Chapter 5
five
. . .
Finn
We’d just arrived in Cottonwood Cove, and we were on our way to my parents’ house for Sunday dinner, where we were going to explain the ridiculous plan that I’d been talked into.
Reese’s parents would be there as well as her sister, Olivia, and my entire family.
We hadn’t even stopped by my house yet, and we were well past exhausted.
But with both of our families texting us nonstop with questions about the media frenzy currently going on about me dating my childhood best friend, we knew we needed to explain in person what was up.
“Are you fine with me bringing Millie over to your place? You said the barn is all set up, and I know you’re looking for a horse. I just figured if I’m staying there, I’d love to be able to ride her every day,” Reese said with a yawn.
“Yeah, it’s all ready, and Millie would love it there. I can’t wait to show it to you. I know you’ve seen it on FaceTime, but in person, with the mountains right behind the barn and the water not too far away, it’s really something.”
I came to a stop at the light. Reese had her cheek resting on the seat beside me, and she smiled. “It feels good to be home.”
“Good. I’m glad you agreed to come back with me.” I pulled into the driveway of the ranch house where I’d grown up. Reese was already stepping out of the car when I came around to get her door. Her white cowboy boots clacked against the cobblestone walkway leading to my parents’ house.
“Looks like everyone is here.” She smiled as she pushed open the door.
Loud chatter came from the kitchen, just like it always did. My family home was a gathering spot for anyone and everyone in Cottonwood Cove who wanted a good meal on Sunday. Olivia, Reese’s little sister, came charging around the corner and wrapped her arms around her.
“Well, if it isn’t the British prince himself,” Cage said with one brow raised as he walked toward me.
“Hey, what can I say? I ooze royal charm.”
Cage wrapped one arm around Reese’s shoulders, giving her a bit of a man-bro hug before turning his attention back to me. “Well, you made quite the impression with your quick weekend jaunt abroad.”
The dude oozed sarcasm.
It was his love language.
“All for the greater good.”
“I’m sure it is.” He smirked.
The cocky bastard.
Before I knew it, little Gracie was hauling ass as she ran toward me, all wobbly and adorable. Her arms flailed as I scooped her right up and spun her around. My niece owned my heart in every way.
“You smell like pumpkins,” I said, kissing her cheek.
“Grammie and Pops and me carved pumpkins today.” She placed a hand on my cheek and smiled before reaching for Reese.
My best friend scooped my niece into her arms and hugged her. Reese had babysat Gracie dozens of times over the years, as she was one of the few people outside of our family that Cage trusted with his daughter.
“I’m happy you’re home, Ree Ree.” My niece settled her head of curls on Reese’s shoulder.
“Me, too, Gracie girl. I’ve missed you big.”
“Are you Uncle Finny’s girlfriend now?” she whispered, and I raised a brow at Cage.
“Don’t shoot the messenger. The whole town is talking about it.” He shrugged.
Reese’s sage-green eyes found mine, and for the first time, I saw the doubt. This was all fun and games, but she’d never do anything to hurt Gracie.
I gave her the look that I knew she needed from me.
It’s fine. There won’t be any broken hearts when it’s done.
We’d always been able to communicate without words, and she nodded.
This was temporary.
No one was going to get hurt.
There would never be anything that could come between me and Reese. Not even her dickhead ex-fiancé.
When we entered the kitchen, all hell broke loose. We made our rounds hugging everyone, and in typical Reynolds-Murphy fashion, we all talked at the same time, but somehow it worked for us.
When they were all done fawning all over Reese, we made our way to the table.
My mom had made chicken marinara, and after the long flight, I was ready for a home-cooked meal.
The dinner conversation was light as Gracie, who was sitting between her dad and Hugh, filled in Reese on how her first few weeks of kindergarten were going.
“I can’t believe you’re in Mrs. Clifton’s class. She’s been teaching for so long. She was my favorite,” Reese said, shaking her head. We’d all been in her class back in the day.
