“Then you marry him.”
She flashed me her wedding ring. “See that guy out there hanging off the basketball rim? I got my hands full with him.”
That she did. Keeping Finn on solid ground couldn’t be easy. He was her stuntman turned actor, known for his high-flying antics and the best head of curls on the planet. He was my sister’s opposite in every way, yet still, they’d found each other.
“Shhh,” I whispered. “Elliott’s coming back.”
“One cheese platter delivered.” He jogged through the door and right past me, yelling out on his way down the hall. “Your mother says hi. Now I’m off to retrieve the fucking bear with a cleaver because I certainly don’t want my pookie’s lips to slough off.”
I held a finger in the air. “Clover.”
Once he was gone, I turned to Emma. “There’s no lip gloss. That’s my tampon drawer.”
“You’re a terrible human,” she replied, laughing. “Just truly awful.”
“Hey, if he insists on staying, then let’s see what he’s made of.”
Emma shook her head. “Please tell me he’s not still sleeping in your bed.”
“No, he’s on the chaise longue.”
“Okay, but he’s still in your room.”
“Yes.”
“Talk about sending him mixed signals, Grace.”
“There are no mixed signals. I’ve been very clear with him. No intimacy. And honestly, Emma, I don’t think he’s all that into me anyway. I think he just wants to be part of the family. Hell, he’d marry Dad if he could. Have you seen their secret handshake? It’s got fourteen components to it.”
“Dad went through that shiny, new son stage with Finn too.”
“Not the same thing. Finn didn’t save your life. Finn doesn’t have a British accent. And don’t forget, Finn knocked you up repeatedly.”
“I’ve been pregnant twice.”
We halted our conversation when the sound of panting drew closer. Elliott rounded the corner, slid to a stop in front of me, and instead of placing a tiny tube of chapstick in front of me, handed me the entire bathroom drawer.
Bending over, he grabbed his knees to catch his breath.
“There is no bear.” Pant.
“There is no clover.” Pant.
“There is no meat cleaver.” Pant.
“There is no lip balm.” Pant.
“Can I go play now?”
Our eyes locked. He smiled, and I instantly recognized that Old World charm I’d fallen for in the café on the corner. He was trying to win me back, and if I wasn’t careful, he’d do it. Shit. I had to stop being so adorable or I’d be right back where I started.
“Sure,” I said. “Go play.”
He grabbed my cheeks and planted a sweaty kiss on my lips before racing out the back door.
I turned back to Emma, who resembled a wide-eyed emoji.
“What?” I shrugged.
