I’ve seen that smile a lot lately, and the memory of it makes my own lips lift in a grin.
Avery drops from her stool and leads me to the bedroom. She slides under the covers next to Eloise, and I sit on the edge of the bed while I wait for Finn to arrive.
After a few minutes, he walks into the room, carrying the scent of his sage soap with him through the air like a woodsy breeze. He kneels beside the bed, damp hair hanging over his forehead.
My cheek warms beneath his lips as he plants a quick kiss before rasping, “Thanks. I’ll be down in a minute.”
While Finn gets the girls to sleep, I wander around downstairs like this house is mine, Pepper’s quiet paws walking behind me as she follows my path. I take a sparkling water out of the fridge, pick up the board game the girls played tonight, and put all the craft supplies back in their containers.
The girls had made their notes, and then we all shared them with each other. Eloise had drawn a picture of one of her favorite memories—when she’d practiced jumping into Clara’s arms in the pool. Avery had drawn a picture of Clara reading to her in her hospital bed. It was painful to hear their stories, knowing they have so few memories they get to keep of their mom. But they were smiling, so I forced my own teary one.
My path through the house leads me to Finn’s study. I’ve been dying to snoop through his books and find his guilty pleasure stash. Surely he has something in there he’s trying to hide.
By the time Finn comes downstairs, I’ve made it through three shelves and have absolutely nothing to tease him about.
“Looking through my things?” He slides his hands under my shirt and around my waist.
“Looking for ammo. Like your secret monster romances or something.”
His lips skate over my pulse point. “Hmm,” he hums against my skin. “I don’t have any of that yet, but if it’s something you’re into, I can make room for it.”
I lean my head back on his chest and scan the tiny stars painted on the ceiling. “How much free space do you have?”
“For you, I’d make room for anything. Everything,” he says, his voice suddenly serious, like it conveys so much more than a shelf of books.
I turn and stand on my toes to wrap my arms around his neck. “Those words, the soup, all the sweet things you do without even meaning to... It’s all melting me.”
Finn’s hands grip my butt and lift until my legs wrap around his waist. “Perfect. I want you warm and melted for me.” He kisses me with a contented sigh. “Let’s go to bed,” he whispers against my lips. “I’ve been missing you all week.”
“Do you think the girls are okay with me staying here?”
He leaves kisses along my jaw and cheek, and a hum of pleasure slips out. “Those girls are planning a wedding and babies already. I’d say they’re on board with a sleepover.”
Chapter 40
Millie
Taylor Swift breaks the silence suddenly as my phone rings, her voice filling my bedroom with lyrics about new beginnings. Finn’s image appears on my screen—a picture I took of him lying in the grass in his backyard with Pepper a few days ago.
When not at work for the last week, I’ve spent most of my time with Finn and the girls, playing games and going to the park and cooking together. They’ve taken up almost all of my brain space, forcing thoughts of Kyle and my interview tomorrow to drift to the very back of my mind.
But tomorrow is coming quicker than I want it to, and I don’t know if I’m ready for it.
I swipe to answer the call. “Good evening.”
“How’s my girl?” Finn asks, a smile in his voice.
God, I love when he calls me his girl. I’m a grown woman and a badass feminist, but for some reason, that term of endearment makes me feel silly with happiness.
I answer honestly. “Tired and anxious and really fucking sad that I didn’t—”
“Millie said a bad word.” Eloise gasps through the phone.
“Forgot to say you’re on speaker,” Finn mumbles guiltily.
I drop my face into my hand. “Sorry, girls.”
“That’s okay. We’ve heard Uncle Finn say that word,” Avery informs us.
