“Uh-huh.” She hung her head and let her dark hair curtain her face.

“How’d they take it?” I asked, my voice soft.

“They were outwardly cool about it, but I doubt they’ll brag about their daughter the lawyer anytime soon. Not until I pass, at least.” When she raised her head, her eyes lacked shine.

“Which you will!” I hated to see her so sad. “Your parents love you no matter what.” They were both first-generation Americans who resented the pressure their Korean parents had put on them and made a point of going easier on their own children. Sure, they’d be saddened she didn’t pass on the first try, but they’d both get over it and implore her not to give up.

“On to more important matters,” she said, her face lighting up. “How was the sex with Finn?”

“Best sex of my life, Kate.” I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“Yaaas!” Her hand, which she’d raised to give me a cheesy congratulatory high-five, paused in midair as she focused on something behind me. She widened her eyes like a flushed-face emoji, and her mouth dropped open. “Who’s the hot Hemsworth? He looks familiar. Is that…”

I glanced over my shoulder. A man was jogging our way. A red plastic ball landed at his feet, and he stopped and bent at the waist to pick it up. He tossed it to a little boy a few inches away, using a soft touch to ensure it would be caught. He smiled as the boy toddled away toward his guardian and wiped his face with the bottom of his white T-shirt, giving us a glimpse of tight abs and a trail of hair leading under the waistband of his black runner shorts. “You’re drooling.”

“With good reason!” she said, still gawping at him.

Spotting us, he called out, “Adi!” and walked our way.

I shivered traitorously with pent-up desire. “Finn. Meet my best friend, Kate. Kate, this is my…Finn.”

Finn smirked and extended his hand to Kate. “Nice to meet you, Kate. I’m her Finn.”

Chapter Thirty-Four

Chapter Thirty-Four

Jogging on your lunch hour?” I asked, careful not to let my eyes linger on his muscular calves or the sweat-soaked T-shirt clinging to his chest in the most delicious way.

He stood in front of our bench with his feet hip-width apart. “I just got back from Middletown. I’ll go in later.”

“Errands?” If my favorite television shows were any indication, many small towns relied on the adjacent larger ones for products they didn’t supply locally.

“I visited my dad,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Oh.” I frowned. “Wait. Your father lives in Middletown? Isn’t it less than a half hour away? Why wouldn’t you stay with him instead of the B&B?”

“It’s complicated.”

Complicated. I hated that word. I stared him down, willing him to elaborate.