I’m startled by Finn’s knife and fork clattering onto his plate. He leans across the table and grabs my hand. “You absolutely should not have done that. I know you don’t need my advice, but it sounds like you’ve just outgrown this job.”
I can’t help smiling. It’s been a long time since someone—who’s not my mom—has really believed in me. Or maybe it just feels that way because my other number one cheerleader now lives across the country.
I remember standing with Sybil on the street waiting for the Uber that would take her to JFK and then on to Los Angeles. When the app said her ride was one minute away, I could feel the tears begin to prick at the corners of my eyes.
“Don’t work too hard, Em.” She threw her arms around me. I let out a soft grunt as the momentum of her overstuffed backpack and tote bag landed her against me with a heavy thud. “I know Maywell is the dream, but you don’t need them.Come to LA with me and Nikki. Start your own shop. I’ll do your website. Nikki can do your social media.”
“Oh, sure, I’ll just go throw some stuff in a bag before the driver gets here.” I gave her a watery smile and squeezed her tight. “But really, I’ll be fine. I’ve got a couple new projects lined up that I really think I can nail, and then I’ll be up for promotion.” I grabbed one of her roller bags as Sybil’s car pulled up to the curb.
“I just worry about you, Em.” It was strange hearing that Sybil was worried aboutme, and I wasn’t sure how to respond. I was usually the one keeping everyone else on track, fretting about their missed doctor’s appointments or questionable dating choices. What did Sybil have to be worried about me over? Maybe the same thing that had secretly kept me awake for the last several nights as Sybil’s departure date drew near:Am I going to be all alone forever?I jammed her bag into the back of the Honda Accord that was going to take her out of Manhattan, and out of my life for the foreseeable future. I knew I’d see her in a few months, but I also knew that it would never be the same—that I wouldn’t ever get to spend every day with my best friend again.
Blinking back tears, I pulled myself together before pasting a smile on my face and turning back to Sybil. “I’ll be okay, Sybs. I promise.” I gave her one last hug before she stepped into the car. As the sedan slipped into the flow of traffic on Second Avenue, I was struck by an unpleasantly familiar feeling. That gut-punching grief of watching a car drive away with someone I love inside of it, knowing they weren’t coming back. It was just like when Dad left. It took everything in me not to run after the Honda, wave Sybil down, and tell her I wascoming to California with her. Instead, I turned back toward our apartment door, and went back upstairs. Alone.
Finn’s voice breaks me out of my memory. “Hey, are you all right? Where’d you go?”
“I’m just worried about Sybil,” I say.
“So am I.” His eyes are dark and serious, and I know he means it. Then he gives my hand another squeeze, his eyes growing warmer, so deep I want to fall into them, and says with a smile, “But don’t forget to look out for yourself every once in a while too.” I nod yes, the lump in my throat preventing me from forming words. “Good. And I guess if youdoforget, I’ll just have to do it for you.”
FORTY-FIVE MINUTES LATER,FINNand I finish our meal, and I set my napkin on the table and scoot out of the booth, pulling the boutique shopping bag containing Finn’s sweatshirt and my old clothes behind me.
My body is still buzzing from Finn’s touch, which has been lingering all throughout dinner—squeezing my hand while he promised to look out for me, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear when it fell into my face, playfully nudging his knee against mine under the table, feeding me chocolate mousse so decadent it made me close my eyes with an indecent groan. I know we should start looking for Sybil again. But I don’t want the feeling to stop, so as we leave the restaurant, I spit out the first half-formed idea that pops into my head. “There’s an observation deck at the top of this casino. It might help us get the lay of the land, and we can get back on the hunt.”
“Right. The hunt.” The look on Finn’s face makes it seem likeI’mthe one he wants to hunt down. He takes my hand as we move toward the elevator bank in the lobby, his thumb rubbing back and forth across the inside of my palm. A small shiver runs through me. But it’s not enough. I want more. I don’t know if it’s the magic of Vegas, the wine from dinner, or just the haze of lust I’ve been fighting through since Finn bent me against the roulette table, but in that moment, I make a decision.
