Page 14 of The Nicest Thing

"Woo, let's go, Finn!" I yelled.

Beside me, Emmy chuckled. "You know, he's just the coach, right?"

I shot her a look. "And? I'm here to support."

"My brother has plenty of that. Believe me."

"What do you mean?"

Emmy just shrugged, moving her gaze back down to her paperback. "Baby Shark Finn is well-loved. A little too well-loved, if you ask me. The single moms all want him."

"Oh?" I said through a suddenly tight throat.

"Don't worry. He'd never go there."

"I wasn't worried."

"Sure. Although…some of them are really pretty," she added. "And ruthless."

Glancing at the seats nearest the dugout, I noticed more than a few women.

Emmy was right. They were all exceptionally beautiful with their hair done, makeup on, dressed to impress.

I looked down at my "In My Baseball Era" t-shirt which I'd paired with jeans and sky blue tennis shoes.

I even drew those black lines under my eyes like I'd seen sports players do.

I'd felt good, cute even, when I left the house this morning. But now?

I was a street urchin amongst goddesses.

Thank goodness, I'd remembered to leave my hair down.

"Seriously, Rose," Emmy said, interrupting my thoughts. "Finn would never."

I forced a nonchalant shrug. "I wouldn't care if he did."

"You wouldn't?"

There was something behind her words, but before I could figure out what, one of Finn's players got a base hit. I cheered with the rest of the crowd. Mostly composed of people who I assumed were parents and friends of the little leaguers, it was a good game—if a bit intense.

When Finn's next batter took her stance, the fans booed.

"Well, that's just mean," I muttered.

"Luce," Emmy said.

"What?"

"It's her name, Lucy Lorenz. They're not being rude. That's their cheer for her. Luuuce."

I looked at the girl who couldn't have been more than 10 and watched her smile from the plate. "She has her own cheer? That's so cool."

"She's a little beast," Emmy said, setting the book aside to watch. "Talented and a tiny bit arrogant, I love her. Reminds me of Dex…and Bay."

"She definitely seems confident," I said—and a moment later, I found out why.

A hush overtook the crowd. The next sound I heard was Lucy's bat as it connected with the ball. One pitch, one mighty swing, that's all it took. The ball soared right over the fence, and the crowd went wild again.

I was with them a hundred percent.

So was Emmy.

"Told you" was all she said.

"What a swing," I exclaimed.

"Yeah, she's a natural. But Finn helped her perfect it."

"Should've known. That had O'Brien written all over it."

My roommate threw me a smile.

"I almost feel bad for the other team," I said.

"You know what? Me too." Emmy frowned. "I usually root for the underdog."

She paused.

"No, I always go for the underdog."

"But?"

"But it's Finn."

I nodded. "Yeah, I get that."

The other team did well, but in the end, the game wasn't even close.

The Tigers won 13-5, and as they lined up to shake hands with their opponents, I found Finn and couldn't help but stare, appreciating the view.

Baseball pants should've been illegal—on him anyway.

My cheeks flushed as I tried not to ogle my best friend.

But the way his ass looked in those pants…

Gah. What was I a hormonal teenage boy? Dragging my eyes up didn't help.

That only meant I was staring at the back of his jersey—which showcased Finn's broad shoulders.

.. His muscular, broad shoulders that my fingers ached to touch.

"So inappropriate," Emmy muttered.

Startled, I jerked my guilty gaze to her. "Huh?"

She nodded to a group of women gathered beside the stands. "The baseball moms."

"What about them?" I asked. "It doesn't look like they're doing anything."

"Just wait. They're always thirsty after a game. Any second, they'll line up under the pretext of picking up their kids, but they always make sure to 'congratulate' Finn."

Emmy was right.

As I turned back to the field, Finn was celebrating with the team and looked our way.

He met my eyes and threw me a smile I felt in my heart.

I started to smile back, but one of the moms tugged him into a hug.

Finn's cheeks went pink as he pulled away, but she kept speaking—until another mom nudged her out of the way.

The first woman did not look too pleased about that move.

"See?" Emmy said and shook her head. "Totally inappropriate."

"I guess," I said, feeling like a hypocrite. Note to self: Do not ogle your bestie in his baseball pants. Especially not when his sister is sitting beside you. "Finn looks happy though."

"He'd be happier if you went over there and claimed him."

I stared at her in surprise.

"You said the couples' brunch went well," Emmy added.

"That was a one-time thing," I replied.

"Hmmm."

"Finn was my one-day husband. It went wonderful, but that's done. We're best friends. If I go over there now, acting all territorial, he'll think I'm crazy."

"Would he?" Emmy pretended to think about it. "Or would he love it?"

I just gaped at her.

"You know I'm right."

Suddenly, Finn's voice sounded clear as a bell in my head.

I wish you would've.

I don't like that kind of attention.

Emmy rolled her eyes then put her hands on my shoulders. "Come on, Rose. He's not like my other brothers. Finn doesn't like the spotlight—especially not when it's being shined on him by the moms of his players."

"Really?" I asked, watching as another woman stepped up to Finn.

"Yeah, that's why he likes me to come. Having his sister here usually keeps them at bay."

That obviously wasn't working today. Even now, the woman was edging closer to Finn as he ran a hand over the back of his neck. I recognized it as something he did when he was nervous. Was Emmy right? Or was he just hot?

"Why don't you help him then?" I said.

"I could—but I think I'll let you do it."

Finn continued to edge further and further away from the woman. When I glanced at her again, Emmy was smiling.

"I just got a text about my internship," she said, holding up her phone.

My eyes brightened. "With that hockey team?"

Emmy groaned. "Please, don't use the 'h' word. I still may have to pull my application—even if this is the best opportunity to get real-world experience in the sports world, doing actual work under a boss who I look up to."

