BooksBarbecue
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Chapters (48)
  1. 1. One
  2. 2. Two
  3. 3. Three
  4. 4. Four
  5. 5. Five
  6. 6. Six
  7. 7. Seven
  8. 8. Eight
  9. 9. Nine
  10. 10. Ten
  11. 11. Eleven
  12. 12. Twelve
  13. 13. Thirteen
  14. 14. Fourteen
  15. 15. Fifteen
  16. 16. Sixteen
  17. 17. Seventeen
  18. 18. Eighteen
  19. 19. Nineteen
  20. 20. Twenty
  21. 21. Twenty-One
  22. 22. Twenty-Two
  23. 23. Twenty-Three
  24. 24. Twenty-Four
  25. 25. Twenty-Five
  26. 26. Twenty-Six
  27. 27. Twenty-Seven
  28. 28. Twenty-Eight
  29. 29. Twenty-Nine
  30. 30. Thirty
  31. 31. Thirty-One
  32. 32. Thirty-Two
  33. 33. Thirty-three
  34. 34. Thirty-Four
  35. 35. Thirty-Five
  36. 36. Thirty-Six
  37. 37. Thirty-Seven
  38. 38. Thirty-Eight
  39. 39. Thirty-Nine
  40. 40. Forty
  41. 41. Forty-One
  42. 42. Forty-Two
  43. 43. Forty-three
  44. 44. Epilogue
  45. Afterword
  46. Also by
  47. Acknowledgments
  48. About Author

“I’ve got a couple of groups that come regularly and some that are just here on vacation. My regulars are my favorite, of course. I’ve got a couple that are hard to control, but they’re usually the most talented.” Finn continued on for who knew how long while I stared at him. His eyes sparkled with passion, and you could tell with every word he spoke, he loved his job.

I was proud to have him here, to bring him around my family. It was such a contrast to our last dinner together when he popped in uninvited. I was a ball of anxiety and anger last time, but now I was basking in a wave of reassurance. It took me until that moment, watching him laugh and talk to my family as if they’d known each other for years, to truly realize how much I needed him on this trip. I would’ve probably already fled by now and been back in Florida, drinking margaritas on my living room floor and watching nineties sitcoms. Instead, I sat next to one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met, with his hand on my leg as he and my family joked about sports and their jobs. Finn fit at the table like a missing puzzle piece, and I was thrilled…and terrified. Because the past lingered over me, following me wherever I went.

Finn trailed his thumb across the skin just above my knee, and I leaned closer. I felt Finn looking at me as I watched Matt talk about stories from when we were younger, and I couldn’t help the corners of my mouth lifting ever so slightly.

After our wine was poured, we each grabbed a glass. Dad said to the table, “Would anyone like to toast?”

To no surprise, Finn raised his glass, looked me dead in the eyes, and without wavering said, “To the red-eye.”

I swore my Grinch heart grew three sizes.

23. Twenty-Three

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Dinner with Olive's family was like seeing friends you hadn’t seen in forever, like we had known each other for years and were catching up. I noticed how Olive loosened up over the night too, and as much as she wanted to blame it on the wine, I knew it was because of the company around her.

“That is not what happened!” Olive smiled next to me.

“Oh yes, it is! You were all ‘Guys watch this!’ Like you were about to do the coolest trick then you jumped and busted your chin.” Matt explained the story of Olive's tiny scar under her chin and how she thought she could fly off their balcony at a young age.

Olive’s mom wiped tears of laughter from her face. “Oh, she was a mess to deal with, but that’s just our fearless little Olive. Always the craziest one in the room.”