Page 52

finn

Carter’s family is everything a big family should be, and it’s hard not to hold out hope that I can be one of them someday.

Amy’s eyes are focused solely on us, a serene smile on her face as she watches the exchange between us, and I feel my face heat.

Carter takes my hand, leading me back up to his family.

“I’ve never seen you so comfortable in your own skin, my boy, so happy and at ease. I’m so happy for you.”

Carter beams at his mom like he needed to hear those words as much as I did.

“We should probably tell you both what happened.” Everyone is off doing their own thing, so Carter and I take a seat in two of the patio chairs next to his parents.

“I was in a relationship with your father, Finn. For a little over a year in college. Carter, your dad was my best friend—always had been. But he was in a relationship with Samantha Harkin, and that was a whole thing. But even though we always felt something for each other, the time was just never right for us. Finn, it’s not a secret that your father comes from money, and with that money comes a certain level of expectation that his father put on him, and I’m assuming that has trickled down to you. ”

“It has.”

“Well, your dad was destined for big things in the city, and I was destined for a small life here in Aspen Ridge. I wanted a husband who put me at the center of his world, a big family with tons of kids and chaos, and to live in a tiny town where everyone knows everyone. Your dad wanted a trophy wife to throw money at in his penthouse in the city. Our life aspirations didn’t align.

I cared about him, Finn, deeply at the time because I saw a side of him that clearly no longer exists.

He was kind, and I know he loved me. When I realized that we would never work long-term, that he would never leave the life he had planned out in front of him, I broke up with him.

Only to have the stars align and immediately start a relationship with Craig.

I got pregnant with the twins not long after that.

Your dad was irate. He accused Craig of taking me from him and spent months trying to get me to reconsider.

He was adamant that I was stolen from him, as if I was a piece of property that could be controlled.

He stalked me, stalked us, and in order to protect me and my unborn babies, I was forced to get a restraining order against him, which I’m sure did not go well for him with his family’s status.

It’s been over thirty years. And based on your age, I’m assuming you came not long after my twin boys did. ”

“I found out recently that I was a surprise baby and was not wanted by my dad. It sounded like my mom willingly got herself pregnant with a Nash’s baby to secure her position in life.”

“I’m sorry, sweetie. And I’m sorry that something that should have been put to rest thirty years ago caused you and Carter so much harm.”

“I don’t know what to say. I had no idea you were such a heartbreaker, Mom,” Carter says, trying to make light of the situation.

“It’s probably anticlimactic to you both, I’m sure you were expecting a huge scandal.”

“No, just really wanted to know the reason he hated you all so badly, that he wanted me to stay away, but that tracks. My dad holds deep grudges. He’s a very angry man, and that’s the only version of him I know. I don’t have a single tender memory,” I confess.

Carter reaches over and squeezes my hand lovingly and confidently, grounding me.

“I’m going to help you make them; we’re going to be just fine,” he promises.

“You’ve decided to no longer have a relationship with him?” Carter’s dad, Craig, asks.

“Correct. Since the moment I was born, I was expected to be a mini version of him, expected to comply, never ask questions. I fell in love with writing, with being a travel writer, especially, and he knew it. He knew I had found something that he could hold over my head to keep me in line, and up until I met Carter, it worked. Your son gave me the strength to live my life how I want to, to break the cycle my dad was trying to continue. It’s funny, though.

You left him because you wanted a quiet, peaceful life surrounded by family in a small town, and that’s all I want, too.

It’s all I’ve wanted for as long as I can remember. That and writing.”

“I’m proud of you. Of both you boys,” Amy tells us. “I’m sad that your dad’s life is full of hatred. I hope he can find peace someday.” I nod my head in agreement.

The rest of the evening goes by in a wild blur. Carter wasn’t kidding when he said that his family is pure chaos. It’s loud and obnoxious, but it’s amazing. Each one of them is so full of life and so happy, and I desperately want to be accepted into the fold.

“Hey, you gotta few to chat?” Sawyer says to me, towering over me from where I’m sitting on a patio chair.

“Yeah, man. Lead the way.”

Carter visibly stiffens next to me, his hands clenching into fists as if he’s ready to brawl his older brother on my behalf right now. I nod to him, letting him know that I’m okay, and follow Sawyer into the house.

