You Make It Easy: A best friend's brother romance (Love in Everton Book 5)

by Fabiola Francisco

  BookishAbbs: I do. Harry Potter lover here.

  “What are you doing?”

  My heart skips in my chest as Finn’s voice whispers in my ear from behind. I clutch the phone in my hands, pressing the side button to lock the screen.

  “Nothing,” I say way too fast.

  “Are you on one of those dating apps?” His eyes glimmer with mockery.

  I turn to face him and lock my jaw. “No.” My teeth grind together.

  “Yeah, right.”

  “Don’t tell anyone, please,” I beg, grimacing. I know online dating is the modern day’s form of meeting someone at a bar or grocery aisle, but I still feel weird about it.

  “Abbie Murphy, I never would’ve guessed it.” He lifts an eyebrow, and the hint of a smile brushes one side of his lips.

  “Listen, Finn, I don’t want to make a big deal about this. It’s hard meeting someone in a small town, and it’s even harder when you’re shy like me. Seeing all my friends pairing off into lovey-dovey relationships makes me realize that I need to put myself out there somehow, and well, this is the best I can do for now.”

  “Hey, I think it’s great.” He lifts his hands, palms facing me in mock surrender.

  “Anyway, no one knows, so please keep it to yourself.”

  “Why not?” His brows furrow, and his head jerks back.

  “I don’t know. I felt weird, kinda embarrassed.”

  “You shouldn’t.” Finn shakes his head and smiles. Carefree, that describes Finn. The total opposite of Averly, you’d never guess they were raised by the same parents. He’s always had that confident attitude where he just rolled with the punches.

  I nod and give him a tight-lipped smile. He’s right, of course, but I’m still a little weirded out about online dating, and I know it has to do with my own insecurities where I feel I have to rely on technology to find me a match. It’s so normal nowadays that I really shouldn’t feel like an oddball.

  “Let’s get you a refill,” Finn disrupts my personal analysis when he grabs my empty glass.

  “I’m okay,” I wave him off.

  “Come on, one more. You’re going to say no to your new landlord and risk starting off on the wrong foot?” He presses a hand against his chest and gasps.

  “You’re a fool. I’ve known you for twenty-five years, so no right foot, wrong foot.”

  He smirks and ignores me, ordering drinks when the bartender stops in front of him. I sneak a peek at my phone while Finn waits for the drinks and read the new message I received.

  NickRom15: I haven’t read Harry Potter yet. Always seems like a daunting series, kind of intimidating.

  BookishAbbs: You have to read it! As soon as you start you won’t be able to stop

  NickRom15: I’ll take your word for it. What else do you enjoy doing?

  BookishAbbs: I’m a photographer, so taking pictures is top on my list along with reading. Besides that, spending time with my friends. Just a small-town girl here.

  NickRom15: Small-town guy here, too. I’m from Wellington.

  I wonder if I should tell him where I’m from. I’m always skeptical about people’s honesty online, although my profile might already show my hometown location. Instead, I ask him about his job.

  BookishAbbs: What do you do?

  “Here you go,” Finn turns back toward me, and I take the glass he extends in my direction.

  “Thanks. You really didn’t have to.”

  “I know, but I wanted to. Now, tell me about this app.” His eyebrows dance on his forehead, and I roll my eyes.

  “A little louder, why don’t you,” my response drips with sarcasm.

  “No one is paying attention to us.” His chin tilts toward all the couples. Faith isn’t anywhere near us, and I wonder where she went.

  “I haven’t really been using it for long. This is the first time I actually respond to a message.”

  “Is he cute? Let me see.” He tries to yank my phone from me as I squeal.

  “He must be if you’re blushing like that,” Finn teases.

  “Jerk,” I murmur, and my friends look at me with raised eyebrows as if I were insane. I guess my high-pitch scream broke their bubbles.

  “You really should have a passcode on your phone if you don’t want people seeing what you have,” Finn says as he zooms in on a picture of this guy, Nick, according to his username and profile.

  “Ugh.” I reach for my phone, but he’s quicker than me, lifting it over his head. Finn snickers as he gazes up, then nods.