“She’s the best,” I agreed.
“Just don’t try to tell her how to do her job.” Brinkley reached for her glass of red wine and took a sip. “She told Mom that I was too bossy.”
My mother’s head fell back in laughter. “She had something to say about each of you, but it always came from a good place. She thought Brinks needed to be reminded that she wasn’t the teacher.”
“Well, my girl does things better than most people, so it only seems right that she would take control of her classroom.” Lincoln chuckled as he leaned over and kissed the top of her head.
He was the best quarterback in the league, and we were all hoping he was going to lead the New York Thunderbirds to the Super Bowl this year.
They tried to fly home to Cottonwood Cove on the free weekends that he didn’t have a game and Brinkley could work remotely.
“Can’t argue with that.” My mother gazed around the table, her eyes landing on her firstborn, my older brother, and a wide grin spread across her face. “And she said that Cage needed to work on his patience. I think we got called in several times about that.”
“Didn’t Cage pop someone in the nose because they cut him in line? He got sent home for the afternoon if I’m remembering right,” Dad said, and the table erupted in laughter.
“You got suspended from kindergarten, brother,” Hugh said with a chuckle.
“Tony Landry cut me in line one too many times. A kid can only take so much.” Cage rolled his eyes before looking at his daughter with a brow raised. “But you’re better than Daddy ever was as a kid, so don’t do what I did.”
“Sounds like the kid had it coming,” Maddox said. He and my sister, Georgia, had been married for a few weeks now, and they were ridiculously in love. “What did she have to say about Mrs. Lancaster?”
“I think I recall her telling us that Georgie was a bit of a daydreamer,” my father said as he smiled at my youngest sibling.
“Yes. She said that Georgie had her head in the clouds sometimes,” my mother added.
More laughter.
“I’ve always liked the clouds and the stars,” Georgia said, smiling at her husband.
“Didn’t she call me a stubborn child?” Olivia huffed, looking from her father to her mother.
“Yes. She’d said Reese was a people pleaser and that you were too stubborn for your own good,” Jenny said.
“What can I say? I was ahead of my years. I would not be put into a box.”
“Power to the woman!” Reese, Georgia, and Brinkley shouted at the same time.
“Damn straight. And since when is being a people pleaser at five years old a bad thing?” Reese said over her laughter.
“Okay. We get it. It’s the year of the woman.” Cage raised a brow. “And let me guess. Hugh and Finn were perfect angels?”
My father barked out a laugh. “I don’t think Mrs. Clifton thought any child was perfect. What did she say about Hugh?”
My mom thought it over. “Hugh was not a big fan of full-day school. He’d fall asleep every afternoon during circle time.”
My sister-in-law, Lila, smiled up at her husband. “Awww… he was a tired bear.”
“Thanks, baby. If memory serves, I thrived at recess and lunch, and work time had me tapping out for a little siesta.”
Gracie was giggling so hard and clapping her hands. “What about Uncle Finny?”
“Uncle Finny was a chatty little guy,” my father said. “What did she call him?”
“She said that he was the mayor of the classroom. Always buzzing around from table to table. And, do you remember, Jenny?” My mother smiled, turning her attention to her best friend. “She’d said that Finn couldn’t handle being separated from Reese in line.”
“I sure do. They had that fire drill when Reese was in the bathroom, and Finn was frantic that Mrs. Clifton was going to leave her.”
“Awww… you always had my back,” Reese said.
“Always. That will never change.”
“You two were ridiculous back then,” Olivia said over her laughter. “Do you remember when Reese found out that she and Finn weren’t going to be in the same class in second or third grade, and she cried so hard that you had to go to the school and get them switched into the same class?”
“That was third grade, and it would have been the first time that we weren’t together.” Reese shrugged.
“Which leads us to the elephant in the room,” Cage said. “Time for you to go watch a movie for a little bit, munchkin. And then we’re heading home. You’ve got school tomorrow.”
