“Jesus.”
“We know it works for us, there’s no testing here.” Sophie took a deep breath, licked her lips, and I was helpless to do anything besides follow the movement of her tongue. “The only thing is we’ve been long distance for a very long time, most of the time.” She paused and laughed, rolling her eyes in a way that read like internal exasperation. “This isn’t a conversation I wanted to have over the phone.”
“They never are.”
“And maybe that’s unfair of me to say. It is a little bit of a test.”
“Sophie, I can’t.”
“We know it works, Finn,” she said again. “We’ve just not done it when we live under the same roof. It’s logistics at this point, not anything else, but I swear I wasn’t trying to do this with you right now.”
“What then?” I asked, hating how weak my voice sounded.
“I really just wanted you to text me back.” Sophie laughed under her breath. “You’re the one who cut to the chase.”
“I suppose I’m not one to beat around the bush.” I dared a look at my watch. I’d been gone long enough that Smith and Hunter must have arrived, that Marshall had to have imagined I’d gone for good.
“Neither am I,” she said. “Do you think I’m attractive, Finn?”
I sucked the inside of my cheek between my molars and bit down hard, nodding.
Obviously.
“You’re gorgeous, but I think you know that.”
In the golden glow of her bedroom, Sophie’s cheeks darkened. “Will you come over?”
“I can’t.” I gestured weakly toward nothing in particular. “Dinner and all that.”
“After.”
“I’ll be late.”
“We’ll wait up.”
This was horrible. This was irresponsible.
This was self-destructive.
“Send me your address,” I said. The way Sophie smiled at my concession was enough to take me out at the knees. “I’ve got to go.”
I hung up before she could say anything else, but the incoming text message came through before I’d gotten my phone back into my pocket. I didn’t need to look. I knew it was from her and I knew what it would be. Taking a deep breath, I managed to get my heart back into my chest and my sweaty palms under control. I went back into the restaurant, and Marshall’s stare locked onto mine as soon as I reached the restaurant proper.
Both of my brothers were sitting in their usual spots, and I smacked Hunter hard against the back of his head when I reached the table.
“Finn,” Smith said my name, almost apologetically, and I ignored him.
“Sorry I’m late.”
Hunter slid out of the booth, and I scooched in against the wall, in my customary spot. Marshall—or one of them—had ordered me a fresh drink, and I made quick work of the cherry before chasing it down.
“Finn,” Marshall said next, the beginnings of an apology on his face, but I wanted none of it.
“Why is everyone acting like they’ve never said my name before?” I shot a scathing look at Hunter, the brother I was arguably the closest with. “Did you want to get it out too? Or are we good to move on with the night?”
Hunter’s dark stare searched my face, and I didn’t know if he liked what he saw because I couldn’t bear the scrutiny of it.
“We can move on,” Marshall said, again, speaking for the whole of us without ever really asking any of us if it was what we wanted.