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“I’m not really marrying him, Lay. Don’t get this confused.”
She grabs a few things out of a dresser drawer. “He hasn’t told Mom and Dad?”
“No. We were going to figure out when to tell everyone tonight. This just happened, you know.”
“What made you agree to this?” She drops the items in her hand into a suitcase. “I see why Finn did. There’s no surprise there.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
She gives me a look. “But I am surprised you went along with it.”
I start to answer her but stop before anything comes out of my mouth. Where do I start? Do I tell her that he didn’t want to put the media on a witch hunt? Do I tell her that I’m getting an absurd amount of money to play this part? Or do I tell her the truth? The part I haven’t even wanted to admit to myself … that I like it?
It’s only been twenty-four hours as the fake future Mrs. Finn Miller, and it’s been nothing but fun. Freeing, even. I don’t have to second-guess calling him back or answering his texts too soon. It hasn’t occurred to me once that he might be taking my cues the wrong way.
“Honestly?” I say, sidestepping the question. “I’m surprised too. But here we are.”
“Well, fake or not, this is the only bright spot in my day so far. Imagining you as my future sister-in-law is something I’ve always dreamed about.”
“Keep dreaming,” I say, chuckling, needing desperately to change the subject. “Do you want me to pack a few things for Sunny? Clothes, diapers, butt cream?”
“Yeah. I took a small suitcase in there a little while ago but didn’t put anything in it. Most of the toys she loves are downstairs, so I’ll throw them in a bag. And then her bottle and sippy and stuff are in the kitchen, so I’ll get it all put together and send it with Finn.” She looks around the room. “Why don’t we do that first? I can deal with the rest of this once Sunny is squared away.”
“Good plan.”
She heads downstairs with Sunny, and I enter the baby’s pink bedroom. It’s seriously the cutest, most tranquil place in the world, and I take a moment to just soak in the peace.
It’s been a wild ride since Layla found out she was pregnant. Kids weren’t on her radar, but once she heard Sunny’s heartbeat, everything changed for her. And now she’s the best mother ever.
Watching her grow into this role has been nothing short of inspiring—not for having kids, but for handling life’s curveballs. She’s handled things with grace. She’s exuded nothing but love. I hope I can be as beautiful a human as her one day.
But I wouldn’t count on it. I’m too mean.
I pass the window toward the closet, but spot Finn outside putting Sunny’s car seat in his SUV. My heart tugs in my chest as his big frame handles the tiny seat with all the care in the world. In typical Finn fashion, he double- then triple-checks that he got it all right.
The way he cares for the people he loves and goes out of his way to make sure they’re cared for is what women write books about. He’s the greenest green flag of them all.
And for the next few months, he’s mine.
The corner of my mouth lifts as he looks up at me.
And I have no business being this happy about it.
CHAPTER
EIGHTEEN
Poppy
“Thanks, Marlon,” I say, waving at the man in the guard shack.
“Of course. Have a good evening, Poppy.”
I wait for the gate to swing open, then pull slowly into Finn’s neighborhood.
So much has happened in the last day that I almost feel like I’m walking in someone else’s shoes. I had a few minutes at home to decompress, and I made some calls to the office, letting them know I wouldn’t be in for a couple of days but would be working from home. I know my boss wasn’t thrilled about it, but I have vacation time to use. And he knows that if I say I’ll get shit done at home, I’ll do it.
The streetlamps lining either side of the road begin to flicker on, casting a warm, amber glow across the street. I’ve always loved this area. Aside from the fabulous houses and cars in the driveway being in a tax bracket that mine doesn’t understand, it’s cozy. Flags hang from porches alongside baskets of ferns. Rocking chairs and porch swings are so common that I wonder if they’re required. And the few people I’ve met while on walks with Finn have been friendly—one even inviting us in for a glass of lemonade.
