Finn must be practicing for the wedding with his terms of endearments. How many people will be there?
I almost blurt out that I’m thinking of him fucking me.
“We could do that,” I say instead.
“Do what?” He parks in the gravel parking space that an orange-vested teen directs us to.
I press my lips together, but suddenly his eyebrows are lurching upward. He gets it. Oh God, maybe he was joking.
“I mean, if you want to,” I say quickly. “Because no sex with others for a year.” I launch into a nervous laugh, and Finn inhales.
He doesn’t seem pleased. Yeah, I shouldn’t have said what I did and reminded him that we’re stuck together.
“Let’s go, Noah.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Finn
We leave the car. Our footsteps crunch over the gravel parking lot, reminding me that normally we’re talking and not listening to, well, gravel crunch.
“One year isn’t that long,” Noah says.
I close my eyes. “I know.”
“It will fly by,” he says. “I promise.”
I give a jerky nod.
I wish Noah didn’t feel the need to remind me all the time that this is for one year. He seems to think that will make me feel better, and it doesn’t.
But maybe he needs to remember it. Maybe he needs to feel free.
I take out my phone and text my dad’s lawyer.
Me: Any updates?
Then I tuck the phone back into my pocket.
Noah narrows his gaze. “Who were you texting?”
Because I don’t want to make him any promises I can’t keep, I just say, “no one.”
His eyes remain narrow. I mean, the guy isn’t an idiot. No one goes around texting “no one.” But never mind that.
Violin music wafts from the manor house, and I take Noah’s hand.
He gives me a startled look.
“There might be photographers,” I explain.
“Right. I forgot.”
I squeeze his hand, then he squeezes my hand back, and when I see Luke and Dmitri taking pictures outside, I don’t have to work too hard to keep a smile on my face when we greet them.
Seats swathed with luxury fabric are lined up in the grand hall, and Noah and I sit on the groom’s side. Usually, we’re with the team. Now, most of the guests are in couples. Even Troy and Axel have dates.
Vinnie, Stella and Evan slide into the seats beside us, and I pretend I’m totally at ease. I mean, obviously I’m totally at ease. Noah is beside me, and life is great.
