Page 12 of Making Home with You

He’s nine years older than me.

“He’s also the chief of police here in Rockport,” Erin adds, this time laughing at the irony in it all.I can’t seem to get away from these overprotective cops.

The pizza gives off a smell that says it’s nearing done, so our conversation stalls out for a moment.I open the oven and set the pizza on top of it as Erin asks, “So, are you going to see him tomorrow?”

“I want to, but I’m not sure how with Ryan around.”

“He’s going to find out eventually, especially if it’s serious, but don’t worry about Ryan.I’ll take care of him,” Erin says, winking at me.“And by the way, it is serious, Sarah.I’ve known Finn a long time and he’s never had a girlfriend.”

“I’m not his girlfriend,” I chide, but she wrinkles her nose at me and she nods her head.

“You are,” she whispers, laughing as we both hear the front door open, the alarm chime ringing out.

“Erin, did you burn the pizza again?”Ryan calls out, his voice scolding, but the laugh that comes at the end tells us both he’s teasing her.

His relationship with Erin is something I never thought I’d see, but I’m so glad they found each other.Ryan is happier than he has ever been in his life, and with the baby on the way, I see things only getting better.

He pulls Erin into his arms after setting the ice cream down on the counter, pressing a kiss to her lips, he moves his way down to her neck, nuzzling against her.

“Excuse me,” I say, clearing my throat.

Ryan flips his hand at me and Erin giggles, shoving Ryan away as she moves to cut the pizza.

We sit down at the table, eating and chatting about the baby and Ryan tells us he has to spend some time at the pub tomorrow working on new menu items and testing out recipes.

Erin looks over at me, smirking a little as if to say there’s my opportunity to sneak away to see Finn.She then asks Ryan, “What time will you be done?”

“Not sure.Why?”

“I wanted to go to Gloucester to look at baby furniture.Can you be done around five?Then we can check out some furniture stores and have dinner.”

“Sure,” Ryan says, blissfully unaware that his baby mama is setting it up for his sister to hook up with a guy.

“We might even need to go into Boston,” Erin adds.“There aren’t many furniture stores around here.”

By now Ryan isn’t even paying attention, just nodding in agreement to whatever Erin says, and I remind myself to thank her later.

My night ends with me texting Finn.

Me: It’s Sarah.Still up for getting together tomorrow?

Finn: Of course.Thinking about you right now.

Me: What time and where?

Finn: My house?I’ll be off work around 6.

Me: I’ll be there.

Chapter Four

Finn

After confirming our hook-up tomorrow night, I store Sarah’s number in my phone, knowing I have a huge grin on my face that I can’t seem to wipe off.I’m glad no one can see me right now, because I must look completely whipped.

And truth be told, I feel like I am.What’s more surprising to me though, is how little I care.I’d always thought I wasn’t really into relationships or anything too serious, always keeping the few women I did hook up with at arm’s length.But as I grab the half-drunk beer I’d left on the kitchen counter earlier and wander back to my bedroom, sliding into sheets that still smell of her, I realize maybe I just hadn’t found the right woman to have one with.

And the thought that I now had, that I was actually seriously considering something so major with her; had even said the fucking R word out loud and right to her face, didn’t scare me at all.