“I’m curious what makes that asshole tick, to have not just cheated, but have blown it big-time. Emotionally abusive narcissistic asshole. Mostly though, I want to feel my fist breaking his face.”
“You’re so sweet.”
“I’m a romantic, ask anyone.”
She didn’t say it out loud, but he was a romantic. She’d never felt so special as she did with him. “I’m tired.”
“Me too.”
He flipped back the covers, and they curled up together. Slider open to the cool air, listening to the resonant hum of a cleansing summer rain, she snuggled against him as sleep washed over her.
13
Special Teams
Whatkindofassholetexts a bartender at seven in the damn morning? Finn leaned over the side of the bed and snatched his phone from the pocket of his jeans.
Across the bed, Haley’s phone chirped an incoming message.
Who in the hell would be texting them both? Grady. Typical.Happy Saturday. Let’s all go hiking. Riverside Trailhead at 0800.
Haley groaned as she read the message. A text from her popped up on the group message,Make it 0900.
He chuckled as they were both dangling off the opposite sides of the mattress, texting with their phones still on the floor. He added another message,Agreed, but if you make it 1000, I’ll bring food.
Asher’s message came through next,Zane’s on beer.
Another from Lincoln,I’m not defending you if we get caught drinking on a very well trafficked federal trail.
Grady texted again,Nor are you living with me again if you get fired. Let’s make it the old logging road off Tahoma instead.
Pippa chimed in,Beer is the priority? What are we, eighteen?
And from Sophie,Pip, we all know you didn’t touch that stuff at 18.
Finally, from Zane,Not to worry, Pippa, I’ll bring you an apricot lager.
Before all the blood had completely pooled in the top of his brain, Finn sat up. Haley beat him to it by half a second. She tossed her phone to the end of the bed and nudged him with her foot. “They do this a lot?”
He nodded. “I’ve been back six months, and yes, yes they do.”
“Grady and Claire had informed me I was going to have awesome friends that wouldn’t have monthly girls’ night in which we exchanged recipes and sex tips, only for me to later realize they were all using those tips on my husband.”
Shuddering, Finn swallowed the nausea that threatened, imagining Haley surrounded by pretentious bitches that were fucking each other’s spouses behind their backs. “What an asshole. No, most of this crew is happily relationshipped and not the sort to do that anyway.”
At his side, Haley bit her cheek like she wanted to say something she hadn’t quite worked out yet. “I’m not one to keep secrets, you know, the old ‘secrets secrets are no fun?’ But… wow, I really don’t want to sound like a bitch or anything, but…”
“But you don’t want to let on that we’re rebounding together?”
“Exactly. I’m not interested in long-term plans or expectations, and you have indicated you are of the same opinion…”
“But the others will get all excited and start scheming?”
“Precisely.”
“Then we are in complete agreement. Besides, while we’re sounding like callous jackasses, I uh, I’ve only been officially single a very short time. If they knew I was hooking up with Grady’s little sister without any intention of making an honest woman of her, while still fresh out of blowing a no-brainer relationship?” He visibly shivered. He threw his legs over the side of the bed and searched for his boxers.
“An honest woman? I’m considering being offended,” she teased.
