Lies Inside (37 page)

“Sweet dreams, Mrs. O’Malley.” He kissed her forehead before tucking his arm under his pillow and letting the exhaustion take hold.

The events of the day before left their bodies exhausted into next afternoon. As soon as Rylan heard the slightest creak of their floorboards, she was pulling Lucy out to get ready for the last party of the summer.

“It’s just a party.” Finn yawned after going into the kitchen and getting a much needed cup of coffee from Jack.

“To us... maybe. I don’t know, with all of us being out of circulation for awhile, I’m sure we will be the focus of the party.”

“Then I guess tonight’s the night we let everyone know you’re married.”

“Only if you intend on keeping that on.”

Jack pointed to Finn’s left hand and the ring Lucy had placed there. “I don’t think I’ll ever take it off. I want to make sure everyone knows I have the most amazing wife.”

“Especially Walters?”

“Yeah.” He rolled his eyes while taking another sip. Finn couldn’t wait to see the look on Dave Walters’ face when he found out.

“How you going to do it? I’m sure we could get someone to write it in the sky if you want.”

“Don’t think so.” Finn laughed.

“Too much? Yeah, I thought so.”

“I think we’ll just wait and see if anyone notices.”

“Notices what?”

Finn sighed at the sight of his wife. She looked striking in her favorite pair of jeans and the navy short-sleeved tee. Finn loved that shirt.

“Notice...um...our rings.” He could barely get the words out as she ran her fingertips up his torso before clasping her fingers at the back of his neck.

“If that’s what you want, it’s fine with me. But I don’t think I can let you out of the house looking like you do.”

He realized he was only wearing the flannel pants he had slipped on when Rylan came into their room.

“Not enough?”

“No.” She shook her head before giving him a soft kiss. “I laid something out for you on the bed. It’s only a suggestion.”

“It’s started already.” Jack slapped Finn on the back. “First, it’s the clothes. Then, it’s your hair. Next thing you know, you’ll be holding her purse while she buys another dress you know she doesn’t need.”

“He’s not you, Jack.”

Finn couldn’t help but laugh and almost fall over in the process. His face was beat red as he sat down at the kitchen table.

Lucy pulled him back up, kissing at his neck before reaching his ear.

“I have a feeling you’ll like it, but if you don’t want to wear it— “

Finn cut her off with a quick kiss. “I’m sure I’ll love it.”

“Then get going. I won’t cover for you if you’re not ready by the time Rylan comes down.”

She smacked his behind as he made his way out of the kitchen and back up to their room.

Jack and Lucy traded insults for about twenty minutes before Finn came back down. Her jaw practically dropped to the floor when he walked in.

“Do I pass the first husband test?” He held his hands up as he did a little turn for her.

Lucy got up from the table to take him all in. He had on his best pair of dark blue jeans with a black button down shirt.

“I might,”—she played with the buttons on his shirt before turning her attention to those piercing blue eyes—”just have to take you back upstairs and take it all off you.”

He pulled her in and kissed along her neck before she felt Rylan tugging at her back.

“You have the rest of your lives for that stuff. I told Dave we’d be there in twenty minutes so we better get going.” She shoved their jackets at them.

Lucy pulled hers on. “I’m glad you’re so concerned about both of us.”

“We appreciate all the trouble you’ve gone through. I’m sure we’ll have fun.” Finn smiled before pulling Rylan into a hug.

“You better, or else.”

They all squeezed into their new SUV. For some reason, Finn handed over the keys to Jack before cuddling with Lucy in the backseat. She so loved the newlywed stage.

They found a parking space on the crowded street. Lucy noticed a few familiar faces wandering out front. Lucy waved to them as they started to come over. She had one foot out the door when she felt Finn pulling her back in.

“What’s wrong?”

Finn was breathing deeply. Lucy could tell his nerves were getting the best of him. He just needed a moment to relax.

“You can do this. I’ll be with you the whole time.” She rubbed circles on his hand with her thumb.

He dropped his chin down to his chest as he shook his head. “I have no idea what they’re thinking about me. I hardly know these people anymore, and I wasn’t the most social guy when I came back from Two Roads. What am I supposed to say?”