"But—"

"And don't you dare tell my brother, or I'll tell him what I know."

"My lips are sealed," I said with a laugh.

"Good."

As she was walking away, staring down at her phone, her words finally registered. "Hey! Out of curiosity, what do you know?" I asked.

Emmy looked back at me over her shoulder.

"Best friends," she said with a scoff.

I shook my head in confusion.

"I'm not blind, Rose."

When I didn't respond, her lips tipped up in a smile.

"Friends don't look at friends the way you look at Finn," she said.

I nearly swallowed my tongue, but forced out, "I'll have to work on that."

"Yeah…or you could just own it."

Emmy waved over her shoulder and put her phone to her ear, disappearing into the parking lot a second later.

I wasn't sure whether to feel embarrassed or empowered.

On one hand, it was awkward to be called out like that—by Finn's sister, no less.

But on the other, it was freeing to realize that Emmy knew my feelings and approved.

Of me. For her brother. Even if I wasn't sure I was good enough, at least, she thought I was.

When I turned back around, most of the players were gone, and only a few parents and coaching staff remained.

I spotted Finn, still talking to the same woman, leaning as far away from her as possible.

He really did look like he could use some help.

And I still owed him.

For the couples' brunch.

I could do this.

For Finn.

It might even be fun.

Feeling a deep sense of resolve, I started walking, slowly but surely, making a beeline for my best friend.

Finn looked up as I was only a few feet away, and the way his face lit up made me even more sure.

This was the right thing to do. Finn lifted a brow in question.

In answer, I picked up the pace, my lips tipping up at the corners.

A celebratory hug. Maybe a quick kiss on the lips.

That was what I had planned. Almost as if he could read my mind, Finn's eyes brightened, and he flipped his hat backward seconds before I reached him.

I threw my arms around his neck, lifted onto my tiptoes and planted my lips against his.

I kissed him.

But I didn't expect Finn's reaction.

He caught me.

Picked me up with his hands on my hips.

Held me to him.

And deepened the kiss.

His tongue met mine, and I melted. I'd forgotten how amazing this felt.

No, I couldn't lie to myself. After Christmas, I'd dreamed of our first kiss, replayed it a million times in my mind.

Amazing was an understatement. Finn's mouth was a revelation.

It sounded ridiculous, but I felt like our souls touched.

I remembered every moment and was so conflicted because as happy, grateful, amazed as I'd been that it happened, I was also devastated that it never would again.

And here we were.

Finn stole my breath.

Again.

Seared my soul.

Again.

Gave me everything I'd ever dreamed of in a kiss and multiplied it by infinity.

Oh my God.

I realized then that I should've never worried about this arrangement ruining us.

Finn had already done that without even trying. I was ruined. So beyond help. And as I continued kissing him, I couldn't remember why I should care.

A throat cleared.

We broke apart slowly, but when I saw the glazed look in Finn's eyes, assuring me I wasn't alone at least in this moment, I reached up and laid one last, soft kiss on his mouth.

Slowly, I turned to find the woman Finn had been talking to staring at us.

Speechless, her face was tinged with jealousy and what looked like a hint of respect.

Next to her was a tall man wearing a uniform like Finn's, an assistant coach.

He looked like he wanted to frown but couldn't help the smile on his face.

"Coach O'Brien," he said with a nod.

Finn's voice was nothing but a rasp. "Coach Williams."

"A few fans reported inappropriate behavior happening on the field. You see anything?"

"I did not."

"Thought you might say that."

The woman next to him frowned. "Someone reported them? For kissing?"

He shrugged.

"That's dumb."

"I was thinking the same thing," Coach Williams drawled.

She shot me a grin. "Though it was some kiss."

I was starting to like this woman—even if she had been flirting with my Finn.

Wait…when did he become my Finn?

"You're a lucky girl," she said then walked away, heading toward the parking lot.

"I know," I said as Finn gave me a one-armed hug.

"Nah, I'm the lucky one," he said, laying a kiss on my hair.

Coach Williams looked a little put off by the PDA, but he merely shook his head. "You've got a lot of…fans, O'Brien. Maybe take this somewhere more private?"

"Will do," Finn said and gave the other man a fist-bump. Once the assistant coach was gone, he turned to me with a smile. "Thanks for that."

For some reason, even after everything, that was what made me blush.

"It was nothing," I said.

"That was definitely something, Rose."

"Well, I wasn't sure what to do. Emmy implied that an intervention might not be unwelcome, and I remembered what you told me at the brunch about not liking attention. So…"

He tilted his head. "So, you decided to jump me and kiss me like there's no tomorrow?"

My face had to be on fire. "Something like that."

"Well," Finn said softly, "it was a good plan."

"It was?"

"Yeah, definitely my favorite."

I rolled my eyes.

"I'm serious. I think you should make all our plans from now on."

"Finn," I said, shoving him with a laugh.

But he caught my hand in his.

"Hey"—piercing gray eyes met my own—"you're still wearing it."

I swallowed. "Yeah, I just forgot to take it off."

True. For the most part.

I did forget…

…but that was because I never removed it.

The weight of the ring was comforting, and sometimes, I caught myself staring at my hand, watching the sparkle catch the light, smiling at the memory of Finn on one knee.

I gave myself a mental shake.

"You forgot?" Finn echoed, staring at me while brushing his thumb against the metal and over my knuckles. "Hmmm."

That sound could mean anything. I tried not to read into it, but...

Honestly, the movement of Finn's thumb was making me feel a little lightheaded.

And was he staring at my lips?

In an effort to save myself from myself, I blurted the first thought that came into my head.

"My family wants to meet you," I rushed out.

Finn's smile shot across his face like a star, fast, bright, and blinding.

"Finally," he said. "Just tell me when and where. I'm dying to meet them."