Part 12 (2/2)
His smile turned into a full-fledged grin. ”Sing and dance like no one's watching. Live like no one's watching.”
And just like that, she melted a little.
Thor was sniffing Finn's hand carefully, cautiously, wanting to make sure this was his Finn, and finally he wagged his tail.
”Atta boy. It's just me.” Finn opened his arms and Thor moved in for a hug.
Pru stared at the big, s.e.xy guy so easily loving up on her silly dog and felt her throat go a little tight.
”I know Archer didn't tell you where I live,” Finn said, eyes still on Thor. ”Or Spence. I mean, Spence would if he thought it was funny but they're both pretty hardcore about having my back.”
The hardcore part was undoubtedly true. She'd seen the three guys with each other. There were bonds there that seemed stronger than any relations.h.i.+p she'd ever had, a fact that played into her deepest, most secret insecurity-that she might be unlovable.
”Elle values privacy above everything else,” Finn said, ”which leaves the busybodies.” He was watching her now. ”Willa or Haley?” he asked.
”Neither.” She hesitated, not wanting to get Sean in trouble.
”s.h.i.+t.” Finn rose, Thor happily tucked under one arm like he was a football. ”Eddie?”
”Eddie?” Pru asked, confused. ”Who's Eddie?”
”The old guy who enjoys dumpster diving, eating dope brownies, and not minding his own business.”
Pru gaped. ”I've been feeding him for a month now and he's never told me his name. And I've asked a million times!”
”He likes to be mysterious. And also his brain might be fried from all those brownies. You going to tell me how you found me or not?”
She blew out a breath. ”Sean. But he didn't tell me to mess with you or anything,” she said hurriedly. ”He did it because I have a favor to ask of you and needed to see you in person to do it.”
”Sean was at the pub?”
”Yes,” she said.
”Working?”
”I think so . . .”
”Huh,” he said. ”He must have fallen and b.u.mped his head.”
”He seemed to have all his faculties about him,” she said. ”Or at least as many as usual.”
Finn snorted and set Thor down. The dog turned in a circle at Pru's feet and then plopped over with an utter lack of grace.
”I brought you a present,” Pru said.
”What?” Finn lifted his gaze from Thor to her face. ”Why?”
The question threw her. ”Well, partly to b.u.t.ter you up for the favor,” she admitted. ”I figured if I made you laugh, you'd-”
”I don't need a present to do you a favor,” he said, his voice different now. Definitely wary, and something else she couldn't place.
She c.o.c.ked her head. ”You know, presents are supposed to be a good thing.”
When he just looked at her, she wondered . . . didn't anyone ever give him anything? And suddenly she wished it was a real present and not a gag gift. But it was too late now so she slipped her backpack off and pulled the bag from inside. Seriously second-guessing herself, not entirely certain of this, not even close, she hesitated.
He took the bag from her and peered inside, face inscrutable.
Nothing. No reaction.
”It's a man's athletic cup,” she finally said, stating the obvious.
”I can see that.”
”I figured if we're going to hang out together, you might need it.”
He stilled and then a low laugh escaped him. ”What I need with you, Pru, is full body armor.”
True statement.
He lifted his head. ”And who says we're hanging out?” he asked, his gaze holding hers prisoner.
She hesitated briefly. ”I do.”
His eyes never left hers which was how she saw them warm. ”Well, then,” he said. ”I guess it's true.”
Their eyes stayed locked, holding for a long beat, and suddenly Pru had a hard time pulling in enough air for her lungs.
”So what's the favor?” he asked.
”I play on a coed softball league. We're short a player tonight and I was hoping-”
”No.”
She blinked. ”But I didn't even finish my sentence.”
”You're short a player for tonight's game and you want me to fill in,” he said.
”Well, yes, but-”
”Can't.”
She took in his suddenly closed-off expression. ”Because . . . you're against fun?”
He didn't react to her light teasing. He wasn't going to play. He clearly had a good reason, maybe many, but he didn't plan on sharing them.
”You should've called and saved yourself a trip,” he said.
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