“I’ll go get her set up,” Lila said, pushing to stand and leading Gracie to the family room where she’d get her settled on the couch while the grownups harassed us.
Of course, my siblings were ready to pounce. They all had the patience of a toddler on a sugar high.
“Okay, let’s get into it.” Brinkley rubbed her hands together. “Is this the real deal?”
“I’ve got money on this, so you best tell the truth.” My oldest brother turned his attention to me.
“You’re betting on us now?” I said over my laughter.
“That was Cage’s idea,” Hugh said.
“Well, I tossed in ten bucks. I think this is some sort of stunt to get that annoying ex of yours back,” Olivia said, crossing her arms over her chest as she looked at Reese.
“Let’s not talk poorly about Carl,” Jenny said. “And let them speak, for goodness’ sake.”
Lila came back and took her seat beside Hugh. “What did I miss?”
“Well, this is a ‘code of silence’ moment. So everyone here has to agree to keep this a secret.” Reese glanced around the table.
“What happens at the Reynolds’ house stays at the Reynolds’ house,” Georgia said.
“I don’t know that we can say that. You and Brinks have had too many slips to put that slogan on a T-shirt,” Cage grumped.
“Don’t be a hater,” Brinkley said, shooting him a warning look. “A Reynolds-Murphy code of silence is different. Obviously, we will all keep our mouths closed.”
“Finn and I are just going to have some fun. I wasn’t ready to face Carl and his new girlfriend,” Reese said before clearing her throat. It was obvious that even the mention of them dating caused her pain.
“Whom we shall leave unnamed because the fact that she uses a three-name title is annoying as hell.” Olivia held her wine glass up, and everyone raised their glasses and chuckled as they clinked them together.
“It’s not that big of a deal. She wants to make Carl jealous because he can’t stand the idea of her being with me.
And it will clean up my image and hopefully put Jessica’s claims to rest. She’s going to live with me anyway, and we’re always together, so it’s a win-win.
We’ll keep up appearances for the next two months, and then I’ll head back to filming after the holidays, and Reese will get her happily ever after. ” I shrugged.
I saw the disappointment on our mothers’ faces, but they both nodded.
“Well, I’m not paying until the gig is up and they end this thing,” Cage said, throwing his hands in the air.
“Listen, if you want to pull this off, you can’t be sloppy,” Brinkley said after she set her wine glass down.
“You’ve got Marilyn there cleaning your house, and you know she’s a gossip.
She’s best friends with Mrs. Runither. So Reese better keep her things in your room and make it look like she’s staying in there with you. ”
“I often wonder where that devious mind of yours comes from. How do you think of these things?” Cage asked as the table erupted in laughter once again.
“I’m a reporter. It’s my job to think of these things,” Brinkley said, unable to hide her smile.
“Wouldn’t change one hair on your head, sweetheart.” Lincoln wrapped an arm around her shoulder and tugged her closer.
“So, what’s the plan? Finn cleans up his image that Jessica has tainted, and Reese gets back together with Carl?” Georgia asked.
“That’s the plan. Now that I know what I want to do with my life professionally, I want to move forward in my personal life, as well. It was never that I didn’t want to marry Carl. I just wanted him to support my dreams the way I’ve supported his.”
“And you think he’s done that?” Olivia asked, and she didn’t hide her irritation.
I knew she wasn’t a fan of Carl because she’d opened up to me at Maddox and Georgia’s wedding in Paris when Reese had stepped out of the reception to take a call from her ex.
Olivia and Carl used to be close, but since he’d ended the engagement, she was most definitely protective of her sister.
“He supports me. He just didn’t like us being apart for a year. There’s a difference.”
Everyone at the table shared a glance, and I saw the uncertainty. But they all loved Reese, and they’d agree because they didn’t want to say what was really on their minds.
That her ex had behaved like a selfish prick, and he didn’t deserve her.
I knew it.
They knew it.
My best friend wasn’t there yet.
But I was going to help her get there.