“We’ve talked about this with Dr. Styles. But if you’re not ready, we can go home.” She brought her index finger to his chin and lifted it up so his eyes met hers. “It’s you and me, remember?”

She tried to smile that reassuring smile she seemed to have. After a moment, he smiled back.

He brought her hand to his lips. “We can face the lions together?”

“Together.” Lucy gave him a soft kiss before coaxing him out of the car, shutting the door behind them.

They made it to the party as it kicked into full swing. Everyone seemed understanding. Some were shocked by the whole marriage thing but congratulated them anyway. Most people told them how they missed them and were praying for them the whole time they were gone.

About an hour in, Finn was completely calm. Lucy was so glad that he was coming out of his shell so to speak. They’d been so wrapped up in each other almost every minute since he returned home in January that they really hadn’t had much time to be teenagers. Lucy thought it was nice to see him so at ease in a crowd of people.

After making the rounds, there was still one person Lucy needed to talk to. Dave.

She walked through the crowd as Finn was occupied with some new video game system that had been set up in the living room. He and Jack were practically glued to it. She spotted Dave.

“Hey, Dave.”

“Hey, Luce. Glad to see you made it.” He took a sip of what she assumed was beer by the smell and his proximity to the keg.

“I really didn’t get to tell you the last time I saw you how much I missed you.” He brushed his fingers up and down her arm. “Things just aren’t not the same without you.”

Lucy pulled her arm back a bit, his face flashed with rejection. She felt bad, but she didn’t feel that way about Dave anymore.

“Well, it’s nice to know I was missed. Maybe we will be at NYU next semester. Next fall for sure.”

“That’s great, Luce. I can’t say I’m happy you’re not going to be there this semester, but if you are happy, then I can try.” He pulled her in for a hug as his beer sloshed in his plastic cup.

She felt his free hand press at the small of her back while he buried his head in the crook of her neck. She just patted him on the back and waited for him to let go.

When he pulled back, he looked like he almost had tears in his eyes. “Lucy, I—”

Dave’s hand was replaced with another. “I see you’re catching up with my wife, Dave.”

Dave did double-take as he looked between Lucy and Finn. Finn wrapped his arms around her waist as he set his chin on her shoulder.

“Wife.” Dave nodded as he shut his eyes. “Right.” Dave looked to see the ring on her finger before finding the one on Finn’s. “Just don’t fuck it up, O’Malley. Because I’ll be waiting here if you do.”

Dave hit Finn on the shoulder before stumbling past him back over to the keg.

“That wasn’t very nice, you know.”

Finn held on to her tighter. “I just want to make sure that he knows that you are all mine, Mrs. O’Malley.” He gave her a peck on the neck before spinning her around to face him. “You about ready to go?”

“I guess so. I’ll see if Rylan’s ready. “

“Okay. I’ll find Jack.” He pecked her lips before they went their separate ways.

Lucy wandered out to the back porch and felt a slight chill as the wind picked up. No sign of Rylan, but she took the moment to lose herself in the silence. Blissful chaos filled Lucy’s life, but she still enjoyed those moments when she could just sit back and take in the quiet.

Lucy stepped off the back porch before she saw someone sitting at the foot of a nearby tree. She let out a startled gasp.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you.” He stood up and walked toward her.

“It’s alright. I didn’t see you is all. What are you doing sitting out here by yourself?”

“Just clearing my head. It’s been a pretty interesting night for me.” Lucy soon recognized the man standing before her. Rylan had described him perfectly earlier that evening. Tall and lean with black hair and piercing hazel eyes. “Sorry, I’m Rod Jensen.” He extended his hand to Lucy.

She took his hand. “Lucy But—I mean O’Malley.” It was the first time she had called herself an O’Malley in public. She blushed and let out a soft laugh as he released her hand.

“Lucy. What a beautiful name. Is it a family name?”

“Yes. After my great grandmother.” She nodded.

“I haven’t seen you around, but I feel like I’ve seen you before.”

“I already went to high school here, but I’m taking some time off before going to NYU.”

“Oh, a college girl.” He stepped in a little closer than she would have liked. “What are you doing hanging out with a bunch of drunks like us? Shouldn’t you be backpacking through Europe or some shit like that?”