Page 32 of The Nicest Thing

"No offense, Rose," Emmy said lightly, "but green isn't your color."

"Ha ha," I mumbled.

Day one of signing ended hours ago. We were standing at the bar of the hotel restaurant, getting drinks for our table, and as I watched, another woman approached Finn—getting too close—and smiling down into his eyes like he was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen.

Truthfully, I couldn't blame her for that.

Finn O'Brien was pretty, but the sight made me want to howl, an unnamed something clawing fast and furious at my insides.

Jealousy really was a monster.

"Seriously, though, forget them," she added, referring to his many admirers, not including the authors she'd invited to come to dinner with us.

Unlike me, my roommate had people skills.

Emmy showed up at the conference, instantly made friends, and insisted we have a 'girls-only-plus-Finn' dinner date.

Maybe she could give me lessons on socializing.

"My brother loves you. You said he finally told you that, right? "

My lips tipped up a bit. "He did."

"And?"

"I confessed my feelings too."

"Then what?"

I shot her a look. "Do you really want to know?"

Emmy's brow furrowed. "The part of me that's your friend is dying to find out. She's starved for romance and loves love. But the part of me that's Finn's sister"—she gave an exaggerated shiver of disgust—"yeah, no. Best keep any details to yourself."

"Good choice."

"I've been known to make a few."

She nudged my arm.

"Like driving here to see you. You looked so surprised."

"I was," I said. "Best surprise ever."

Seeing Emmy's face as I exited what was one of the most anxiety-induing public speaking events of my life was like taking my first breath of fresh air after being oxygen-deprived for a year. I was so happy to see her I'd nearly crushed her with my hug.

"Sorry again for hugging you so tight," I said.

"My ribs are a little sore," she teased.

"I missed you. So much, Emmy. Especially after the absolute disaster that was the author panel."

"I know you said you were awkward, but I don't believe it. You're a good speaker, Rose."

"I tripped on air in front of everyone," I said.

"Could've happened to anyone," Emmy replied.

"I also choked on the water they gave us and had a coughing fit."

"That doesn't sound so bad."

"I spewed said water all over the moderator."

She opened her mouth, but I cut in.

"Her computer sparked and nearly caught fire. Event security was called to make sure everything was okay. Luckily, we didn't have to evacuate. And later, I literally admitted to never having an orgasm with another person until last night."

Emmy put her hands over her ears and started humming. "I didn't hear that last part. Nope."

"Sorry," I muttered then pointed to my chest. "See? Awkward."

She smiled, dropping her arms back to her sides. "You're one of the coolest chicks I know, Rose. I bet everyone there saw that."

I scrunched my nose in disbelief.

"Or at least, they had to sense it," she amended. "Anyway, a lot of people have never had an orgasm with a partner. I read it online."

"Have you…?"

Emmy lifted a brow. "I'm not answering that."

"That's what I should've said," I mumbled, putting my head in my arms.

"But you didn't. You told the slightly embarrassing, yet totally natural truth, and it made you so much more relatable to everyone in that room."

I peered up at her. "It did?"

"Hell yeah, it did." She shot me a smile. "The truth is always better, right?"

My stomach clenched at that, reminding me of the lies I'd been telling recently, but I said, "Sure."

After we brought the drinks back to the table, I wanted to slide into my seat next to Finn.

But while I was gone, someone had taken my place.

I tried not to read too much into it.

Tried and failed miserably as Keely Starr smiled. "How's it going, Liv?"

"Fine," I said, shifting from foot to foot.

Should I ask her to move? It would be rude.

But did I really want her sitting so close to my…

God, what was I supposed to think of Finn as now?

My best friend? My boyfriend? My fake husband?

My real love? I didn't know anymore. "Emmy and I got the drinks," I added lamely.

"Thanks," she said, grabbing her margarita and taking a sip. "Did you need something else?"

"Um…"

"You're in her seat," Emmy said.

Keely's innocent look wasn't believable in the slightest. "Oh sorry, I didn't realize."

"Sure, you didn't."

As Keely shot her a glare, I loved Emmy a little more.

Retaking my seat, I breathed a sigh as Finn's arm settled over my shoulders—then swallowed a gasp as he laid a kiss on my neck.

"Missed you," he murmured into my skin.

"We were gone for like five minutes," I said.

"Still. I missed you, my Rose."

I looked into his eyes, falling deeper and deeper into that piercing gray.

"Ooh, I want that," Lorelai said with a sigh.

Breaking my stare with Finn, I looked over…and saw the entire table staring at us with varying degrees of envy, swoon, and interest.

"How long have you been married?" Tessa asked me.

