. It starts at noon, and we get to eat what they make.” Dylan opened Fin’s car door for Gracie, then belted her in before climbing in the front beside Fin.
“What bake-off? I thought it was a muffin thing?”
“Mom decided to change the name so it’s catchier. They’re doing the judging today on the main street. Mayor Gripper and Joe; not sure how he got to judge.”
“He’s a suck-up.”
“True that. Those two, plus Buzz and Mrs. L are the judges. So that’s probably where Maggs is.”
“Sure. I just had something to drop to her.”
“You’re pathetic. You know that, right.”
“What?” Fin looked at Grace, who was singing to herself in the back seat.
“If you want her, go after her. Why all the denial?”
“Can we just go with it’s complicated and you leave me alone?”
“Anything worthy in life is complicated, Fin, you just have to work out whether you want to uncomplicate it to get to the goal.”
“Hell, bud, you’re starting to scare me.” Fin shot Dylan a look. “You got a talk show slot or something in your future?”
“Just calling it as I see it.”
Fin thought about that as he drove to town. Thought about Maggs and what he felt for her. It was deeper than anything he’d felt before, he could admit that, if only to himself. It had become more so lately. But was it just a bad case of lust, or did he want more with her? He guessed he’d find out if he got her to stop running away from him.
Pulling into a parking spot, he saw the crowd had formed further up the street. Minutes later, he was walking with Gracie’s hand in his as she skipped at his side. His feet faltered as he found Maggs. She was standing with his father and Mallory.
