Page 35 of Niall

“Finn asked me to marry him,” she confessed.

I clapped my hands together. “Of course you said yes?”

She nodded. “I did.”

I hugged her, thrilled for her. She had talked so much about Finn when we were being held captive. She swore she would never leave him if she got out.

“I’m so happy for you!”

She smiled, brushing away a tear. “I’m so glad I got the chance to have him back,” she murmured.

“I know.” I rubbed her arm in sympathy. “We made it out,” I said quietly. “Thanks to Finn, Niall, and their friends.”

She nodded. “I’m being silly. They are happy tears.”

I knew they partly were, but I understood her feeling grateful and the emotion that swelled on occasion after our ordeal.

“I want you to stand up for me,” she said, looking hopeful.

“Me?” I asked, shocked.

“Yes.”

“But you must have other, better, older friends,” I protested, even though I was excited at the thought.

She shook her head. “A few friends.” She paused, once again caught in the past. “We shared something no one else can understand, Anna. We have a bond I can’t explain—even to Finn.”

I understood. There were things I couldn’t tell Niall. Things she hadn’t shared with Finn. We knew and saw what had happened to the other. Heard the horrible threats and saw the pain they inflicted. The connection we shared was one that could never be severed.

“I would love to.”

She hugged me this time, excited. “Finn is asking Niall, of course. So, you’ll both be there.”

The timer went off, and I pulled the final tray from the oven. “I think we’ve made enough.”

She looked down at the piles of cookies with a satisfied sigh. “Finn will love this. I’ve been planning on outfitting his kitchen so I can cook once we’re married. He’s never used it except to make a coffee or heat something. Such a shame.” She glanced around. “We should do the same here.”

“I don’t know how long I’ll be using the kitchen,” I said honestly. I was well aware of Niall’s way of thinking. Even after what we shared last night, his views on relationships hadn’t changed, even if he was spoiling me.

The shopping trip he’d taken me on was unexpected. Especially surprised that it was prompted by the fact that his friend—and cousin—had bought me an outfit. I didn’t understand why he was so jealous if he didn’t have the same feelings for me as I did for him. Maybe it was a male thing. I had said as much to Una after showing her the clothing Niall had bought me. She frowned but didn’t reply.

“You’re so sure he has no feelings for you?” she asked now, picking up a cookie and nibbling on it.

I nodded.

“Why?”

“He says so.”

She laughed. “He also said you had to go to the room next door and then changed his mind. He goes mental when another man even smiles at you. Finn has always said how level-headed and calm Niall is. You have him acting crazy. Finn was sure he was going to punch him this morning over the clothing. Never mind the pissing contest he got into with Roman.”

“Roman?” I asked, shocked at the idea of Niall acting crazy because of me.

She repeated what Finn told her about Roman’s teasing offer.

I frowned. “It doesn’t make sense. He told me he thinks the feelings I have for him are hero worship. Nothing more.”

“Are they?”