A Little Secret (The Little Things #4)

Chapter 24

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

FINLEY

I t’s weird. Pretending like the biggest thing on my mind is whether or not my red and black face paint looks on point when my world feels like it’s turned upside down. As Lia, Dylan, Raine, and I get ready for the game, complete with LAU jerseys and said red and black face paint—which looks phenomenal, by the way—my stomach grumbles.

“You good?” Dylan asks.

I touch my gut through the jersey tied below my breasts. “Yeah. I’m hungry, I think.”

“We just ate,” she says with a laugh.

She’s right. We did. I had a bagel with cream cheese, sausage, two eggs, and fruit on the side. I should be stuffed.

My stomach grumbles a little louder, and Raine rolls her eyes. “Finish your mascara while I grab you something from the fridge. What sounds good?”

I hesitate, my lips bunching on one side as I consider my options. “Can I do a tomato sandwich?”

“A what?” She screeches to a halt and stares at me over her shoulder .

“Tomato, mayo, salt, pepper, and bread.” I smile sweetly. “Actually, yeah. That sounds delicious.”

“Okay, weirdo.”

She starts down the hall, and I add, “Oo, and pickle! Don’t forget the pickle!”

“Dill or sweet?” she calls.

Popping my head outside the bathroom door, I quirk my brow. “Obviously, there’s only one right answer.”

“Dill!” Dylan clarifies for me with a grin.

“Thank you!” I chime in, leaning closer to the bathroom mirror to apply the rest of my mascara.

As I swipe the wand against my lashes, Dylan notes, “So, you look especially cute today.”

“Um, I always look cute.”

“I said especially .”

Slipping the wand back into the tube, I twist it into place and give my best friend a once-over. “So do you. I like the face paint.”

“You did the face paint,” she points out.

“No wonder I like it.” I wink. “But for real, you look hot. Reeves is gonna die when he sees you.”

Her mouth lifts in a shy smile, but she sobers slightly.

“Okay, what did I say?” I ask. “Because you went from looking as happy as a clam to looking like I kicked your puppy.”

“I don’t have a puppy, and what kind of saying is that, anyway?” Her nose scrunches. “Ollie says it, too.”

I lift a shoulder. “No idea where the saying came from, but I knew I liked Reeves. Great minds think alike and all that.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“So?” I prod. “What’s wrong?”

Her lips bunch on one side, and she scoots her glasses a little further up her nose. “Can I ask you something? ”

“Yeah, of course.”

“Was it ever like… this for you and Drew?” she asks.

“You mean like rainbows and butterflies and over-the-top cuteness?”

She nods.

Digging my teeth into my bottom lip, I play back a few of my most potent memories with Drew at the beginning of our relationship, then pop a shoulder. “Honestly? Things with me and Drew were never like”—I wave my hand toward her—“ this . We were like two puzzle pieces who kept trying to mash ourselves together in hopes of fitting. Sometimes, I could almost believe it worked, but then…I don’t know. It’s like I could feel the crumpled edges I was trying to convince myself were as sharp and intricate as in the beginning. Does that make sense?”

She nods again. “Yeah, I think it does.”

“So, see? You and Mr. Reeves are the real deal, and I’m not the only one who can see it, so don’t stress.”

“Thanks.” Her lips lift. “How are you holding up on the whole Drew front, anyway?”

My body sags against the edge of the bathroom counter. “You’ve already asked me this, you know.”

“Yet, I never feel like you give me the real answer,” she volleys back at me.

“We’re good.”

“We?”

My face scrunches. “Talk about a Freudian slip, am I right?” I try to laugh it off as I push my hair behind my shoulder and give myself one more quick assessment in the mirror. “I meant me and Drew. We’re better off apart, and honestly? Considering all the time I wasted with him, I kind of thought I’d be sadder, but I’m not. I’m…” I press my lips into a thin line, mentally finishing my sentence. Too distracted by the baby in my uterus and sneaking around with your older brother to give my ex much thought. “I’m good.”

“Just know I’m here for you,” Dylan says. “And so are Lia and Raine. I know you think you have to put on a brave face and be Miss Independent and all, but we’re here.”

“Thanks.” I pull her into a hug, squeezing tight.

“Even Frankie,” she adds.

With a laugh, I shove her away from me. “Sure, he is. Come on. I bet my sandwich is ready.”

By the time I shove the last bite of my tomato sandwich into my mouth, Dylan’s pulling into the rink. Reeves caught a ride with Everett when Ev dropped Raine off at the duplex, letting Dylan use his car to bring us here since none of us girls have our own vehicles at the moment. I should probably figure out what I’m going to do about that soon, though. I make a mental note as I scan the area.

We’re early, but even so, the parking lot is still brimming with fans. They’re here to watch the guys warm up on the ice like the rest of us, and boy, is it a sight. The men in their gear, stretching and chatting and lazily skating across the ice like it’s what they were made to do. Don’t get me wrong. I’m a sucker for a good game, but watching the players without their game faces has its own appeal.

