Parker, Cy, and Finn were friends in high school and stayed friends as they grew up. Eve also went to school with them but wasn’t part of their clique. This is where it gets interesting and very soap opera-esque.
When Cy was trying to figure out his emotions for Eve, Finn asked her out. That didn’t go over well with Cy. He’s about as alpha as they come. Obviously, nothing much happened between Eve and Finn. Anyone who looks at Cy and Eve knows they belong together. They’re as much in love now as they were when they first started dating.
Then there’s Parker and Astoria. Again, when Parker and Tori weren’t getting along so well, Finn met her and asked her on a date, not knowing of the past she had with Parker. Parker is almost as alpha as Cy and wasn’t happy at all. That left Finn with two failed dates and two very pissed off men who were once his friends.
I went to the same high school as them but graduated eight years prior. Parker and I were close when I was dating his brother. Brant didn't like that and was very jealous. That jealousy led to the horrible things he did to our unborn baby and me.
The support of my friends is what got me through the hardest years of my life. Each person played a role in my healing, both mentally and physically.
Fast forward to present day. Finn is still single, and I’m still hiding in my home—not voicing how I feel about him—how I’ve felt about him for some time now. Finn isn’t just another guy, though. He's one of the best men I've ever met. He ranks right up there with Parker and Cy, and that's a pretty high pedestal I have them on. They’ve gone above and beyond for me. They’ve fought for me, protected me, and loved me as only best friends can. The one thing I can’t tell them is: I’m secretly in love with Finn Bradley.
No, the three guys don’t have a strained relationship anymore. They actually get along great and have guy’s nights all the time while Eve, Tori, and I do girl stuff.
I’ve been asked if I have feelings for the super sexy Finn and every time, I say no, though I have a feeling Eve knows. She’s around me a lot. I don’t know how I’d get everything done if it weren’t for her.
Finn comes to visit me often for lunch while Eve is here. She’ll wink and excuse herself to meet her husband. She insists Finn has feelings for me. However, he’s never voiced them, and I've never asked. I'm afraid to know. Afraid of a whole lot of things if I'm honest with myself.
When I think of dating, of letting someone into my life on a permanent basis, fear takes over. The last man I let that close to me violated me in more ways than I want to remember. But with Finn, I feel like I might be able to let him in. If only I were willing to take the leap. And it’s a huge leap. Like the size of the Grand Canyon. But what if I get everything I’ve ever wanted?
“You’re doing that thing again,” Parker observes. He stops scrolling on his phone to look at me.
I wave him off. He doesn't need to know I'm thinking about a certain someone. "Just had a book idea," I lie. It's a believable one.
He narrows his eyes then goes back to his phone. Thick blond hair falls forward over his forehead as he concentrates on what he’s doing. I have no doubt he’s researching something for work. He’s a very skilled software developer. To the point that what he’s created has made him millions when he sold it. He doesn’t need to work, but he loves what he does.
“Why are you here, Parker?” There has to be a reason he dropped by. He doesn’t exactly have a boring home life. What with twin sons about to start kindergarten.
He lies his head back on the chair. “Tora kicked me out for a while. Apparently, I was riling the boys up and making things worse.” Astoria was always Tora to Parker. Not Tori like the rest of us call her. No, that nickname is reserved solely for him.
I laugh. “What did you do?”
“I bought them a laser tag set and told them to play… inside.”
“Why would you do that? It’s gorgeous out today. You have enough land and trees that they could have so much fun outside.”
He levels me with a glare. “Listen, I never said my ideas were great, but she didn’t need to throw me out.”
“I doubt she threw you out. You’re probably being dramatic.” He rolls his eyes.
A knock sounds on my office door, causing my head to turn that way. There was a time when my house was always locked up tight, with the alarm set. That was when my ex was in jail and after he was released. Now that he’s dead, and time has passed, my fear of being attacked in my home has lessened. I still lock it down at night and set the alarm, but during the day it’s a revolving door of people. I love every minute of it.
Finn peeks his head in. His chestnut hair is combed back from his face. Brown eyes crinkle slightly in the corners as a smile lights his face. He’s truly breathtaking. I let out a long, dreamy sigh before I realize what I’m doing.
“Finn!” Parker says and stands to go over to him. “Come in and tell Blair to get her ass in gear. I hate waiting for her books. I’m the worst fan of hers because I’ll torment her relentlessly until I get my fix. I’m an addict, dude, and not too proud to admit it.”
Finn chuckles and fully steps into the room. Today he’s wearing a pair of grey, plaid shorts with a white T-shirt that probably cost more than half my wardrobe. No cheap clothes for our Finn.
To date, Finn owns three very successful, and very trendy, restaurants and one nightclub. His business has grown over the years, and he works tirelessly to ensure everything runs smoothly. I’ve lost track of how many times he’s passed out on my couch watching television because he’s run himself ragged.
Finn shoves his hands into his pockets and rocks back on his heels. "I was hoping to lure Blair out for lunch. I have a new menu I'm testing at one of my restaurants and want her opinion."
Parker taps his finger on his chin as he contemplates this. Not like I’m in the room or anything. “I guess that’s okay, as long as you can get her to tell you the name of Marina's killer. She left me hanging in the last book, and I'm still pissed about it."
Finn turns to me and winks. He fucking winks, and it's all I can do not to melt in my chair. “I’ll see what I can get out of her.”
Parker claps him on the shoulder. “You’re a good man, Finn Bradley. I’ll wait for a text from you later.” He gives me one backward glance before he slips out of my office and down the stairs, no doubt heading home to see if he’s allowed back in yet.
That means I’m alone with Finn. Eve has the day off. It was ultrasound day for her. Cy and Eve are expecting their first child and found out what the sex of the baby was today. It’s a girl. I’m over the moon excited for them. But there is this small part of me that wishes I had my own child with me. The child I was robbed of