Chapter 41
forty-one
FINN
A fter a little break between the sheets, we finished painting the nursery yesterday, then went to bed early because we were both tired.
The color looks good. When we were done, I was picturing what the room might look like once it’s complete, and it really started to feel real.
Not that it doesn’t already with the changes Harper’s body is going through, but it felt real in the way that I could picture our baby in the space.
See Harper in a chair in the corner breastfeeding, picture myself at the changing table, imagine both of us leaning over the crib just to watch our baby sleep.
Everything with Harper has been full speed ahead since we met, and my growing feelings for her are no different. But I don’t want to scare her off. We’ve both gone through so many changes in our lives recently that it feels best to keep it to myself for now.
We’re in the kitchen eating breakfast at the breakfast bar when Maven walks in, dressed as though maybe she’s going to work out.
“Morning,” I say to her. “There’s coffee made if you want some.” I nod toward the coffee machine on the counter.
Her phone is in her hand, her eyes wide as she looks between us. “Have you guys seen last night’s Buzz Wheel?”
I look at Harper and groan.
“No…” She picks her phone up off the counter and pulls up the app.
“I swear I didn’t say anything to anyone.” Maven looks panicked.
“Shit,” Harper says.
“What is it?” I look between them.
Harper’s expression is a mix of annoyance and upset when her eyes meet mine. “It details how you were engaged to someone else a short time ago and how I was acting as the wedding planner for you and Tamra before we got together.”
My stomach sinks. It’s not as though it was a secret per se, but I could go without everyone in town thinking I’m some slimy piece of shit who jumps from one woman to another.
“I’m not the leak,” Maven says.
“I know that. I would never think that.” Harper slides off the stool and walks over to embrace her cousin.
“As soon as I saw it, I was worried you would think it was me since I’d talked to you about the flowers for the wedding.”
I shake my head. I obviously don’t know Maven nearly as well as Harper, but she doesn’t strike me as the sort to throw people under the bus. Especially not someone she cares about as much as Harper.
My phone buzzes from where it’s plugged in on the counter beside the coffee machine. Harper walks over and unplugs it, passing it to me.
A text from Hudson.
Dude this is not good.
I roll my eyes and type out a response.
No shit.
Before he replies, a new text comes in from an unknown number.
Finn, this is Harper’s dad, Austin. I’d appreciate it if you could come by the house at noon today.
I swallow. Hard. “Um… your dad just texted me and asked me to go over to his place at noon.”
Both Harper and Maven’s eyes widen to the size of the toonies I used to pay for things when I was driving through Canada.
“Damn it.” Harper closes her eyes and massages her temples.
“What should I say?” I look between the two women.
“You have to go,” Maven says.
“She’s right. My dad will just show up here otherwise, which will make it look more like you have something to hide.”
I nod and type out a response with shaky fingers.
I’ll be there.
Jesus. First, I get this man’s only daughter pregnant after a one-night stand, and now he probably thinks I was engaged when I did it.
* * *
At five minutes to noon, I knock on the door of Austin and Holly Bailey’s house, Harper by my side.
I said I was fine to come face the music on my own, but she insisted on joining me.
Secretly, I’m thankful for her presence.
I’m hopeful that with Harper here, I might be able to at least get an explanation out before Austin clocks me.
Especially after I spotted all the cars in the driveway.
Clearly this won’t be a conversation between just Austin and me.
The door swings open and Harper’s mom stands on the other side. She glances between us. “I figured you’d join him,” she says to Harper. “Come on in. Just let me get my coat. You and I are going to do some baby shopping.” She steps back from the door to let us enter.
I step inside, and my first thought is how it feels like a family home in here with the warm wood and family photos displayed on the entry table.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Harper says, crossing her arms.
Holly looks over her shoulder at her from where she’s getting her coat out of the closet. “Finn will be fine, Harp. He can hold his own, can’t you?”
It clear from her steely gaze that I’m expected to agree, but I would’ve anyway. If this is an ambush, I’d rather Harper not be here for it. It might upset her or get her worked up and that can’t be good for her or the baby.
I take Harper’s hand. “I’ll be fine. Go enjoy the afternoon with your mom. I’ll fill you in later.”
She bites her bottom lip. “Are you sure?”
“Positive.” I give her the best smile I can manage, then bend down and kiss her, aware that Holly is watching my every move. But when I straighten and look at her, to my surprise, she’s smiling.
“All right, we will see you later.” She hooks her arm through Harper’s. “Good luck, Finn.” They make their way out the door, and I hear Holly say, “So the dressing room, huh? Like mother like daughter, I guess.”
