Finn stood next to Chance talking and looking completely at home, but his gaze was fixed on me.
I looked away and Richard caught my eye over the crowd. His warm smile stretched out across his face. I wasn’t sure if Richard was my soul mate, but I knew the only way to find out was to move to New York and give it a real shot.
“Richard is a good guy,” I told Aubrey and it was a good reminder to myself as well. He was all the things I was looking for. Generous, kind, reliable, and he loved me – there was never a doubt in how Richard felt. He was steadfast and loyal.
“Of course he is, but does he make your whole body light up every time you look at him? When he says your name do you want to throw pride out the window and throw yourself at his feet?”
I snorted, but when I glanced over at her the way she looked at my brother told me she wasn’t exaggerating by much.
I spent the next few hours avoiding Finn. Any time he moved, so did I – in the opposite direction. He disappeared inside and I let out a shaky breath and moved to the perimeter of the party to observe and enjoy. The night was winding down and who knew when I’d see these people again.
I was going to miss it here and I needed a moment to be sad about that without anyone thinking it meant something it didn’t. It was okay that I was sad. It could be sad and still be right.
Richard lifted a bottle of Perrier from the drink table and struck the side lightly with a knife. “If I could have everyone’s attention, I’d like to say a few things.”
The crowd quieted and Richard flashed his biggest, most heartfelt smile. “Thank you all for coming tonight. It means a lot to me and Adele.”
A hand wrapped around my arm and he whispered in my ear, “You can’t avoid me all night.” I ceased all ability to hear Richard, though I know he kept talking.
Finn gently turned me to face him. His eyes had a sincerity that I wasn’t expecting. “I need to talk to you.”
I walked away, moving further from the party and he followed.
“Will you stop for a second? Just give me two minutes. I can’t stop thinking about you.”
I swiveled around so fast I wobbled in my heels. “I have a boyfriend.”
“You had a boyfriend the night you kissed me too.”
“You kissed me.”
He reached out and grabbed my fingers loosely. “And I plan on doing it again.”
I stared at him, confused and frustrated by his touch. He rubbed his thumb gently along the inside of my palm. “Tell me you haven’t thought about kissing me again.”
“God, you’re arrogant,” I muttered. “And I’ve spent exactly zero seconds thinking about you since I saw you last.”
He laughed. Damn him.
Richard saying my name loudly from the front of the party doused a bucket of cold water over any smoldering emotions Finn might have lit. I glanced up to where Richard stood, careening his neck to find me. “Adele, could you come up here?”
I glanced quickly at Finn. “You need to leave.”
I moved through the crowd in a daze. My friends watched on, big, expectant smiles on their faces. I reached Richard and he wrapped an arm around my waist. He was saying nice things. All the right things. How excited he was. How much he cared for me. I stared out into the crowd, watching Finn’s expression. He looked… mad or upset. A little like the guy I first met – completely heartbroken, but I couldn’t understand why.
I turned my attention to Richard as he dropped his arm and took my hands. “There’s only one thing that could make this night better.”
He dropped to one knee and pulled a ring from his shirt pocket. My knees buckled and Richard steadied me by taking my hand.
“Will you marry me, Adele?”
The crowd cheered. My heart thumped wildly. I looked out to the crowd where Finn had stood but couldn’t find him.
“Put him out of his misery,” someone yelled, and Richard laughed. That good-natured laugh that made people feel at ease around him. He was good at that. And he was good for me.
“What do you say?” Richard asked, nerves making his voice waver slightly. He looked up at me with such love and admiration.
“Yes.”
He stood, kissed me, whispered how much he loved me and then the crowd overtook us patting Richard on the back and congratulating the both of us.
It was a long time before I was able to slip away, but Finn had finally listened to me. He was gone.
Finn
December 2, 11:18 p.m.
From: [email protected]
Subject: No Subject
I need to talk to you. Name the time and place and I’ll be there.
P.S. You looked beautiful last night. I know I already told you that, but it bears repeating.
Finn
December 3, 12:02 a.m.
From: [email protected]
Subject: Hey
Answer your phone, woman. Five minutes, that’s all I need.
December 3, 1:42 p.m.
From: [email protected]
Subject: Plan C
Alright, looks like we’re going with Plan C, where Plan A was talking to you last night and Plan B was kissing you until you admitted you have feelings for me. Real bummer, Plan B would have been more fun.
So, Plan C – doing this via email.
I know you have a boyfriend, and I want to respect that, but it’s damn hard to stand by when I’m one hundred percent certain what you and I have blows whatever you have with him out of the water. It’s not too late. At least give me a fair shot to show you how good we could be together.
Finn
December 24, 10:09 p.m.
From: [email protected]
Subject: Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas. I got you the best present ever. I finally named kitty. Ready for it? Marshmallow. Great, right? I was thinking about the night we made s’mores and it just came to me. Kitty looks like a lightly toasted marshmallow with her streaks and spots of black.
We miss you.
Finn and Marshmallow
P.S. I still maintain that lightly toasted is better than charred. Marshmallow agrees with me.
December 31, 11:59 a.m.
From: [email protected]
Subject: New Year’s Resolutions
Happy New Year.
Last year I made a New Year’s resolution to give up soda. That lasted all of two weeks before I forgot. I took one sip before I remembered and then once I’d slipped it seemed silly to keep going. Do you make resolutions for the new year? I bet if you do, you stick to them, stubborn woman.
This year I’m not making any resolutions because I don’t want to give up anything. Including you. That’s right, sweetheart. Maybe you think you can ignore me, and I’ll forget about you, but I can be just as stubborn when I want something bad enough. And I want you badly.