  “Here you go.” He returns my phone. “Not bad looking.” He tilts his head from side to side.

  I roll my eyes and ignore him, taking a sip of my drink. Not every guy is going to be drop-dead-gorgeous like him.

  Finn Cooper is the definition of ruggedly sexy with his full lips framed in the perfect scruff, his dark eyes layered with brown tones, and tan skin. He’s always carried a mischievous twinkle in his eyes as if at any given moment he’d pull a prank on someone. And that smirk. Goodness, that small tug on one side of his lips speaks volumes and is deadly for the female population. It’s no wonder he’s always dating different women.

  Abbie

  The week has flown by between my rushed packing, editing photos, a family photo session, and messaging back and forth with Nick. I can’t remember the last time I had so much going on at once. With my hands on my hips, I look around my new home.

  “What else do you need, honey?” My dad walks into the house, carrying a box.

  “Once we finish unloading the boxes, I’ll be okay. The girls are coming over later to help me.” I smile, lifting the box that reads Kitchen and placing it on the counter.

  “Your sisters want to see the house,” my dad calls over his shoulder. He bends to place the box next to another one and brushes his hands together. I feel like the entire living room is being littered with cardboard.

  “I’ll write to them and see if they want to come over tomorrow after church.” The crackling sound of tape ripping from the box echoes in the kitchen.

  “They’d like that.” My dad nods and heads back outside. I was an only child for thirteen years when my parents told me one day that they were having a baby. I was shocked. It wasn’t long after Emily was born that my mom announced she was pregnant again. Emily and Sienna are fourteen months apart. Needless to say, my mom got her tubes tied right after.

  “Where do you want the sofa?” My cousin, Gavin, calls over his shoulder as he and my dad carry it in.

  “Oh, crap.” I shuffle boxes out of their way. “Here,” I point to a wall in the living room. I can always move it around once everything else is placed. “Thanks,” I sigh.

  “No problem.” Gavin and I grew up together, with me being only a couple years older than him. We’re both the quiet type, so we always understood each other.

  Gavin married his high school sweetheart a few years after graduation, and they had a baby not long after. The most adorable little girl, Penny. She’s my most favorite person in the world. Her mom said motherhood wasn’t for her, neither was being stuck in this town for the rest of her life, so she packed her things and left them before Penny was even one.

  That was hard on our family, but devastating for Gavin. Hadley was the only girlfriend he ever had and she was his whole world. He was always certain their love would conquer anything.

  “I’m going to tell my sisters to come by tomorrow after church to see the place. Why don’t you and Penny come? We can have lunch here?”

  “She’d love that. Thanks, Abbie.” Gavin smiles, but ever since Hadley left, the smile’s never reached his eyes. Sometimes I feel as if he’s merely existing for the sake of his daughter, and it kills me to see that.

  “Knock, knock.” I turn around and see Finn standing by the door. “How’s it going?”

  “Good, thanks.”

  “Hey, Gavin.” Finn shakes my cousin’s hand.

  “Hey, man.”

  “I’ll grab my checkbook now,” I announce, l
ooking for my purse in the pile of things on my bed.

  When I walk out of the room, the house is empty. “Uhhh…” I walk outside and jump out of the way when I see Finn and Gavin coming straight for me with boxes stacked in their arms.

  “Oops, sorry, Abbie. I didn’t see you there.” Finn looks at me and swipes his hands together after placing the box down.

  “That’s okay.” I hold my checkbook in the air. “I make it out to you?”

  “Yup. Thanks.”

  I lean on the counter and write out the check for the security deposit and first month we agreed on, adding both amounts on my calculator twice to make sure I did the math correctly.

  I hand Finn the check, the first exchange in our rental agreement, making this living situation real. I take a deep breath.

  “Thanks, Abbie. If you need anything, just let me know.”

  “I will, thanks.” I watch Finn leave and turn to the kitchen, ready to tackle it.

  My dad and Gavin bring in the last of the boxes as I start stocking up the kitchen. They leave, promising to see me tomorrow, and I stand in the middle of the house, looking all over the place with an overwhelming sensation. I sure as hell hope Poppy or Faith bring wine for the unpacking party.

