“Just stop putting so much thought into it and relax. You two are friends and have been for years. He is trustworthy and in no way is he ever going to hurt you or put you in a spot that is harmful in any way. Enjoy being flirted with, and stop thinking about the fake part. Who knows.” She wags her brows and I laugh.
“Delusional,” I repeat and she gets back to painting.
I try to take her words into consideration. Fine, so in the end we go back to being friends that hang out in a group and hassle each other. But for now, I’ll go along with the pretend dating and maybe allow myself to enjoy it a little.
What can it hurt?
I pull my phone out of my back pocket and hesitate for only a few seconds before typing out the message before I can overthink it.
Me: So about that dinner, how’s Saturday night?
I try not to worry when it takes him a while to respond. After all he is wearing several different hats right now and who knows what he’s up to at this point. But the message finally comes through. I take a deep breath and tap the screen, opening it up.
Finn: Seven good with you?
Me: Good with me, where?
Finn: Ever been to Tuscan Table?
Instantly my stomach tightens with tension.
Finn: It’s my mother’s favorite place to eat.
Not wanting to ruin anything for him I swallow the memories of the last time I was there and push past the ugliness it inflicted.
Me: The food is great.
It isn’t a lie, they do have amazing food. But prior to me finding out that Ryan was screwing his assistant that is the place we’d met her and a few other coworkers for what he called a celebratory meal. They’d landed a big account at work and he was taking them all out to congratulate them on all the hard work they’d put into it. Forgetting to mention that a majority ofthe work his assistant offered was done on her back with her legs in the air.
I ignore the sour feeling in my stomach.
Finn: We will chat more before then. I’ll call and make reservations and I’ll drive.
I’d thought I’d be able to use the drive to Montgomery to calm my nerves. I guess that won’t be the case. Instead I will be sharing a ride with him. It’s just Finn, my friend Finn.
I can do this!
Me: Sounds good, talk soon!
I quickly tuck my phone into the pocket of my sweatshirt and grab the paintbrush. Lifting it to the door I feel like I am being watched and I glance in Adley’s direction.
“Did the two of you make some plans?”
Nodding, I offer her a smile and realize this is what a true solid relationship with a goody has done to her. She is happy and hopeful. She is joyfully motivating, and it’s scary but beautiful.
I tuck my phone in my pocket.
“Good.” She does a weird little happy shimmy with her hips, which makes me laugh.
Turning up the music on her Bluetooth speaker we get back to work and I nervously await my upcoming date, fake-date, with Finn.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Finn
“How’s your father doing?”Wallace Frampton asks as he and his wife Mildred step up to the counter. Looking past Maggie they both watch me and I know they mean well, but every time someone asks I am reminded of the fact that we just don’t know. We have no idea if this treatment will work.
“He’s bounced back from the surgery part of his treatment. Still going through chemo and radiation for at least this next month. After that we will go back in for some scans and test to check on how or if the treatment did what they hoped it would.”
