Fine Make

CHAPTER 015 Woke Word For Girlfriend

CHAPTER 015: Woke Word For Girlfriend

I can feel Knox's hands gripping my waist tightly, eyes fixed on mine in the mirror as he rams into me from behind.

"Let go for me, Kitten," he says.

And I do.

My whole body trembles like a violin string being pulled taut. His breath is hot on my neck, and my moans echo in the restroom. There's a knock at the door. A voice. It's Finn yelling my name, telling metot to do this. I don't want you screwing my brother, Sloane.' But I can't stop. I don't want to stop. I-

My eyes snap open.

My head is pounding. My mouth tastes like regret and bourbon. And the sounds from that terrible dream are reverberating inside my skull.

I groan and throw an arm over my eyes.

God, I hate alcohol. I'm also starving. I glance at the nightstand clock. It's almost eleven. How did I sleep this long? I could have sworn I was just a little bit tipsy last night.

Of all the things my brain could've rehashed from last night-the fight, Finn's anger, my shame-it chose the part where I had sex with Knox.

I roll over, squinting at my phone on the nightstand. The screen blinks with an incoming call: Mom.

Guess that's what woke me up.

I sigh and answer. "Hi, Mom."

“Hi, Sloanie–bug! You sound exhausted. Rough weekend?"

"You can say that."

"Well, at least you're having fun."

"Hangovers aren't fun."

She laughs, one that's more of a haha laugh than a real one. "At your age, I had them all the time."

Right. Because when she was my age, 28, she was stuck in a loveless marriage with my emotionally unavailable father. Whatever alcohol memory she's clinging to is definitely soaked in bitterness and passive-aggressive dinner table arguments.

"I called you earlier," she says, "but you must have been dead asleep. So I called your friend, Finn."

Uh-oh.

"What did you tell Finn?" I ask.

"Sage and I are hosting a little barbecue next weekend. He's invited his friends, family, some clients... and I'd like you to come. There'll be a lot of handsome men your age, and one in particular would be perfect for you. He's an independent artist like Sage, owns his own gallery-"noveldrama

"Oh my God. Are you trying to matchmake me with your husband's friends?"

"Of course I am, Sloane. I don't want you to be alone."

"You told Finn about this matchmaking circus?"

"I did! He jumped on the idea the second I mentioned it. Even Finn knows you

need to put yourself out there. I mean, he's clearly not breaking up with his girlfriend anytime soon. I know you've got that silly little crush on him, but honey-"

"Mom!"

"Don't come at me. You know I always say the truth."

Unbelievable. So not only did she plot a blind date barbecue, she roped Finn in? Does he not remember I have pl weekend with my dad? Or is this some twisted punishment for last night?

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I don't know what's weirder, that my mom married a much younger man or the fact that she's trying to matchmake me with his friends.

"I can't be there, Mom. It's Dad's turn this month. I visited you in June. I already made plans to be at his place next weekend -it's his kid's birthday."

Successfully unlocked!

There's a pause. "Well... for once, you can go against your forces month rule. I mean, your father has had you the longest. Cut me some slack."

I groan, leaving the bed and shuffling to the bathroom. My bladder is not playing nice this morning.

"You can't fault Dad for having me the longest when you left me with him," I mutter as I drop onto the toilet.

CHAPTER 015 Woke Word For Gerifriend

"I was young and figuring out my life. I couldn't disrupt yours by taking you with me. You were too little to handle both your parents tearing each other apart for custody. I've explained this a million times, honey"

"But you took Serena, I was five, Mom."

Silence.

I lean my head into my hand, rubbing at my temple with the heel of my palm. I don't have the energy to reopen wounds or unearth years of therapy work

"Tell you what,” I say. "Why don't I think about it?"

"That'd be lovely, Sloane. I'll keep my fingers crossed. Have fun in Asheville" "I'll try."

"I love you, Sloanie-bug"

I pause. Like I always do. I can hear her breathing on the other end of the line, waiting, like she always does too, hoping today would be the day I say it back. "Bye, Mom."

I end the call.

I exhale and reach for some toilet paper, finish my business, and shuffle toward

the sink. I look like a washed-out goth mermaid in a horror movie-smudged mascara, frizzed-out hair, and eyes that scream bad decisions.

Time to shower, eat something, and then casually rip Finn a new one for agreeing to a blind date for me.

I freshen up, towel off the shame, throw on denim shorts and a T-shirt with a sarcastic "404: Motivation Not Found" logo, and head out of the room.

I don't get far.

Because I slam straight into a very broad chest.

I look up-and for a brief, gut-wrenching second-I think it's Knox.

Am I hallucinating him now?

His face is just as chiseled. Just as handsome. Except... the eyes. The blueness

is different. Lighter. Sharper.

And the crow's feet at the corners of his eyes tell me this man is older. Much older.

He stares at me with suspicion.

"Uhh... who are you? Did you break in?"

Excuse me?

"Break in?" I echo. "How would someone break into this house?"

Just then, a loud female voice comes from down the hall. She's laughing. A door swings open, and out walks a vision of grace. A stunning woman with elegant curls and a silk robe, smiling as she clings to Finn. I recognize her instantly. Finn's mom, Victoria Hartley. Guess this means his parents are back from their vacation. Which would also imply that the brooding man who just called me a burglar is Finn's father, Julian Hartley.

Victoria Hartley pulls away from her son and spreads her arms wide.

"Sloane! It's been too long."

I grin awkwardly. "Mrs. Hartley-"

"Nonsense. Call me Victoria."

She wraps me in a warm, lavender-scented hug, while the man behind me continues to scowl.

He crosses his arms. "Finn's got a new girlfriend now?"

Victoria laughs. "No, honey. This is Sloane. His best friend. I told you they were

coming."

Julian raises one skeptical brow. "Best friend? Is that the woke word for

girlfriend?"

"No, silly," she chides.

"Friends with benefits then?"

"NO!" Finn and I both shout at the same time.

Julian looks between us like he's trying to solve a conspiracy theory. Then turns to

his wife. "Men and women can be best friends?"