Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
Sophie
Why can’t I seem to control my breathing?
“Sophie?” My entire body grows rigid when I hear my name from behind. “Is that you?”
I stare at Finn, he stares at me and lifts his brow. Something about the silent question makes me laugh. “Is it a go?” he asks and I let the question smolder but only for a second before offering him a nod.
I watch and so does everyone else as Finn leans to the side to look over my shoulder. “How’s the wife and baby, Lark?” he asks and I bite my lip as I slowly turn in his arms and play my part. Leaning back into Finn, he once again wraps his arm around me, bringing his hand to rest on my stomach.
Lark stares at Finn and I am sure he is staring right back.
“And you are?” he asks Finn and I push back when I feel him attempt to stand.
“I think you and Finn have met before, playing dumb isn’t working in your favor.” Lark shifts his attention to me and it takes all the strength I have to keep Finn in his seat.
“When did this happen?” he asks and before I can answer Finn does it for me, only this time he manages to shift me off him and stand, Bennett moving in on one side and Aaron on the other.
“Not that it is any of your business, but this,” Finn waves his finger between him and I, “has been happening for a while now.”
Lark stares at Finn.
“Isn’t your wife’s name Rachelle?” Finn asks and I see the muscle in Lark’s jaw tense. “Her father owns that investment firm in Montgomery. What’s the name of that place, Aaron?”
I watch as the men I surround myself with play this game with Lark and I am frozen in my place. Each one is so relaxed and nonchalant. Like they pull this kind of thing every single day and are completely okay with it. No hesitance, no mistakes, almost like it is rehearsed.
“Hayward Investments,” Aaron says, crossing him arms over his chest. “Daddy Hayward is big-time, knows all the right people. Not sure he’d approve of his daughter’s husband stepping out on her and his grandchild.”
“It’s a work thing,” he says.
“For her or you?” Bennett says with a chuckle and I find it hard not to laugh myself.
Without another word Lark grabs the girl’s hand and pulls her toward the door. I stare after them feeling terrible for her and for his wife at home. Why do men like him and Ryan think it’s okay to cheat?
“Hey.” Finn places his finger on my jaw and turns me so he can see my face. “You okay?”
“It’s just sad,” I say, with a shrug. “Rachelle is at home, thinking her husband is at the office or at a business dinner. But instead he’s out with some girl that has no self-esteem and probably feels like he is this great guy that will eventually give her everything she wants.
” It breaks my heart. “Like her happiness is all he wants and then he goes home telling his wife all the same things before kissing both her and his daughter goodnight. It’s disgusting, and I guess I just don’t understand how anyone could think doing that to another person is right. It’s degrading and it sucks.”
I hate feeling like I’m the one to blame for Ryan stepping out on me. I didn’t do it, I didn’t force him to being a lying asshole. But at the end of the day, I am the one still left feeling like I’m the one lacking the ability to hold onto a guy.
“Stop,” Finn says and I pull my head out of the thought and look at him. “I know the shit rolling around in that head of yours and it needs to stop.”
“I didn’t.” I pause, trying to rephrase my words. “You don’t know what I was thinking.”
“You weren’t enough, and the somehow you pushed him to cheat. Like you didn’t give him what he needed and the fact that he went out looking for me is on you.”
I hold his stare.
“Correct me if I’m wrong,” he adds and I say nothing.
He cups the side of my face, staring at me with such intensity that I feel like he is looking into my soul.
“You’re beautiful, and kind.” I bite the inside of my cheek.
“You deserve a good man, and I hate to tell you babe, but Ryan isn’t a good man.
That’s on him, not you, because he was lucky to have you and too dumb to know that. ”
He drags his thumb over my lower lip and I watch as his focus drops to my mouth. On instinct I lick my lips and catch the tip of his finger. He turns his head, cracking his neck and then I see the way his jaw muscle flexes.
“The man that will one day have the gift of holding your heart will be one lucky son of a bitch.” I’m floored by his words and the way he is continuing to watch me. “Don’t for a second ever think you aren’t good enough, but the truth is, sweetheart, you are too damn good.”
Finn moves in and presses a kiss to my forehead before stepping back and leaving me in the middle of a crowd of our friends to decipher my thoughts.
“Um, hello,” someone says at my side, but I don’t take my eyes of his back as he retreats to the opposite side of the bar. “What did I miss?” I glance over to see a confused, or maybe surprised look on Lexi’s face as she moves in to Bennett’s side.
“I think we are all wondering the same thing, babe,” he tells her, hugging her in close.