his heart to someone who deserves it. Yes, his family and friends will be in your life, but I’m not worried about them. You can take us or leave us. That will be your prerogative. I just want to be certain, if push comes to shove and we’re too much for you, will you break my friend’s heart? Finn may have the strength of a giant, but he’s frail and sensitive. I don’t want some girl to take advantage of that, no matter who she is.”
“I thought you said you weren’t after my man? It sounds to me like maybe you are. If that’s the case, then you’re in for a rude awakening. Finn isn’t yours to stake claim to. He’s mine,” I growl with more confidence than I actually have.
In reality, my heart is shriveling up inside, thinking of Kennedy Ryland as my rival for Finn’s love. If that’s the case, then how the fuck can I keep him? I couldn’t compete, and she knows it. Being born and bred in the wrong part of town will make it difficult for most people in Finn’s life to accept me as his girlfriend. Which means our relationship is already set up to fail. Add Kennedy to the mix, as the girl gunning for his affections, then I might as well give up now.
Too bad for her, I’m not a quitter.
I’m a fighter.
Always have been. Always will be.
Sure, Kennedy might have turned the tables on me for a second, but like hell will I let her back me into a corner and try to take what’s mine. I’m not giving up pretty boy so easily. Not without one hell of a fight, anyway.
My hands are already curled up in fists, imagining how I’m going to claw her pretty eyes out if she says one more thing that pisses me off, when I realize that the intimidating, no-nonsense Barbie is nowhere in sight.
Nothing about the Kennedy that is standing in my presence now is threatening. Actually, she kind of looks like someone just took her inheritance away and told her she will have to work at a fast-food joint in my neck of the woods to make ends meet.
“Yes, I love Finn, but like a brother. Nothing more. That torment lies with someone else, unfortunately,” she confesses, her blue eyes taking a somber shade.
“That bad, huh?” I retort, taking stock of how defeated she looks.
“The worst,” she half-chuckles, half-laments, rubbing the engagement ring on her finger.
“Let me guess. He’s not the same guy who gave you that rock, is he?”
“Like Finn said, beautiful and smart. I think I’m going to like you in our little group.”
“It didn’t sound that way a minute ago.”
“What can I say?” She unapologetically shrugs with a wide grin to her lips. “I believe that someone will only show their true nature when they are put under pressure. I just had to make sure Finn wasn’t getting conned by you.”
“He’s not,” I bite back.
“Oh, I know,” she beams. “It’s written all over your face how you love him just as much as he loves you.” She snickers amused.
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to. You were about two seconds away from punching my teeth in.”
“I still might,” I grunt.
She continues to giggle as she opens the dressing-room door to grab the dresses from one of the clerk’s hands, who apparently had nothing better to do than stand post outside until Kennedy made her next request.
Rich people. I don’t think I’ll ever understand them.
Well, maybe I’m starting to understand a little bit of Kennedy, at least. If she went through all this trouble just to make sure Finn’s feelings were protected, then I guess she can’t be all bad. Not many people would have put in the effort or the time to look out for a friend. Sure, she’s still a Northsider, but then again, so is Finn—the sweetest, most intense man I know.
Maybe that’s just how they are bred on the Northside—sweet as apple pie one minute, and put the fear of God in you the next. Who fucking knows? There’s only one of them I care about anyway. I won’t waste my time on the others.
“Try this dark-red one. I think it will bring out your best features,” Kennedy singsongs, shoving a silk dress up against my breasts.
“My boobs?” I joke, relaxing a little.
“No, your eyes. It’s one of the things your boy gushed over the most.”