“I especially don’t want Bran to hear this.” Laurie paused, working up the nerve to say it out loud. “I know you’re inviting Bran’s buddies, and I don’t think I can handle being around Finn.”
“Oh. Things are going that bad, huh? Are you two fighting all the time?”
“No, it’s way worse than that. He’s being ultra-sweet and thoughtful. No man has ever treated me like that, except for Branson. And now… I kind of like him.”
Stephanie squealed in her ear. “That’s awesome! You and Finn would make a great couple.”
“Not awesome. Finn doesn’t want to be a couple. He wants to be best-buds. Like he is with Bran. Yesterday, when I landed a million-dollar art donation, he punched my shoulder and said, ‘nice job.’ Next time, he’ll probably slap me on the butt and yell, ‘Good game, Fields!’”
Stephanie’s giggles lightened Laurie’s mood. It helped to laugh about her situation. It was either that, or cry and be depressed.
“So, he’s a little awkward. But it’s a big deal that he’s being nice to you. Surely it means he wants to be more than friends.”
“No, he was very, very clear he only wants to be friends. Believe me, he wasn’t being romantic.”
“Hmm… Maybe a few weeks or months from now, he’ll feel differently. You haven’t been working together long. Don’t you think he might change his mind?”
“Sure. Finn changes his mind every day. He changes so much, he’s practically schizophrenic. But I’m pretty sure he doesn’t like me in a romantic way and never will.”
“How can you know that?”
“Because of what he said to me after our date, Wednesday night.”
A severe coughing fit sounded over the phone. “You have to warn me before you say something like that,” Steph scolded. “I was taking a drink when you casually mentioned you and Finn went on a date. I almost choked to death.”
“Well, it wasn’t that kind of date, so don’t get all worked up. I was pretending to be his girlfriend so his mom would get off his case. I’ll have to admit, he needed some help. Susan’s pretty intrusive.” Laurie stared out the window, recalling the ups and downs of the evening. But it was Katie’s parting words that really stuck in her head. She wished it wasn’t true, but Katie was right—she did have feelings for Finn. What a disaster.
“You don’t like Susan? I loved her when I met her a few months back. Finn had a party at his house. I thought she was hilarious.”
“Oh, she is. I liked her, a lot, but she teases a little too much. Anyway, that’s beside the point. I was telling you what Finn said after dinner… He told me we could be friends, like he was bestowing some special gift. And then he told me he could help me out if I needed it. Said he could give me the money to move to a better apartment. Or I might want to buy a new dress.” Even talking about the conversation made her fume.
“Surely he was kidding you. Finn’s like that, you know.”
“He was dead serious. I promise.”
“Okay, I admit, that doesn’t sound very romantic.”
“It sounds like he feels sorry for me because I’m poor. I don’t even know why I like him when such arrogant things come out of his mouth.”
“He’s really not arrogant. He’s just generous with his money and doesn’t know he’s offending people when he says that sort of thing.”
“I know.” Laurie sighed. “That’s why I can’t stay mad at him, even when I want to. And that’s why I can’t come to dinner tomorrow.”
“Actually, Finn’s not coming tomorrow.”
“He’s not?”
“No, Ellie wanted to be at dinner to see you, and we have to keep Finn and Ellie from contaminating each other. It really is dangerous. Finn agreed not to come, so you’re still on the hook.”
“That’s great. Honestly, I’ve missed you so much. And I have a lot more to tell you. My mom called, and there’s all kinds of drama.”
“Why don’t we have lunch? I could be there in thirty minutes—forty-five, tops.”
“You want lunch now? It’s only 10:00 in the morning.”
“It is? Huh! I’m conditioning my hair with mayo, and I smell like a sandwich. I guess it’s making me hungry.”
“I can’t go out to lunch anyway. Finn asked me to eat with him, and I told him I had so much work to do I was skipping lunch.”