Page 107 of Burden of Proof

“You know more about my finances than I know about yours,” I said. “Considering you help me with my taxes every year, but if you have enough money for that horrible pink paint we did your office in, I think you’re doing just fine.”

“Oh, myGod!” Finn threw his hands up in the air, a sputtering laugh dying in his throat. “They use it in museums. It’s supposed to be relaxing and introspective.”

“Those are words you could use,” Marshall teased, and Finn gave both of us the finger before flagging down the waiter for another round and an appetizer.

I was definitely hungry, but I had big plans for the night with Lincoln, and there was no way I was going to eat a plate of lasagna before going home to him. The video he’d recorded for me earlier in the day was still burned onto my retinas, the desperate flush that spread across his chest with every stroke an addicting bleed I wanted to see up close and personal.

“Anyway,” I said, clearing my throat and smiling at each of my brothers. “Seven tomorrow. They’re having it at the office so you have the address.”

“What time is Andrew coming up?” Marshall asked.

While I was annoyed they were still relying on me to be the middleman between them and our new brother, I was thankful at least for the interest. Their reception to the idea of a fifth brother had been chilly at best, sending Smith into a near spiral that eventually led him right into my boyfriend’s bed, and I would like to avoid a repeat of that, if at all possible.

Instead of answering them, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and scrolled down to the group text none of them had used since I started it.

Hey A. What time are you coming to town tomorrow?

Everyone’s phones buzzed, and I set mine down on the table and shrugged at them. My screen hadn’t even gone dark before another text came in, and I arched my brow at Finn, who swiped his screen on.

“Andrew says lunchtime,” he repeated.

“Lincoln and I are going to meet up with him,” I said.

“And you didn’t invite us?” Smith frowned.

“I started a group text so you could make your own plans. So you could each have your own relationships with him,” I told myyoungest brother. “I’m sure if you want to join us for lunch, your presence will be more than welcome.”

“I’ve got plans,” Finn said, setting his phone facedown on the table.

“Of course you do,” I said, shaking my head.

For as eager as I was to get home to Lincoln after dinner, I was equally invested in finding out what had crawled up Finn’s ass and died. He was absolutely still reeling from whatever had transpired with the married couple, but it was very unlike him to carry any sort of attachment this long. I narrowed my eyes at him, and he matched my expression, waiting me out.

I was the first one to look away, breaking the tension. Beside me, Finn exhaled heavily.

“I need to piss,” I said, climbing out of the booth and knowing without looking back that he would follow. He was so close behind me, I didn’t even think he waited until my knees had cracked into place to start after me.

Locked in the confines of the bathroom, I poked my brother in the center of his chest. “What is going on with you?”

“I need a vacation,” he answered. “And I need to repaint my office.”

My tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth, and I swallowed down any sort of biting remark I wanted to land.

“Where do you want to go?”

“Someplace with a beach and endless daiquiris.” Finn dropped his head against the wall, and I patted his cheek gently, not quite an embrace but a lingering touch just the same.

“Whatever is going on with you, Finn, you’ll come out the other side of it,” I promised him.

“I know,” he murmured. “I’m just…I just miss what I had.”

Then he nodded, rubbing the side of his finger against the underside of his nostril like he’d just made up his mind aboutsomething. He let out a loud sniffle, scrunching his nose and then straightening his shoulders, rallying and ready to go.

“You can have it again.”

“Rather not,” he said, grinning at me with the barest hint of mischief in his eye. “I learned the lesson the hard way.”

“Finn.”