Page 19 of The Nicest Thing

"The constant push and pull was torture."

Emmy sounded frustrated.

"Why couldn't they just be together?" she said.

"Because if they were, the book would be over," Rose said to murmurs of agreement.

"The unresolved sexual tension literally almost killed me."

"Looks like you survived."

"Barely."

Walking in to book club late sucked. But it allowed me to revel in Rose's laughter, airy, light, and free.

My favorite sound. When I stepped into the room, before she realized I was there, I got to witness the happy glow around her.

Didn't matter if I was responsible for it or not. I loved seeing Rose happy.

June spotted me first.

"Finn," she said, smiling at me, "why are you hovering by the door?"

"I'm not," I said with a shrug.

"You were kind of hanging back, watching from the shadows," Maisie pointed out.

Okay, so maybe June wasn't the only one who noticed.

"Finn's always been creepy," Emmy said to which I scoffed. "How was practice?"

Shaking myself out of it, I walked farther into the room. "Fun. Tiring. Messy."

"You're not kidding." My sister laughed and gestured to my shirt. "What'd you do roll in the mud?"

"It's not that bad," I argued.

"Please. You're absolutely filthy."

Rose choked on a cough. I was 99.9 percent sure she was remembering the last time we spoke, when I'd admitted to dreaming about her, leaving out the details, but you wouldn't know that by how pink her cheeks were now.

I threw Rose a wink as she tried to get a handle on the coughing by sipping some tea.

"You okay, Rose?" I asked.

"Yeah," she said and hit me with a glare, "I'm fine. No thanks to you."

"Me? What'd I do?"

"You know what you did."

"But I don't."

Rose sighed. "Finn, if you're going to be late, you could at least try not to be distracting."

"But I like distracting you," I said, enjoying the way her eyes sparked.

"Okay," Emmy said slowly, "what's going on?"

"Nothing," Rose and I said at the same time.

She tried to glare at me again but ended up laughing instead when I hit her with my most innocent expression.

"Also, sorry for disrupting the meeting," I added then held up the box in my hand. "But I did bring food."

Emmy's eyes widened. "Is that pizza from The Village?"

"Only the best."

"Congratulations, Finn. You just made it into my top 5."

"Top 5, what?" I asked.

"Brothers," she replied, swiping a piece of pizza.

"But you only have five…"

She shrugged. "You fell off the list after refusing to tell me what that ring around your neck is about. But you're back in my good graces."

"Uh, you're crazy, but thanks."

Looking to the group, I saw everyone had a slice and was digging in. Everyone except Rose.

"Don't you want any?" I asked.

"Nah, I'm good," she said.

Charlie gazed at the food longingly from the tablet where she and Honor were attending virtually. "Eat a piece for me would you? That looks so good."

"I can practically smell it through the screen," Honor agreed.

"The Village is one of my favorite spots."

It was one of Rose's too.

Still, she didn't move.

Stepping forward, I held the box out to her. "Come on, it's your favorite. Pepperoni, spinach, and mushroom."

"I ate already," she said.

"I also got cinnamon sticks."

Her eyes shot to mine. "Cinnamon sticks?"

I nodded, watching as her eyes flew to the smaller box I produced from behind my back. She swallowed thickly as I popped the lid.

"I shouldn't."

"Why not?" I said.

"It'll go straight to my hips."

"I love your hips."

"Or my ass," she mumbled.

"It's a nice ass," I said.

Rose chuckled, but she was still staring at the sweets.

"I got them for you—I mean, for book club. Of course."

Emmy scoffed, but it was muffled as she ate her pizza.

"They're fresh."

"They smell really good," Rose murmured.

I held the box out to her, and finally, she relented.

"Okay, but just one." As I watched, she took a bite and closed her eyes, savoring the taste. The quiet moan that left her lips made me gulp. "So good."

A throat cleared, and I looked over to see Maisie, June, and Emmy staring at me. Even Honor and Charlie wore knowing grins. Jeez.

I placed the box on the table then went to take a seat, but Emmy held up a hand.

"You should change first," she said.

"Yeah, right."

"I mean it, Finn. This couch has been here since I moved into Magnolia House. It's special. You can't dirty it up."

"It's true," Honor said. "The couch is sacred."

"I've napped on that couch," June put in.

"I've cried on that couch," Rose added—and I frowned, wondering who the hell made her cry and where they lived so I could pay them a visit.

"I've sat on that couch," Maisie said.

Emmy threw her a flat look. "Nice."

"Well, I have. It's super comfortable."