  …

  “Abbie!” A mess of dark curls rushes me outside of the church.

  “Hey, Penny.” I lift her up, and she giggles.

  “Daddy told me we’re going to see your new house.”

  “Sure are. I was thinking we could have a picnic outside. What do you say?” I kiss her rosy cheek. I love this girl like crazy.

  “Yesss!” she hisses, pulling her elbow into her body in celebration, almost punching me in the face.

  “Penny,” Gavin walks up to his four-year-old daughter with a warning tone.

  “Daddy, Abbie said we’re going to have a picnic in her new house.” Penny squeals and twirls around.

  “She’s been talking about this since last night,” Gavin shakes his head with a chuckle.

  “It’s something new for her. I’m going to grab my sisters and head out. I thought we could have sandwiches.”

  “Sounds good. We’ll head over soon. I’ll get some cupcakes from The Mad Batter on the way.”

  “Oh, yeah!” I smile. Mrs. Engle makes the best sweets.

  I turn to my sisters. “Are you girls ready?”

  “Yup,” they say in unison, both of them looking at their phones. “Bye, Mom, Dad.” I kiss them on the cheek and steal my sisters’ phones, jogging away from them toward the car.

  “Hey,” they yell, chasing me. A few people that still idle around the church lot look at us with raised eyebrows and judgment painted on their faces. Probably not appropriate outside of church behavior, but it’s not like we’re rushing into the church itself and screaming.

  “Does this house only have one bedroom?” Emily asks as she snaps her seatbelt on.

  “Yup.”

  “So, we can’t sleep over, like ever?”

  I look at her furrowed eyebrows as I turn the ignition. “I have a couch.”

  “Sienna, you get the floor when we sleep over. Bring your sleeping bag,” she teases.

  Sienna pops her head between us from her spot in the backseat. “We’ll flip a coin for it. Besides, you’ll be off to college next year, so Abbie and I will be able to bond without you,” she teases.

  “Whatever.” Emily crosses her arms over her chest.

  Amused, I shake my head and pull out of the driveway. “Have you decided on a college?” I ask Emily, who just finished her junior year.

  “I’m not sure yet. I still have time, and I’ll apply to a few, so my options are open. I kinda wanna go out of state.”

  I look at her as I stop at a crosswalk so a few people can cross the street. “Really?”

  “Yeah,” she shrugs. “Get a different experience. I’ll need a scholarship, though.”

  “You’ve got beauty but not brains.”

  “Sienna,” I chastise.

  She giggles wickedly. “I’m only kidding. Emily has beauty and brains. National Honor Society for her three years in high school. Chances are, she’ll get a scholarship.”

  “You just don’t want me to leave so far away,” Emily comments with arrogance.

  “Whatever. I’ll finally be like an only child and milk Mom and Dad all I can.”

  I laugh and continue driving. “I’ll still live here.”

  “Yeah, but no offense, Abbie, you kinda don’t count. You’re so much older than us that it’s like two separate groups of children for them. You haven’t lived at home for years, she”—Sienna’s finger pops between us, and I flinch—“has always been there.”

  “Good thing you guys love each other,” I deadpan.

  “What I’m really hoping is that being the only one left at home, they’ll extend my curfew to midnight.”

  “What do you want to do being out that late in this town?” My voice rises in disbelief. Overprotective older sister mode is on in full force.

  “I don’t want to go to parties and leave right when it’s getting good. I don’t know.” I hear the swoosh of the seat as she slumps back.

  “Anyway, when are you going to get a boyfriend? Emily already had one and dumped him, and you’re still single.”

  “Why did I invite you to come over again?” I deadpan.

  “Because you loooovvee us,” Emily sings.

  “I’m starting to reconsider that emotion.” I glare out of the corner of my eye.

  “Don’t listen to Sienna. Having a boyfriend is overrated.” Emily leans forward to change the radio station.

  “Because you’re so well-versed in relationships.”