“This where you kill me?” I ask with a smile, trying to ease some of the tension.

“Nah. I’d do it where everyone could watch to serve as a warning.” Something in me tells me that he’s not joking, and I have to actively work hard not to bristle.

“Noted.”

“You love my brother?”

“Without a doubt in my mind.”

“Good. We won’t have problems then. I’ve never seen him so .

. . comfortable. Or happy. He’s always the fun one, but this is different.

I see the difference now and feel like an asshole for not reading the signs.

I’ve always wondered but wasn’t sure. Now I am.

He wasn’t fully happy before, because it’s clear he is now. ”

“I’m glad you can see that, but don’t beat yourself up. The walls he had up were thick. It took a lot to break through him.”

“I fucked him up, huh?”

“He loves you more than anything, and seeing you hurt? He didn’t ever want to see it again or feel it for himself. But look at where it brought him. He’s okay.”

“You’ll take care of him?”

“We’ll take care of each other. ”

“Alright.”

Sawyer shocks the shit out of me by shaking my hand and pulling me in for a hug.

“We good?”

“Yeah, we’re good.”

Later that night, Carter and I are heading to meet Trey for drinks. It’s been a lot of introductions all at once, but we’re playing catch-up after keeping our relationship a secret for so long.

“You worried he’s not gonna like you?”

“Nope.”

“You worried you’re not gonna like him?”

“Nope. I’m excited. Everything you’ve told me about him makes me respect him as much as I respect my own brothers. I’m eager to meet the only person who’s had your back all these years.”

Trey is eager as shit; he’s been at me wondering when he can meet him and I’ve been putting it off. I’m glad the time has finally come. I pull up to The Whispering Well, and Carter and I step out of my SUV. I reach for his hand on instinct, and he squeezes it back in return.

We walk into the bar, and the hostess leads us to Trey, who’s already sitting at a table on the bottom floor this time. His face brightens in a huge smile as he stands to greet us. I pull him into a quick hug and whisper, “Be nice.”

He pulls back and mocks being offended.

“So you’re the man who took my boy from me?” Trey says by way of greeting Carter .

“How about we share him? You get every other weekend?”

“I’m down for that. I’m Trey.”

“Carter. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Same. You guys want a beer? They’ve got the best drinks, and the whiskey is damn good,” Trey says with a smirk.

“They better be serving Aspen Ridge if you’re saying that shit.”

I take a deep breath of relief. Everything is fitting together seamlessly now that we’ve closed the gorge that separated us. I should have known. Everything else has been as easy as breathing when it comes to Carter. It was all the other shit that was difficult.

“So, you knew this guy as a teenager? What was that like?”

“Back in his still-trying-to-convince-himself-he’s-straight era is what I like to refer to it as.”

“Nice, dickhead!” I say, smacking him on the back of his head.

“It’s true! Want me to tell him about what it was like to watch you make out with a chick who you were not into?”

Carter laughs, throwing his head back and making me smile. I fucking love that sound.

The three of us talk, and Carter and Trey each have two rounds of drinks when, suddenly, he stiffens across from me.

With a gentle nod of his head, Trey signals for me to brace myself as one of two people I loathe is approaching our table.

The first one is in Seattle, I know without a doubt his ass isn’t walking into The Whispering Well at eleven at night to talk to me. So that only leaves one other option.

Nick.

Despite Trey’s warning, I feel absolutely nothing.

I may have felt discomfort and annoyance the last time I saw him, but I’m so confident with where I’m at in life and in my relationship that I feel absolutely nothing at all.

But he runs in the same group that Trey does, so I guess it’d be rude if his group didn’t pop over to say hi.

The group of three of them reach our table, and two of Trey’s friends fist-bump him. When they turn to face me, they give me a nod. Trey’s the first one to speak up.

“You guys already know Finn. This is his boyfriend, Carter.”

Carter must clock Nick’s reaction because his fingers twitch against my thigh where his hand is resting.

Moving his hand to the back of my neck in a possessive display that sends shockwaves of lust down my spine, he pulls me closer, pressing a delicate kiss on my neck and whispering, “I love you,” into my ear, making me shiver.

I can feel Carter’s eyes focused only on me, as if I’m the only person in the room. It’s a heady feeling and one I bask in.