He’d get shit for that later, but Mia had other questions that took precedence. She turned back to me, eyes flashing.

“So, to be clear, you were totally dating this guy and you never once mentioned it to me even before you found out about me and Brody? Is that what I’m hearing?”

Well, I walked right into that one.

I sighed and felt the first stirrings of what had the potential to be a wicked headache. But then I felt Arthur’s arm around my shoulders tighten a tiny bit and I felt better. Not alone.

It was nice.

“Yeah,” she continued when I didn’t say anything. “You’ve got a lotta nerve, Fin, acting like I did something wrong when you were the one not being a good friend this whole time.” She shook her head and took two steps away. “We’re outta here,” she said, then started walking. When Brody hesitated, she turned on him. “Now, Brody!”

Brody sighed. And hesitated again, his eyes on me and Arthur. But only for a second or two more before he turned and followed Mia out of the park.

Arthur waited until they were out of sight before he lowered his arm from my shoulders. I missed the feeling at once.

“She was your best friend?” he asked dubiously.

“We met in elementary school. It was simpler then.”

“It would have to have been,” he murmured, and took a sip of his cider. Then he shifted to regard me. “I hope you don’t mind . . .” He held up his right hand, the one that had been around my shoulders.

I shook my head. “No. In fact, thank you.” I could feel myself blushing. “I shouldn’t have implied anything was going on between us.” I drank my peppermint mocha to cover my mounting embarrassment.

He moved to sit on top of the cement picnic table. “Makes sense why you did, though.”

“Does it?”

I followed and sat beside him. Both of our feet were on the seat and we faced in the same direction. Not too close. Then again, not too far away, either. I could feel him radiating warmth and it took everything in me not to bury my face in his shoulder.

“In a way,” he said, oblivious to my longing for a sneaky snuggle. “It’s difficult to be the third wheel, especially when you harbor feelings for one of the other two.”

“That’s just it,” I countered, shaking my head. “I don’t think I do. Harbor feelings, I mean. For Brody.”

He arched an eyebrow. “Might I remind you that earlier today you referred to him as your ‘first love.’ ”

“He is, or, you know, he was.”

“Then what is it about this situation that has you upset enough to conjure a relationship with me?”

I sighed. “I think it’s just . . . everything.”

He watched me for a moment. “Your parents?” His voice was softer now.