“Thanks Matt,” I say before continuing on to my office where Finn waits for his coffee.
If it surprises him that no one at the Jester seems to care that we’re romantically involved, Finn doesn’t let on. I admire his ability to not care what people think of him. As a young single mom, a college dropout and a divorcee, I haven’t always had that luxury. Being with Finn has helped my confidence as I watch the way he deals with the rest of the world.
Days blend into weeks and we settle into a routine of sorts. Some days Finn picks me and Liam up and we all ride together in his truck. Some days I pick him up. When we leave work for the day, we head to pick Liam up and listen to him talk about his day. Then it’s home to my house so Liam can do his homework before dinner. The three of us have dinner together most nights. It no longer seems strange to set a third place at the dinner table.
We’re curled up on the couch one evening when I ask Finn if it bothers him that we always seem to be at my house and never at his.
“I like your house,” he says, looking around the living room full of Liam’s scattered toys, the walls covered in framed photos. “It’s a home. My place is just where I keep my stuff. Plus, it’s better for Liam if we don’t drag him back and forth every other day. This way he sleeps in his own bed and keeps his routine.”
“Are you sure?” I’m touched that he seems to have given so much thought to Liam’s comfort. I know I have, but I’m not used to someone else taking on that responsibility with me. It’s nice.
“Hannah, believe me. I’m much happier here with you and Liam than I’ve ever been at my own colorless, boring house.”
I hide my face in his chest, trying to ignore the warm feeling in my chest at his words. I’m dangerously close to falling for this man.
The next day, Finn shows up to take us to lunch. He’s early and I’m sitting at the kitchen table, still sipping coffee. He kisses my cheek before moving to the coffee pot.
“I need to run by the store after we eat,” I say. “I don’t have anything to cook for dinner.”
I turn back to the pen and paper in my hand and add another item to my grocery list. I can probably make spaghetti. It’s one of Liam’s favorites and it’s simple. Those are basically the only two requirements when I decide to cook. Busy writing, it takes me a second to realize Finn’s speaking. I look up and smile an apology.
“What? I missed that.”
Finn picks up a mug and pours himself a cup. “I was just asking if you guys want to come to Mack’s with me tonight. For dinner.”
He glances from me to Liam who’s paying more attention to his mug of cocoa than to the conversation. Finn looks back to me, a question in his eyes. It feels like he’s asking about more than just dinner. I know Sunday dinners are a kind of tradition for the King family. I also know it’s exclusive to the Kings. Van and Wyatt close the restaurant early on Sundays so the five siblings can have dinner together. For the past four weeks, Finn has spent nearly every day with me and Liam. The glaring exception to that has been Sunday evenings. Every week without fail, he’s left us to go to Mack’s for dinner. I’ve never asked to join him, figuring he’d ask when he was ready.
I know his family knows about us. This thing between us stopped being a secret after two weeks. I’ve also met all of his siblings plenty of times over the years. For that matter, so has Liam. This isn’t an introduction, exactly. It’s a sort of test.
I smile as I raise my mug to my lips. “We’d love to.”
Finn’s expression shifts back to something more casual and he ruffles Liam’s hair. “Baseball later?”
Liam nods enthusiastically as cocoa drips off his chin. I laugh and pass him a napkin before he can use his sleeve.
Chapter Twenty-six
Hannah
When we arrive at Mack’s later, I feel nervous though I can’t figure out why. I changed my clothes three times before settling on my current outfit. I’m wearing a flowy blue sundress with a thin open cardigan. It’s pretty and I usually feel pretty wearing it. Tonight though, I keep wondering if maybe I should have worn jeans.
“You look beautiful,” Finn says. He takes my hand and laces his fingers in mine as we walk across the gravel lot to the restaurant. Liam gallops circles around us as we walk, oblivious to my nerves. He makes it to the door before we do and bounces around, full of little boy energy as he waits for us to catch up.
Finn leans close to me. “They already love you,” he says. “Don’t be nervous.”
“They barely know me,” I object.
Finn shrugs. “They know you make me happy. That’s enough for them.”
I blow out a breath and give him a sheepish smile. “Is it that obvious? That I’m nervous?”
“Only because I know your expressions.” He smiles and I feel something inside me settle.
I nod. “Let’s do this.”
Liam tugs open the door, insistent on holding it for us to pass. We both thank him politely which makes his toothless grin widen just a bit.
The others are already there, seated at a long table set for 7. Everyone stands when we walk in which would normally make me uncomfortable. I hate being the center of attention. Finn never lets go of my hand though. It grounds me somehow, knowing he’s got ahold of me. He’s telling his family without words that I’m important to him. I give his hand a