Hooking my purse on my shoulder, we head inside the arena. It’s already buzzing with anticipation as I stand in line to order popcorn and make my way to our seats. When I enter the stands, I catch the girls at the glass chatting with the guys, so I watch my feet, careful not to fall on my ass as I make my way toward them .

“Want some?” I tilt the cardboard box toward Raine. She pops a kernel into her mouth.

“Extra butter?” she asks.

I nod. “Obviously.”

She laughs and wiggles her fingers toward my brother. Skating closer, Everett gives her a fist bump against the glass, and she returns it with her own.

“You look pretty,” he calls.

With a grin, she motions to her face. On it is a cute little hawk beside her right eye. Its wings are spread, and in the center of its chest is Everett’s jersey number. Cheesy? Yes. Adorable? Also, yes.

“Your sister’s quite the artist,” Raine muses.

“You can blame Ophelia’s mom,” I tell her. “My Aunt Blakely is the queen of face paint.” My chest puffs up with pride. “Taught me everything I know.”

Everett’s eyes stay glued to Raine. “You know I’m gonna mess it up later, right?”

My nose wrinkles. “Gross.”

“I meant with my hands,” he replies, finally gifting me with a crumb of his attention. “Get your head outta the gutter, Finley.”

“Yeah, okay.” I snort as Dreggs skates toward us.

“Hey, Fin!” he calls.

Balancing my popcorn in my opposite hand, I wave. “Hey, Dreggs.”

“A little bird told me you’re single.”

My gaze flicks to Griffin near the blue line before I can stop myself, then I turn back to his teammate. “Sure am.”

“When’s the last time someone took you on a date?”

“A date?” I ask.

“Careful, Dreggs,” Everett growls. “She’s my baby sister.”

“I’ll be a complete gentleman, I swear,” he offers .

“Yeah, and I’m the Pope,” I tease.

He clutches his chest like I’ve sucker punched him, and my lips quirk.

He’s a flirt. He’s always been a flirt. I know it. Dylan knows it. Everett knows it.

Everyone knows it.

Still, it is amusing. Or at least, it would be if I was actually single and less like a ticking time bomb.

“Come on. One date,” Dreggs pleads, pressing his hands into a prayer gesture and everything. “You and me.”

“Gather up, team!” Coach Sanderson yells from the bench.

I wiggle my fingers in another half-assed wave. “And on that note, toodle-oo, boys. Good luck!”

“See you around, Finley!” Dreggs calls. “That’s a promise!”

I grab another piece of popcorn, toss it into my mouth, and grin. “Bye, Dreggs.” Turning on my heel, I head up the stairs toward my seat, with the girls following.

When we reach our seats, I yell, “Go Hawks!” and sit down, balancing my sneakers on the empty chair in front of me.

“Did Dreggs seriously ask you out?” Raine asks.

I shrug, digging through the cardboard box for an especially buttery piece of deliciousness. “Apparently.”

“He’s cute,” Dylan chimes in.

“He’s very cute,” I agree. “He’s also very much Everett’s teammate, and I’m very much recently out of a relationship.” And kind of currently in a secret one , I silently add to myself.

“So?” Raine interjects. “I believe you’re the one who told me the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else.”

“And then you fell for my brother.” I grin up at her. “ You’re welcome, by the way. See? I’m the queen of face paint and romantic advice.”

“Yet you’re shit at taking it,” she volleys back as she collapses into the chair next to me. “Go figure.”

“Har, har. Let’s watch the game,” I announce.

“Mm-hmm.”

Dylan leans forward. “Hey, PS—did you hear about the house?”

I frown. “What about it?”

“The inspection guy finally gave us the green light to move back in.”

“Us?” I challenge, batting my lashes at her.

She scoffs. “Okay, when I say us, I mean you, Raine, and Ev.”

“Yeah, since you’ve been shacking up with your little boyfriend and all.” I wink. “Reeves must be quite the performer in the bedroom.”

Untucking her pale blonde hair, Dylan tries to hide her blush, but the girl’s practically glowing with embarrassment. “No comment. Now, watch the game.”

“Mm-hmm,” I hum, mimicking Raine from seconds ago. “So, Raine. Does Ev know about the occupancy status update?”

“Yeah, but we probably won’t move in until all the furniture arrives, which should be in a couple of weeks.”

“Well, I’m moving in ASAP,” I announce. “Don’t get me wrong. I love living next to two fuck buddies.” I pause, giving Dylan a pointed look. “But my earplugs can only take so much wear and tear, so the more space, the better.”

“Gee, you’re so funny,” Dylan quips.

“I’m hilarious,” I agree.

“Yeah, Dreggs thinks so, too,” she tosses back at me.

With a hmph, I fold my arms and turn to the game.