I blinked.

"My husband hasn't looked at me like that in years. To be fair, after cleaning his socks and underwear for 15 years, I don't think I look at him the same either."

There was a general murmur of agreement.

"Well, it's still pretty new," I hedged, unsure of how to respond and feeling like a jerk.

Finn stepped in, saying, "The marriage is new, but my feelings for her started years ago. They're still going strong."

"That's so sweet," Keely said, but her eyes looked like she meant the opposite.

Lorelai gave a wistful nod. "I can't believe you do reels with her. My fiancée would never."

"He's not your fiancée yet, Lor."

"But he will be."

"Yeah, if he ever gets enough balls to ask you."

"I told you, Remy's just saving up to buy me a ring," she said.

"I wouldn't hold my breath." Keely turned away, either ignoring or not noticing her friend's crestfallen expression, and asked me, "How did Finn propose?"

"Well I…don't remember," I stammered.

It was stupid.

I lied so I wouldn't have to lie and ended up lying anyway.

"You don't remember?" Keely said slowly. "Wow, that's…suspicious."

"Keely, come on," Tessa said.

"What? I'm just saying. Who doesn't remember how their husband proposed? Must not have been all that romantic."

Emmy gave me a wide-eyed look, but Finn came to the rescue again.

"It wasn't," he said, giving my hand a squeeze. "I didn't have a ring and forgot to get down on one knee. But I made it up to her later. Right, Rose?"

"Yeah," I said quietly.

Tessa tilted her head. "Rose is a good name. Why didn't you use it for your books?"

"I know this one," Emmy said. "It's because she wanted it to be something totally unique. Liv Lamoreaux is very romantic and chic. Don't you think?"

"I like it," Lorelai said.

"Me too," Tessa agreed.

"Obviously, I'm partial to Rose," Finn said, sending me a soft smile. "But I love Liv too."

"It's nice for a lie," Keely put in, and I tensed.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Emmy said.

"Pen names are fake. You could say that makes the people who use them liars."

The word shouldn't have stuck with me, but it did, liar echoing in my ears.

"Or they could just be people with names that are difficult to spell," Tessa put in.

"It's shady."

Emmy gave Keely a stony look. "Yeah, right, and we're supposed to believe your last name is Starr?"

She brushed a piece of imaginary lint off her shoulder. "It was my maiden name. Clearly, I was meant to be famous."

"Or infamous," Emmy shot back.

"I just meant that pen names are a way for people to hide who they really are," Keely said. "There's no reason to be rude."

"Hey, you started it."

Tessa stared her friend down. "She's right. You've been rude this whole time, Keels."

"I have not!"

"You have," Lorelai said with a nod. "Emmy was nice enough to invite us to dinner. You're not even making an effort."

Keely rolled her eyes. "You can't tell me I'm the only one who thinks this relationship"—she gestured between Finn and me—"is a farce.

They make reels together to sell her books.

She suddenly gets invited to Romance or Die—a very hard conference to get into—and not only that, he's invited too.

Now, they're viral and the it couple. Sorry, but men like him don't go for bigger women. "

I was too stunned to respond.

"You need to shut up now," Finn said darkly.

"Or like ten minutes ago," Emmy put in.

"Rose aka Liv can't even remember how he proposed. Maybe that's because he didn't. Maybe—"

"Keely, enough," Tessa said.

"But…"

Lorelai shook her head. "Rose and Finn's relationship is obviously the real deal. Even if your relationship is on the rocks, that doesn't give you the right to tear everyone else down."

Keely's eyes were misty with angry tears, but she didn't let them fall.

"Sorry if I was harsh," she said, standing stiffly. "My inner BS alarm was going off, but maybe I was wrong."

She wasn't though. Keely may have been a bitch—actually, she was a bitch—but she was right about Finn and me.

I didn't want to be a liar.

I wanted to feel worthy of this love between us.

I just wasn't sure how to get there.

"Tomorrow's signing will be even crazier with the readers," Lorelai said, jumping up as Keely stomped off. "I should go. Nice to meet you all."

"You too," I said.

Tessa stood and gave a heavy sigh. "Sorry for Keely. She's not usually like that."

She thought for a second.

"Actually, she is. I don't think we'll be friends for much longer."

A shrug.

"Have a good day, you guys."

"Same to you, Tessa," I said.

After they'd left, Emmy looked to me. "What the hell was all that about?"

"She doesn't like me."

"Obviously. How do you even know her?"

"Keely started publishing around when I did," I answered, "not that I knew that. I had no idea who she was until she emailed me. She said she read and liked my books. She was very complimentary."

"That woman?"

"Yep."