Page 34 of My Merry Mistake
“Aw,” Eloise says.
“How do I do that?” I ask. “The woman literally will not accept help. From anyone. Ever.”
“True,” Poppy says. “But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t need it.”
“Maybe start small,” Eloise says. “Bring her coffee once in a while.”
“Or that fancy gourmet chocolate.” Poppy sets a bowl of freshly popped popcorn on the counter. “I think paying attention to the little things will go a long way.”
“Yes! She works nonstop,” Eloise says. “She needs a break. Or an enema.”
Poppy bursts out laughing. “Oh mygosh, Eloise!”
I’m getting a very clear picture of how Raya’s sisters see her. And I get it, but also—I’ve already seen a completely different side of her.
“Does she take days off?” I ask.
They both shake their heads.
“Figure out what she needs and show up for her,” Gray says. “Pay attention. Be a friend. You don’t need a collared shirt to prove you’re a good guy.”
There’s a pause, all of us a little stunned that Grayson Hawke is doling out the most sensible wisdom in the room.
“I am so in love with you right now.” Eloise walks over to Gray, takes his hand, and pulls him out of the kitchen. “We’ll be right back.”
Gray sets his bottle down on the counter as he leaves the room, a surprised smile on his face. “I should speak up more often.”
I reach over and pick up a chip, but I set it back down. Poppy looks at me, pity in her eyes. “You look like a lovesick puppy.”
“Pathetic, right?” I smile, but it’s half-hearted. “You think we’re a bad match?”
She shakes her head. “Exactly the opposite. I think she’d be lucky to have a guy as kind and good as you, Finn.”
The compliment throws me. I’m used to my parents saying nice things, but they’re my parents—they’re practically contracted required to say nice things.
She pauses, then adds, “It’s just sometimes hard to convince Raya to see things differently than she sees them.”
“And she sees me as?—”
“As a flirty, hockey-playing, not-so-serious guy who is just looking for a good time,” Poppy says. She adds, a bit more gently, “Because that’s kind of who you’ve been up to this point.”
Yeah. I have. For good reasons too.
Heaviness sucks. I don’t like thinking about it. Plus, isn’t life much better when you find silver linings everywhere? Isn’t it easier if you’re not bogged down by the crap life throws at you?
I look at Poppy, realizing something. “You know I’m not some womanizing party guy, right?”
Her eyebrows shoot up like she doesn’t believe me. “Do I?”
“Well, I’m not.”
“Finn, you’ve brought a different woman to every team function we’ve been to. You’re famous for your epic parties. Aren’t you the reigning beer pong champion?”
I blow out a breath. “I got out of that game without taking a single drink.”
She shoots me a look.
I lose the smirk.
