“Because you finally believe me when I say he had nothing to do with this?” I ask. “You do believe me, right?”
“You told me you couldn’t be with me if I didn’t,” he points out.
“Does that mean you lied just to get me to be with you?”
“No, but you were right.” His lips purse. He squeezes my fingers a little. “His story checks out.”
“Checks out?” My brows rise. “You fact-checked me?”
“I don’t trust blindly,” he says, squeezing my fingers when Itry to move my hand away. “I’m not talking about you, Joss. You know I’ll take your word over anyone’s.”
“Why?” I ask as we stop at a red light.
“You’re just … you.” He glances at me, his eyes taking in every inch of my face. “You’re different.”
“Different from whom?”
“Everyone I know.” He shifts gears and starts driving again.
“You mean the girls you grew up with?”
“Everyone,” he says and glances at me briefly. “What was your impression of Mallory’s friends from high school?”
I frown. “Elizabeth seemed nice.”
“And the rest?”
“Well, you know how I feel about Gracie.”
“Fuck Gracie.”
That makes me smile.
“What’s her problem anyway?” he asks. “She’s always been a bitch, but she seems more vindictive when it comes to you.”
“Long story short, in junior year, she dated a baseball player from my school who happened to be my first boyfriend,” I add quickly. “She showed up at his birthday party and called him trash in front of everyone, so I went off on her and kicked her out, which I guess no one had ever done.” I pause, biting my lip before I add. “Aaaand Lance made out with me in front of her out of spite.”
Finn scowls. “You could’ve left that part out.”
I laugh. “It’s the whole story.”
“Where is this Lance guy now?” he asks, still scowling.
“New York. He plays in the majors.”
He hums.
I shrug. “So that’s the story. I understand that we’ve had different life experiences, but she thinks she’s superior to everyone. Then again, Mallory was like that before I started bringing her to my family events.”
“Do you think I’m like that?” he asks, his voice oddly quiet as he pulls into the driveway.
“I think you can come off as an arrogant asshole sometimes,but I wouldn’t say superior.” I pause. “Unless you’re using your last name for gain.”
“I only do that here.”
“Ah.” I smile. “So you’re only an arrogant asshole when you’re in Fairview? Is it too soon to talk to Lach about a trade?”
He narrows his eyes at me. “You can’t get rid of me. Besides, I’m retiring as an Owl.”