  “I leave for college in a year. I don’t want to be attached to anyone and make the wrong decision because my emotions get in the way. Besides, look at Gavin and Hadley. They were high school sweethearts, and we all know how that ended up.” Emily turns up the volume on a Rebel Desire song, but I reach over and lower it a bit.

  I take a moment to process my next sentence. “I do think it’s smart to make decisions about your future and education without thinking about a boyfriend, especially a newer relationship. However, Gavin and Hadley were different. You girls were young still, but they were happy at one point. Relationships don’t always last, but that’s part of the gamble.” I shrug, turning into the long driveway that leads to the house.

  “All I’m saying is that I’m not sacrificing what I want for a man,” Emily’s reply is full of sass.

  “Amen, sister,” Sienna praises her.

  I giggle and shake my head. They are smart girls.

  Before I put my car in park, my sisters are racing out of the car and rushing me to open the door. Their excitement is contagious, and a huge smile appears on my face. They comment on the house, pointing out things they love. Thirteen-year age difference or not, I’ll always love my sisters.

  After eating sandwiches on a blanket like I promised Penny, my sisters chase Penny around, playing tag.

  “Hey, Gav,” I wait for him to look at me. “Have you ever tried online dating?” I’m hesitant, my heart pounding as I wait for his judgment.

  “Abbie, you know I’m not…”

  “No, I know.” I shake my head vehemently. “I’m not suggesting that you should. It’s just…” My head rolls around slowly before I meet his eyes.

  “You?” he asks, pointing at me as his eyes widen into saucers.

  I cringe. “Don’t look at me like that.” I swat his finger away.

  “Sorry, sorry. I just didn’t think you’d give that a try, or that you wanted to meet someone so badly.”

  I sigh and lean back on my hands. “It’s not that I’m desperate to meet someone, but I’m already thirty, and seeing my friends getting into serious relationships has triggered something in me. I don’t know.” I blow a heavy breath from my mouth to try to get a lock of hair away from my face, but it just falls right back over my eyes. I push it away with a hand and lean back again,
staring up at the pine trees surrounding the farmhouse.

  The area is peaceful, and I know I’m going to love sitting out here this summer. The sweet scent of pine mixed with sunshine relaxes me.

  “There’s nothing wrong with it, just be careful, okay? Lots of crazy people in the world.”

  “Yeah,” I let out a soft breath. “I could meet someone at a bar that’s just as crazy and hides it with charms. You never really know. The thing is that Everton is small, and it’s kinda weird to date someone you can run into anywhere you go if it doesn’t work out.”

  “I get it.” He looks out in front of him to where Penny is laughing as Sienna grabs her around the waist and lifts her from the ground. I wonder if he thinks of Hadley every time he looks at Penny. She looks so much like her mother, it must be hard not to.

  “You’re doing okay, right?” My eyebrows wrinkle as my eyes sweep across his face in watchful observation.

  “I am.” He nods and turns to me with a smile.

  At one point, I never thought he’d get his life together. He tends to stick mostly to himself. He takes fatherhood very seriously, and he’s lucky that our family is a tight unit. He moved in with his parents as soon as Hadley left them, and they’ve been there to help him with Penny ever since.

  “I’m glad.” I squeeze his arm and sit up.

  “So tell me more about this dating app,” he chuckles.

  “Why do I even bother?” I shove his shoulder.

  “Seriously. Have you met anyone interesting?” He tilts his head and focuses on me with intrigue. Maybe I can be an example to him. One day he’s going to have to trust again.

  “I recently started messaging a guy. It’s nothing serious, but he seems nice from our short back and forth.” I shrug and collect the paper plates to keep myself busy and not overthink.

  “That’s good. Is he from here?”

  “Nope, he’s from Wellington. He’s a restaurant manager, and apparently, he joined the app because his job is demanding and doesn’t allow for much time socializing. I’m not sure if that’s the type of relationship I want, especially living in different towns, but I figured it’s a good way to break the ice. Come out of my shell, you know?” From the bit Nick and I have spoken in our messages, I don’t know if a long-lasting relationship would work between us, but I’ve found we have a lot in common, and I enjoy talking to him.