"Um hm," Charlie said. "Chase and I made out there—several times—but even he had to switch out of his baseball gear first."

"I didn't hear that," Emmy said, covering her ears. She sent me a look. "Well?"

With a shrug, I reached a hand back and tugged the shirt over my head in one swift pull. My undershirt came up with it a bit. No big deal though. I was completely covered. As I lifted my head, I held out my hands, raised a brow.

"There," I said. "This better?"

Emmy nodded, but the others continued to stare.

I took in their expressions with a glance.

June's cheeks were flushed; Maisie was biting her lip; Honor wasn't blinking; Charlie wore a small grin; and as the moments stretched on, Emmy's brows furrowed.

But Rose, her face was the one that held me captive.

It looked like she was holding her breath.

Her lips were parted in a little 'o'. Her eyes had this hazy, dazed look to them.

Had I done that?

"Okay, show's over," Emmy said, breaking the silence. "Finn, will you sit down already? And can we please get back to talking about the book?"

"I'm good with that," Rose said while munching on the cinnamon stick.

I walked over and took a seat next to her, trying not to be offended when she scooted away with a laugh.

"What's up?" I asked.

"Just want to give you your space," she said.

But I want you in my space.

"Where were we?"

"Emmy was hating on everything and anything," June said.

"I was not," my sister replied. "I just wanted the MCs to get together faster."

"Like Rose said," Maisie put in, "that would've been a pretty short novel."

"Okay, but…that third-act breakup. Was it really necessary?"

"Absolutely not," Honor said. "I hate those."

"Me too," Charlie said. "The miscommunication trope is so overused. They should've just talked to each other and all would be well."

Honor nodded. "Talking really helps."

"But in real life," June cut in, "it's not always like that. Sometimes, it's hard to speak your truth. You know?"

"Good point."

"Especially if the truth is you're in love with someone who's off-limits."

June laughed quietly.

"Not that I'm speaking from experience or anything."

Emmy patted her thigh. "Told you already. I knew you and Baylor were meant to be. I forgive you for breaking girl code and going after my brother."

"You're the best friend ever," June deadpanned.

"I know," Emmy said, ignoring the sarcasm, and added, "but yeah, I guess the truth can be a minefield."

I nodded.

Especially when your truth is that you're in love with your best friend. A best friend who instead of asking you to be anything real had requested you be her fake husband for a day. My lips turned down. True, Rose had asked…but only after I offered.

Maybe she was waiting for me to make the first move.

Could it be that simple?

I glanced at her as the talk continued.

"Saying I love you isn't easy for everyone," Maisie murmured. "That struggle read real to me."

"Same here," Charlie said.

"But the MMC was so obvious," Emmy put in. "His intentions were clear."

"Yeah, but saying I love you first," Rose said, blowing out a breath, "when you're not sure how the other person feels—or even when you are—that's tough."

"Well, one of them needed to be brave. That's all I'm saying."

"And risk ruining their entire relationship?"

Rose shook her head.

"Sorry, Emmy, I get why they played it safe."

"Playing it safe is one thing. But you shouldn't let fear stand in the way of true love."

"But what if that fear is actually trying to protect you from making a really stupid mistake?"

"Finn agrees with me. Right, Finn?" My sister met my eyes with a pointed look. "When you find your person, that's it. Game over. Mom always says: To hit a homerun, you've got to swing for the fences."

I nodded, letting her know I got the message. "Love is worth the risk."

"Exactly, little brother."

"Not so little anymore," June joked then reached over to poke my biceps. "What the what, Finn? Where've you been hiding these?"

"Wrangling kids is a good workout," I said.

"And by that," Rose said, "you obviously mean the guys at Omega Beta."

"Obviously."

"Don't be modest, Finneas," Charlie said, which wasn't my actual name. "You've clearly been putting in some hours at the gym."

"Must have someone he wants to look good for," Honor quipped.

"Or I just like being healthy," I said.

"Or maybe it's for those reels," Maisie said, and both Rose's and my gazes snapped to her.

"What did you say?" Rose asked.

"I saw one of your book reels today. It was good. If I didn't already own the book, I would've one-clicked."

"How did you see it?"

"Lola was telling me about that talk you gave at the writers group." Maisie grinned. "I think you have a fan for life, Rose. Anyway, we were talking, and next thing I know, your video popped up on my feed. It was like my phone was listening."

"Oh, I saw one too," Honor said.

"Me too," Charlie said.

"Same"—Emmy frowned—"though it was a little weird seeing my brother holding out flowers and smirking at the camera."

June smiled. "I liked the one with you two dancing."

"You posted that?" I asked.