I nod, lift my voice so they can hear it. “So these assholes are heading out.”
“We are?” Cam asks. “But I like pizza too.”
Rome bites back a grin and starts packing up Mia’s things. “We’re leaving.”
King opens his mouth, as though he’s going to protest, but Huddy just smacks him. “Come on,” he says. “I have beer at my house.”
“Did you say beer?” West quips as he helps Quinn box up his model.
The next ten minutes are chaos—herding up kids, leashing bossy corgis, changing Mia’s clothes when she decides to pull an audible and spit up on her outfit. Add in Jake’s mom showing up, the pizza being delivered, and Olive and Pear deciding that they want to make a break for the outside world, and I’m sweating by the time I close the door on King and the others.
Or maybe it’s that—on his way out—King had leaned close and murmured, “You are so screwed.” Then he’d patted me on the shoulder, grinned widely, and added, “And I fucking love that for you.”
I shake my head, throw the lock, and walk back into the kitchen to find Finn smiling as she dishes up pizza.
“What?” I ask.
“Nothing.” But she’s laughing under her breath.
“Liar.” I move closer before I can stop myself. “Seriously.What?”
She glances at me, her eyes dancing, and just says, “Hockey players.”
“They’re idiots.”
“Maybe.” She just smiles. “How many slices do you want?”
I shove a plate in her hand. “Sit. Eat. Relax.”
“I can put a couple of slices of pizza on a plate, Rhodes,” she says exasperatedly.
“I know you can.” Then, because I’m apparently a glutton for punishment, I cup her cheek. God, her skin is like silk too. “But it’s your day off.”
“Stubborn,” she mutters.
“Pot. Meet. Kettle.”
She laughs but takes the plate and goes to sit down.
I get Chloe settled with a slice…then give in when she asks if she can eat in front of the TV.
Not the best habit, but she’s been running around like crazy today. A half hour of her favorite cartoon dogs and cats isn’t going to hurt her.
When I go back into the kitchen it’s to find Finn sitting at the table, looking innocent…probably because she’s put a few slices of pizza on a plate for me and opened up a beer.
I just shake my head.
But I’m not going to ignore the invitation, however silent it is.
“So,” I say as I dig into my pizza. “The hair?”
She touches the ends again. “I thought it was time for a change.”
“Yeah?”
“Do the thing I’m most scared of, right?”
My heart thuds hard against my ribs. “Yeah.”
