Letters to Molly (Maysen Jar, #2)(84)

He blinked at me twice. “You got into a fight with your mom? Like a real fight?”

“I don’t know if it was really a fight,” I told Finn. “But she made me mad, and I drew a line in the sand.”

“I’m going to head out front and keep an eye on things. Let you guys talk.” Poppy wiped her hands on her apron, then she squeezed Finn’s arm as she passed by and out of the kitchen.

“Let’s go to the office.”

He followed me down the hallway, taking the seat across from me at the desk, leaning his elbows on his knees to give me his full attention. “What happened?”

“Mom doesn’t like you.”

Finn chuckled. “Tell me something I don’t know.”

“I guess I thought that someday she would. But I see now she won’t. I made it clear that she can keep those opinions to herself because they aren’t welcome in my presence, that I’m on your side and she needs to be respectful.”

“You stuck up for me with your mom?”

“I did.” I nodded. “I’m sorry I didn’t do it sooner.”

“Wow.” He sat back in the chair. “I, um . . . thanks.”

“You’re welcome. I’m sorry that you’re struggling right now. If there is anything I can do to help, even if it’s just to listen, I’m here.”

“Uh, I’m struggling?” Finn’s eyebrows came together. “What are you talking about?”

“Mom. You were right about the counseling. She would have known all about our sessions with Lauren Trussel. She came in for lunch today and told me that Lauren had called her and said you’d scheduled some time to talk with her.”

“Annnd I’ll be canceling that appointment.”

“It’s not fair. You should be safe to talk about the accident if it’s causing you stress. I can do some digging to find a therapist in town who doesn’t associate with Mom.”

“I’m not stressed about the accident. It’s over. I’m fine. I feel lucky and really fucking happy to be alive. I wanted to meet with Lauren because you met with Lauren.”

“I’m confused.”

He stood and came around the desk, sitting on the edge. “The counseling appointment wasn’t for me. It was for us.”

“Huh?”

“I had planned to bring you along. For marriage counseling.”

“We’re not married.”

Finn shrugged. “Did you get my letter?”

“Don’t change the subject. You want to go to marriage counseling with your ex-wife?”

“Better late than never.”

My head was spinning, and it took me a moment to let it all sink in. Finn wanted to go to marriage counseling with me. That was . . . odd. And incredibly sweet. “You want to go to counseling?”

“I thought maybe we had some things to talk about, but it doesn’t matter now because I’m not going to meet with Lauren. I’d hoped I was wrong and paranoid about her being one of your mom’s spies. Guess I was right.”

“Yes, you were. But that aside, thank you. The gesture of the counseling . . . I appreciate it.”

“You didn’t answer my question. Did you get my letter?”

I shifted in my seat so I could pull it out from my pocket. “This letter?”

“That’s the one.” Finn grinned. “What do you say? Have dinner with me Saturday? My parents already agreed to watch the kids.”

“I have plans. Sorry.” I stood from the chair and walked past him toward the door. I wasn’t sure what was happening, with the counseling thing and the letter asking me out, but we’d already decided to go our separate ways. More than once.

“Hold up.” Finn rushed to catch up as I walked through the kitchen. “What plans?”

“I’m babysitting MacKenna and Brady so Poppy and Cole can have a date.”

“Oh,” he grumbled. “Then how about Sunday?”

“It’s a school night.”

“Last time I checked, you’re not in school.”

“We have two kids who are. They should be at home, getting ready for the week.”

“My mom can come over and watch them there. They’ll be in bed by nine, just like every other night.”

I went through the swinging door and behind the counter. “I’ll take over out here.”

“Okay.” Poppy smiled and disappeared back into the kitchen.

Finn was standing at the end of the counter, his legs planted wide and his arms crossed over his chest. “I’ll pick you up on Sunday at six.”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because,” I hissed, walking closer to him so Randall and Jimmy wouldn’t hear. “We’re not doing this again.”

Did he think I’d jump back into the affair we’d had before the accident?

“I’ll repeat, why not?”

“We’ve been down this path. Too many times. We agreed it was better this way, so . . . there.”

“I changed my mind,” he declared. “I’ll change yours too.”

Before I could come up with a retort, Randall interrupted us from his chair. “What are you two whispering about?”