But I don’t fail to notice that Vinnie’s gaze turns suspicious. His eyebrows narrow, and he scowls even more than normal. The man is grumpy. Well, not when it comes to Evan and his daughter.
“I know you!” Stella exclaims, crawling over Vinnie.
“Hmm...” I frown. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you before. I mean, I know Evan had a daughter, but she always wears a hockey jersey.”
“It’s me!” Stella giggles, and Vinnie shoots a nervous look at the floor, and rearranges her on his knee. Belly laughs don’t normally send children flying, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Stella is the exception. That girl is happiness itself.
Clearly Vinnie has only been a great addition to the family.
Vinnie raises an eyebrow at me. “Are you sure you’re Finn? The Finn I know is always in pads and a hockey jersey, and carries a bigstick so...” He shrugs his shoulders helplessly.
“Did you just make a joke?” My eyes boggle, and he gives me an annoyed grunt when my smile widens.
“Besides, I always carry a big stick,” I say.
Vinnie scowls and moves Stella to Evan’s lap.
“Sorry,” I say.
Evan takes Stella’s hand and leads her outside.
“I know how to be appropriate,” I pout.
Vinnie snorts. “No way. But, um, Stella is going to be a flower girl.”
“That sounds adorable.”
Then Vinnie’s lips slide up into a large, dad-like smile that I never saw on him a year ago. “It totally will be.”
“I’m happy for you,” I say, and Vinnie grunts in response, even though I’m sure even Vinnie, with his always questionable sociable skills, knows that the appropriate response is to say he’s happy for me too.
Which means he’s not happy for me.
I pretend that doesn’t suck.
The room continues to fill with people. Coach is here with his wife and son Oskar. When Dmitri and Luke return from outside, it’s impossible to not see the way Oskar’s cheeks pinken when Dmitri passes, or the longing look that Oskar sends him when Dmitri sits down.
“I think someone has a crush,” I say conversationally.
“Maybe.”
“Oskar is out,” I say.
Vinnie sends air flying from between his teeth. “Fine. He has a crush. Old news.” Vinnie slides his grumpy gaze to me. “But you know who I never saw have any indication of having anyinterest in a man?”
My organs slither together. I shouldn’t have tried to make conversation with Vinnie. I know better. I do.
“I have a feeling you’re going to tell me.”
He rolls his eyes. “I’m not going to waste the energy. But seriously, what are you doing? I’ve known you for three years. It’s been hottie this, hottie that...”
I slide further into the seat, conscious of Noah stiffening beside me. I put my hand in his. I don’t know why Noah is nervous. Vinnie is attacking me. But maybe he doesn’t want the ruse to be exposed. I mean, that makes sense.
Even though the kisses and blowjobs and handjobs didn’t feel super ruse-like. I mean I don’t know how most people work their tongue. But whatever. There’s probably an acting term for what we’re doing.
And Noah enjoys our bedroom activities, and that’s the important thing.
“For the record, I wouldn’t have tried to talk to you about girls if I’d known you were gay,” I say. “I was trying to be friendly. I mean you have that whole tall, dark, and handsome thing going.” I wave a hand over Vinnie’s muscular figure. “And you were always sneaking off. We all thought you were banging chicks galore.”