“Gross, Mom. It wasn’t a Jeep,” Harper says, then the door closes behind them.
With a big sigh, I continue deeper into the house toward where I hear voices. When I enter the spacious living room, every head turns in my direction.
It’s a room full of men, but at least one person here will be on my side. I give Hudson a nod, which he returns.
“Finn, good of you to make it,” Austin says, getting up out of his seat and walking over to me. He clamps me on the shoulder and squeezes. “Thought maybe it was time for us to have a little chat, and some of Harper’s uncles wanted to be included.”
“Great,” I manage to say, voice strained.
“Let me introduce you to everyone you haven’t met.
” He starts on his left, pointing at each person he introduces.
“This is her uncle Colton, her uncle Jamison, her uncle Kingston you already know, this is her uncle Wyatt, and her uncles Rome and Denver—yes, they’re twins—her uncle Liam, and then finally her brother Easton.
Her uncle Griffin is in Los Angeles right now or he’d be here too.
We were going to conference him in, but he said he trusted us. ”
Not one of them gives me any semblance of a smile, but I force myself to smile anyway and raise my hand in greeting. “Hello, everyone. I’ll do my best to keep the names straight.”
No one cracks a smile at my lame joke.
“Why don’t you have a seat?” Austin motions to the chair that’s set up in front of everyone as if I’m being interviewed by the FBI.
I nod and take my seat. Everyone is silent until Rome speaks up.
“So, you’re the guy having a baby with my niece.” He crosses his arms and studies me.
“What’s this about you being engaged?” Easton asks.
I shift in my seat, uncomfortable with all these men in Harper’s family staring me down. “That I can explain.”
I launch into the story of how Tamra and I had broken up when I was in Lake Starlight for Hudson’s wedding and the reason for us being engaged and how it wasn’t real.
“So you only agreed to the engagement so you could try to help out your parents?” Wyatt asks.
“Exactly. And I didn’t know that Harper was going to be our wedding planner, and I had no idea she was pregnant.” I raise my hands in front of me.
“What’s the name of the ski resort your family owns?” Wyatt asks.
I answer.
“How long did you keep the engagement going once you knew Harper was pregnant?” Liam asks.
“Harper told me one weekend when I was here on my own, organizing wedding stuff. Tamra couldn’t join me. I called off the wedding when I returned and made plans to move up here. I didn’t want to be thousands of miles away from my child.”
“And so, what, you and Harper are together now?” Denver asks.
I nod. “We are. I care a great deal about Harper, and I plan to do my best for her and the baby. We may not have planned to have a child together, but I think that maybe this baby was what was supposed to bring us together.”
Easton scoffs.
“What, you don’t think that’s possible?” Kingston asks him.
Easton scowls. “Hell no. I think they screwed around and weren’t responsible, and Harper got pregnant. It’s not fate.” He shakes his head and rolls his eyes before looking at me. “Sorry, man.”
“She was on the pill, and we used a condom every time.” I look at Austin. “Sorry.” Then I look at Easton. “You can’t convince me that the universe wasn’t working in our favor.”
“C’mon, man, where’s your romantic side?” Denver squeezes Easton’s shoulder.
“I don’t have one, remember?” he grumbles.
Most of the room laughs, clearly knowing something I don’t.
“All right, are we done interrogating this poor kid? I want to turn the football game on. I have money riding on it,” Denver says.
Everyone turns to look at Austin. He gets up out of his chair. “Yeah, I guess we’re done. You did good, Finn. Held your own.”
I look at all the guys whose demeanors have now relaxed. Gone are the stoic, pissed off looks, and in their place are a bunch of easygoing guys smiling at me.
“Was this a test?” I ask no one in particular.
“Hell yeah,” Rome says. “Hudson already filled us in on everything before you got here. We knew you’re good people.” He claps me on the back.
Whatever my expression is makes everyone in the room laugh.
“You want a beer?” Austin asks me, walking across the room.
I blow out a breath. Might as well get this over with now. “No thanks, I don’t drink.”
He studies me for a beat.
“I’m an alcoholic, so no booze for me.” I wait for their judgment to rain down on me, but it doesn’t come.
Austin merely nods at Jamison. “Well, you’re in good company.”
Jamison gives me a small smile. “If you ever need anything, you let me know, all right?”
I give him a grateful smile. “Will do.”
The rest of the afternoon is spent watching the football game, and by the time Harper returns with her mom, I realize that I’m completely relaxed. I’m a part of the family, even if officially I’m not.
Well… not yet anyway.