Page 55 of A Little Secret

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing.”

“What’s. Going. On?” I repeat.

“Are you going to cut me off again, or are you going to let me talk?” she demands, stubborn as ever.

I let her go and lift my knee, resting my forearm against it as I stare up at her as if to say, “The floor’s all yours.”

With a huff, she flips her hair over her shoulder. “Like I said, nothing is going on.”

I wait a solid ten seconds, but the girl’s mute. “That’s it?”

“Not sure what else you want me to say,” she hedges.

“You broke up with your long-term boyfriend last night.”

“I’m well aware, thank you.”

“And you kissed your brother’s best friend.”

“Andit was good,” she quips. “Like,reallygood. You have one talented mouth, and I’m not trying to blow smoke up your ass, either. Bravo, Griffin.” She gives me a slow clap. “Anything else?”

“Not gonna ask why I ended the kiss?”

“Nope.”

I hold her stare, waiting for her to cave, even though I know she won’t. “You know, for someone who’s hella chatty, you're good at dodging questions while saying nothing at all.”

“I’m not dodging anything,” she argues. “Everything you said is true, but there’s no use crying about any of it or overanalyzing any of it, so why bother discussing any of it?” Her shoulder lifts. “Hot or iced?”

“What’s going on, Fin?” I push. “We kissed last night, you slept in my arms, and now?—”

“Now, it’s time to get going,” she interrupts.

I hesitate, trying to get my mind to…wake up or something because shit isn’t making any sense, and neither is Finley’s stiff posture. I ask, “So, we’re gonna pretend like nothing happened?”

“Nothing did happen,” she defends. “Look, last night was…exactly what I needed. Thank you,” she adds with a genuine smile. “But I just got out of a long-term relationship, you're my brother’s best friend who’s going to be living across the country within the next six months, and I’m going to be a single mom by the end of the summer, so…that’s that, don’t you think?”

“That’sthat?” I repeat. Seriously, did I enter theTwilight Zone? She was sad. She asked me to hold her. We both crossed a line, and yeah, I slowed things down, but now, she’s gonna act like it was nothing? Even if she’s hesitant to commit to anything or is hurt that I pumped the brakes, which I understand, the blasé attitude messes with my head.

“Yeah. That’s that,” she returns. Her stormy gaze shoots around the room as she flaps her hands through the air. “I don’t expect anything from you. I don’t even want anything from you.”

“You don’t.” It isn’t a question, but fuck if I’d like some actual answers right now.

She. Kissed. Me.

Clenching the sheets around my waist, I try not to lose my shit as I hold her gaze.

“Nope. I don’t want anything from you.” She forces her attention to stay pinned on me, her eye twitching. “Except for you to hop in the shower so we can get on the road as quickly as possible. I think the real question is, why are you still lying in bed, lazy bones?”

The girl’s so transparent she might as well be glass. And yeah, she’s being genuine right now, but something spooked her. Something put her on edge. I just can’t figure out what. I know she probably kissed me because she was sad and wanted to be held, which is why I pulled away. I know she would never expect me to jump into a relationship with her, let alone ask me to. But this? This flippant replay, lack of expectation, and aversion to anything real feel…off.

Sometimes, this woman makes me feel like a yo-yo.Like she can pull me in and push me away but always keep me on a string, ready for her beck and call, and there’s nothing I can do about it. It’s infuriating.

Did it really mean nothing?

“Fine.” I pull the covers off and walk my ass to the shower. And even though I can feel her stare on me as I leave, I know she won’t do anything about it.

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