Page 32 of Hard Rock Desires

Finn’s smirk turned into a look of concern.

“Did something happen?” he asked.

“Nah.” I didn’t want to get into it. “What’s the pizza?” Since we hadn’t eaten the tart, and we’d barely gotten started on our shitty pastry tour, I was starving.

“Pineapple and ham,” Finn replied.

“Dick.” I punched him in the shoulder. “You know I hate pineapple on pizza.”

“How was I supposed to know what time you’d be home?” he asked. “All you said was that you were going to woo some girl with your culinary skills.”

“I sure as fuck said no such thing.”

“Right, right,” Finn chuckled. “I think your exact words were,I’m going to track down that hot girl, and when I asked for details—”

“When you pestered me to death for details,” I cut in.

“—You told me she was taking a baking class, and you were going to scope it out.” Finn brought the can to his mouth and took a long sip, not taking his eyes off me. He lowered the can and raised an eyebrow. “I assume it didn’t go well?”

“It went fine,” I said through gritted teeth. “I’m going to go practice.”

“Wait.” Finn ducked into the den and came out with a paper plate and two slices of plain cheese pizza. “I only got pineapple on half,” he said.

“Sometimes you’re not half-bad, you know that?” I said.

“You take that back,” he replied, insulted. “I’m as bad as they come.”

I reached out to take the plate, but he pulled it back at the last second.

“I’m serious, though,” he said. “Did something happen?”

I found myself frowning without meaning to.

“I was hanging out with Grace—”

“The hot girl?” he interrupted.

“Yes, the hot girl. We were hanging out and I got sort of attacked by a swarm of fans—”

“Sounds like a regular day in the life of Zain Weston,” he said.

“Will you shut up and let me finish?” I said. “Grace took off while I was distracted. Just left. She didn’t even say anything.”

Finn lifted a slice of pizza,myslice of pizza, to his mouth, took a bite and chewed slowly. He swallowed.

“She was probably pissed,” he said thoughtfully. “Some dude asks her out and then tosses her aside the second he gets some attention from other girls?” He nodded sagely. “She probably hates your guts now.”

“Wow, thanks,” I said. “That helps. Really.”

Finn shrugged and ate another bite.

“It’s a hazard of the job,” he said. “Girls are going to mob us.”

“It wasn’t like I wanted to get mobbed,” I told him. “She could have just told me she wanted to leave. I would have listened.” I clenched my jaw. “But instead of saying anything, she just took off. I even drove around the neighborhood to see if she was walking home, but she was nowhere.”

“Probably called a cab,” Finn said reasonably. “Look, I know you’ve got this whole abandonment issue thing…”

I shot him a dirty look. Finn clapped me on the back with a hearty slap.