Unfazed by the elbow but not by the statement, Asher caught Finn by the elbow and pulled him back into the entry. “Why not? She’s going to freak. Just get it over with.”
Voice strained as he whispered back, Finn demanded, “What, was I going to tell her while her head was filled with firecrackers after that concussion? Or should I have waited until her ex-husband walked in on us? I was literally trying to tell her when you assholes drove up just now.”
Wincing, Asher crossed his arms and looked out the front windows. Sophie and Haley were carrying picnic blankets to the clearing around the bonfire that Claire was adding firewood to. “Shit, man. You’d better hope she’s about ready to move on, because if she finds out that you knew, and didn’t say anything?”
“I know.” Shoving his hands in his pockets, Finn clenched his jaw and tried to calm the brewing thunder in the pit of his stomach. Why should it matter so much? Why should he be so worried about what Haley thought of him, when they weren’t beholden to each other? Wasn’t that the point of the rebound, to get over something, not find new ways to feel guilty?
Asher nodded toward the kitchen. “Come on. You’re not going to tell her tonight and ruin one of the few relaxed social outings she’s had in years, and she’s going to worry if you act weird and pissy. So forget about it for tonight and tell her in the morning.”
Popping out from the kitchen, Grady carted a massive ice chest. “How’s Haley feeling? Concussion better?”
Nodding, Finn popped open the lid of Grady’s cooler and snagged a beer. Cracking it open, he had it downed by half before coming up for air. “She’s good. Bit of a limp, so she was bummed to have to wear sneakers tonight instead of these fancy leather heels she had out.”
Grady tossed a beer to Asher and closed the lid again. “You know, she’s all about finding the old Haley again, but the Haley I knew wore nothing but Converse and Nikes.”
Watching out the window as Haley and Sophie headed toward the house, Finn found the corner of his mouth turning up like Haley’s fish-hook grin. “Yeah. Think she grew up and discovered she looks damn good.”
Snickering, Asher smacked him on the shoulder and headed out the slider to the patio, Grady following behind. They were whispering something, probably the same gossipy shit they were on about before. Couple of fucking romantics, convinced he and Haley were following the same true-love path they were so hung up on. Finn hadn’t born witness to their dives into the world of commitment… Hell, Finn had defined the word when they were still necking in the backs of their parents’ cars with whatever women would have them.
Sauntering into the house, a bit less sway in her sneakers and a new hitch in her gait, Haley still managed to drive him absolutely wild with the way her dress moved over her thighs with each step she took. Whoever decided slits in skirts was a thing… fucking genius.
Running a hand through her slick waves, Haley stopped in front of him. Her hand slid down his forearm, slipping his beer out of his hand while he stood helplessly frozen at the sight. Guzzling the remaining half, she flicked her tongue over the corner of her mouth as she finished it off, setting the empty bottle back in his hand, then brushed past him.
Zane popped his head in the slider. “Dude, Finn, come on. I’ve been abandoned at the barbeque and don’t have a clue how to tell when a burger’s done.”
Shaking away the vision that was going to occupy his dreams for the rest of eternity, Finn nodded. “Yeah. Coming.”
He followed Zane to the outdoor kitchen and didn’t hesitate to rag on his pathetic barbeque skills. Freya appeared with a mountain of veggie skewers, sneaking them onto the grill when Zane was distracted by her hand wrapping around his middle.
Okay, maybe it wasn’t just Finn’s imagination. He’d made friends with some diehard romantics. Haley walked down the slope to the natural landing where the firepit had been set up, the breeze playing with her hair as she moved.
Zane cussed and snatched the tongs from Finn’s hands. Laughing, Zane flipped the variety of meats that were charred on the bottom. “What did I call you out here for? You’re no better at this than I am.”
Finn backed away, arms up. “Sorry. I pour the drinks, not cook the food.”
“And I don’t barbecue. Shut your ass up and don’t ditch me. I am not taking the blame for a scorched dinner by myself.”
Zane wasn’t the chattiest of his friends, but he always had something interesting to say. They both enjoyed ragging on Asher as a mutual target. Freya was a mystery. Finn hadn’t known her very well growing up, as she was a few years older and spent most of her time in the art rooms, but she was vibrant and he’d always noticed her.
They all sat at a tiled outdoor table, the umbrella overhead no longer providing much shade as the sun had dipped so low in the sky. After the easy dinner, he downed his last bite of charred burger and looked around. “Wait, where are Pippa and Lincoln?”
Sophie laughed out loud, covering her mouth as she swallowed her bite. “At a prenatal appointment then out for a quiet dinner.”
“What?” Haley nearly choked on her own bite. “I thought that was planned for year three of marriage.”
Biting her lip, Sophie shook her head, still trying to subdue her laughter. “Pippa called yesterday, completely freaked that her period was late. She was in such a state, I picked up a pregnancy test and drove it over. Which, by the way, I have no doubt the entire county will soon be convinced I’m the pregnant one after that very public purchase. Pippa will absolutely pay for that one.”
“Oh no.” Haley giggled maniacally, leaning up against Finn as she tried to maintain a shred of control. “When I was in third grade and she was in fourth, she made this comprehensive timeline of her life. From what it sounds, she hasn’t strayed an inch… until now.”
Grady nodded, his lips turned up in pure amusement. “I wondered why Lincoln was so irritable when he swung by Black Op yesterday. All he said was that Pippa had tossed and turned all night, grouching something about being late and saying that it was all his fault.”
Freya looked to be equally lost in a giggle fit. “I’m so excited we get to throw her baby shower,” she said, throwing her head back and slapping her knee. “After her wedding last year? Payback.”
“What happened at her wedding?” Finn knew Pippa was intense, but what was so funny about an accidental pregnancy? Shit, had Haley had a period? Oh shit. Was it hot out here? Finn tugged at the neck of his shirt and grimaced as he couldn’t slow his rapid breathing.
Asher groaned, “Bridezilla doesn’t even begin to explain it. Pippa likes to plan. When her plan is, well, strained, she sort of freaks.”
Rising from his seat at the table, Grady stacked plates. “That’s putting it mildly. I thought she was never speaking to either of you again when you hooked up and threw off her plans.”