The elevator arrives with a ding, and the doors roll closed behind us. As it lurches upward, I step close enough to Finn that I have to tilt my head back to keep my eyes on his face. I barely recognize myself when I whisper, “Finn, kiss m—”
His lips are on mine before I can finish. It’s nothing like the first time we kissed or even the last. This is explosive. There’s no hesitation from Finn. He’s kissing me like he may never have the chance again. My thoughts fracture as Finn takes a step toward me, pressing me against the doors of the elevator, and I’m surrounded by the scent of Finn, familiar and foreign. It’s intoxicating. Both of his hands tangle in my hair, tipping my head further back to deepen the kiss. I reach out a hand to steady myself, and there are a dozen soft clicks as my hand swipes blindly, accidentally trailing down the button panel behind me. I give up trying to find purchase anywhere that isn’t Finn, drop my bag to the floor, and wrap both arms around him. The feeling of Finn’s tongue tangled with mine nearly pulls the air from my lungs, and I gasp against his lips.
He takes the opportunity to move his mouth down to mythroat, and his teeth scrape along my neck. “I’ve wanted to do this since I saw you walk out in this dress,” Finn says, and I let out a soft mewling sound in response, suddenly wishing we were in adifferentelevator—the one back in the hotel that would lead to the room Finn booked. His hands tighten in my hair, and one drops to my lower back, crushing me even more tightly to him.
Through hazy eyes, I realize we’re stopping on almost every floor—the doors opening and closing behind me. Finn must realize, too, because he spins me away from the front of the elevator and presses me against the back wall, shielding me from anyone who might see. The whole time, his mouth never leaves my skin. Our hips move together in a way that pulls another groan from Finn, and he wedges a foot between mine, pushing my legs apart, opening me up to him. My leg wraps around Finn’s waist, deepening the angle. I wobble slightly on a single stiletto, and his hand is immediately behind my knee, holding me upright.
“I’ve got you.” His lips brush against my ear before searing me with another kiss. From somewhere far away, I hear the ding of the elevator announcing it’s reached its destination. I barely glimpse the rooftop observation deck and feel the breeze brushing against my skin before the doors close again, and we start to descend.
I’m about to float off the ground, and the only thing keeping me tethered to this earth is the feeling of Finn’s body against mine, so I arch into him even more, trying to get as close to him as I possibly can. His hand skims up the outside of my thigh, and his fingers are so close to where I want him to be, where I wantallof him to be.
There’s another ding, and the doors open again. “I see this one’s taken.” A familiar Georgia accent has me dragging my mouth away from Finn’s. I lean around his biceps to confirm what I already know.
I’m face-to-face with Nikki.
16
THURSDAY NIGHT
(Two days before the wedding)
LIKE ANY WOMAN,Ibelieve all my friends are beautiful. Sybil in the way of a fairy princess. Willow has the tousled hair and je ne sais quoi of a French film star. But Nikki is beautiful like the Fourth of July: summery, sweet, and a little bit of a firecracker. Her smile invites everyone in and tells them to pull up a lawn chair and grab a lemonade. It’s why they picked her from piles and piles of applicants to be onLovedBy. But she worked her way into the hearts of millions of viewers because she reallyisall those things.
At least she was until Aaron. Since their breakup, she’s guarded in ways she never was before, and she’s started arming herself with perfection. Even now, after what I’m sure wasa hectic race to the airport with Jamie and his crew of groomsmen, her makeup is immaculate and her honey-blond hair is pulled back into a high ponytail, sleek and flawless.
“Don’t let me interrupt,” Nikki says calmly, but her eyebrows are nearly to her hairline.
Finn releases me slowly, as if he doesn’t want to let go, but I can still feel the heat of his hands against my skin. My foot drops to the ground, and Finn positions himself in front of me while I try to put myself to rights.
I scoop up the bag that lies forgotten on the floor, and we step out of the elevator. The doors shut softly behind us as Finn’s phone buzzes. “I’ve got to grab this,” he explains, and steps out of earshot.
Nikki folds her arms across her chest. “I texted you, but when I didn’t hear back, I decided to just come find you. Have a nice dinner, did we?” She raises an eyebrow. “Looks like you’re still working on dessert.”
