Page 2 of The Nicest Thing

"Mmm."

My hand flexed on her waist, and I didn't think she realized it, but she was swaying toward me slightly. I wanted nothing more than for her to just rest her back against me. Let me hold her. Give me whatever weighed her down, and just let me be her person.

"Need anything else?" I asked.

"Like what?" she said.

"Ah, I don't know. Sugar, honey…a husband?"

Rose laughed softly and turned around to face me, looking up into my eyes with a smile that struck right between my ribs.

"Very funny," she said then held up the jar of honey in front of her. "But I've got it."

"What about the other thing?" I asked.

"You know I don't like sugar in my tea."

I nodded. "Honey if it's available with a splash of milk, though you'll drink it with nothing added and not complain."

Rose's smile grew at my ability to spout off her tea preferences.

"I pay attention," I said.

"Clearly," she said back.

"And I meant the other, other thing."

Rose sighed. "Finn, it was a joke."

"Didn't sound that way."

I followed her to the fridge.

"It sounded like you need help selling your books," I said. "And as your #1 fan, I'm obviously the best choice."

"I don't understand why you're teasing me," she said.

"I'm not."

Rose got the milk, turned the kettle on, added water and two bags of tea, then turned as she waited for it to brew. She crossed her arms as she stared at me. I mirrored her pose until her lips twitched up into a smile.

"You're really serious?" she asked in disbelief.

"As a heart attack."

"You want to be my fake husband?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

Because I want you.

I want you so bad it hurts.

I want any part of you, every part that I can get.

Even if it's all pretend.

"Finn?"

"I want you," I blurted.

Her brows furrowed. "You want me?" she repeated.

I nodded, quickly recovering with, "To be happy. That's what I meant, your happiness. If I can help bring that about in any way, I will."

Rose gave a slow nod. "I feel the same way about you."

"You do?"

"Of course, I do, Finn! You're my best friend," she said.

And there it was.

The label that I both loved and hated at times.

But mostly, I loved it.

I was honored to be Rose's best friend.

I just wanted to be more than that too.

"I am," I said, giving her a slow smile. "I'm your best friend even though you've rejected my offer of fake marriage. Twice."

"I didn't reject you," she said back.

"Kinda feels like it."

"Well, I didn't."

I lifted a brow and waited.

"You know, true best friends are rare—especially those of the opposite sex. I'm lucky to have you, and you're lucky to have me."

"I know."

"Just reminding you, Finn O'Brien."

"Unnecessary, but okay."

"Faking a relationship could endanger our friendship," she said.

"It wouldn't," I said.

"But it could."

"But it wouldn't," I repeated. "Think about it, Rose. You have a problem, and I'm the perfect solution."

"How do you figure?" she said.

"Well, I'm currently single"—though I'd love for you to remedy that—"and I meet all your qualifications. I'm in the age range—"

"The lower half," she put in.

"We've been over this," I said. "You're only four years older than me. That's nothing."

"Says the young cub to the cougar," she muttered.

Scoffing, I added, "I'm nice and a gentleman. Also been called hot, but I'm trying to stay humble here."

Rose grinned. "Oh, please don't. When you have a face and body like that, how can you?"

"Rose," I said, embarrassed.

"And look at that blush," she said. "It's official. My best friend is the hottest gentleman at Southern U. Period."

I rolled my eyes.

"Seriously, Finn. You and your brothers are hot, and you know it. Emmy and your mom are beautiful too. Your dad had to be gorgeous. It runs in the O'Brien genes apparently."

"Anyway," I said, waving that off, "stop trying to distract me with flattery."

"Was I?" she said innocently, and I knew I'd been right on the money.

"Rose, admit it." I gave her a smile. "This face could sell a ton of books."

She stared at me a second before begrudgingly saying, "It could. You're so freaking pretty, Finn. No doubt, it would."

"So?"

"As your best friend, I cannot in good conscience use you in that way."

"But I want to be used," I said.

"You do?"

"Yeah."

And I meant it.

I wanted to be used.

By her.

In any way, every way.

Wanted it so bad I could taste it.

"Don't look for anyone else," I said. "Choose me. I want to be yours."

Rose visibly swallowed. She was looking at me like she'd never seen me before, searching my face—for what I didn't know.

But I knew her well enough to read her expression.

She was considering it. She wanted to say yes.

She was this close. I could've sworn I saw something burning in her eyes that I'd caught glimpses of in the past. Our kiss last Christmas came to mind.

We never spoke of it after that, but it rocked my soul.

I was pretty sure it had rocked hers too.

Was she finally ready to acknowledge this tension between us?

But in the next instant, Rose blinked, shook her head and gave me a smile.

"Finn, I love you for offering," she said, "but I can't accept."

My mind got stuck on the first part of that sentence, and I knew I'd replay it again after this conversation was over. But I forced myself to focus.

"It's too much. Plus, do you really think people would buy you and me as a couple?"

Stepping forward, I caught her hand before she could walk away.

Rose turned back as I leaned down and spoke softly into her ear.

"Just promise me you'll think about it," I said. "Take the night. I'll check back with you tomorrow. Okay?"

She nodded. "Okay, Finn. But it's a crazy idea."

"There's a thin line between crazy and genius."

"Where'd you hear that?"

"Nowhere," I said, straightening and taking a step back. "I just made it up."

"Nice," she said.

"I should get going."

"Okay."

"Bye Emmy," I said as I passed the living room where she was pretending to read a book.

"Bye baby shark Finn," she said back. "Next time, bring something besides yourself, or you might be barred from entry."

Rolling my eyes, I tossed her a pack of her favorite gum, and she looked back at me with a grin.

"Thanks, baby brother. You're the best."

"And you're the worst," I said with a laugh then looked back. "Hey, Rose."

"Yeah?" she said.

"To answer your question, I absolutely think people would buy it," I said. "We'd have fun, stay friends, and sell a lot of books. I'd make sure of it. See you later."

"Bye, Finn," she said.

As I was walking out to my car, her words replayed on a constant loop in my ears.

Finn, I love you.

Even though there was a 'but' that followed, my mind was drinking up those words like oxygen.

She'd said it before—as my friend—so had I. A million times. But this time, something in my gut clenched, and I was filled with this deep sense of knowing.

This was it, the perfect opportunity to show Rose how I felt, prove to her how good we could be together. If only she'd say yes.