FULL NOVELXO Finn Rhodes Forever: Chapter 25
NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT, Liv’s front door swung open and I stared at her… dress. Or whatever it was. “Wow.”
“I said I’d pick you up.” She crossed her arms.
“I’m ready now.” And I liked watching her putter around her apartment, at ease and comfortable. Like we lived together or something.
I wrinkled my nose at her dress. It was a lot of fabric, and tough to tell if it had a skirt or it was one of those romper things. “Where’d you find that thing?”
She raised an eyebrow, eyes sparkling. “You don’t like it?”
It had short sleeves and came to mid-thigh, but with the amount of ruffles and tenting on the fabric, I could barely tell Liv’s shape. I couldn’t see her tits, that was for sure. The thing buttoned up to her neck before the fabric plumed out, like one of those Shakespearean collars.
A laugh threatened to bubble out of me but I held it back. She’d outdone herself tonight.
I shook my head, grinning. “Liv, Liv, Liv. You’re gorgeous in everything. This dress, though?” I tilted my chin at the frilly white fabric. “You look like a baby about to get baptized.”
“How dare you.” Her gaze held mine, and the corner of her mouth twitched. “My grandmother was buried in this dress.” Her eyes glittered as she reached for her bag and I shook with laughter. “Let’s go. I’ll drive.”
“You sure?”
Her mouth turned up. “Absolutely.”
Outside, I crowed with laughter when I saw why she had insisted.
In her usual parking spot in the alley, a rusty, beat-up minivan sat waiting, flames painted up the sides. The bumper was held on with duct tape. Two of the doors were dented. I circled the van, whistling long and low, running my fingers over the orange and red flames while Liv stood with her hip cocked. Or at least, I think her hip was cocked. Hard to tell under that giant loofah.
“Nice ride,” I told her, nodding with appreciation. “You sell your car?” I asked, knowing she didn’t. She’d never trust this piece of crap up those logging roads.
“It’s getting an oil change.”
I frowned. “I said I’d do it for you.”
“I can do it myself.”
“An oil change takes a couple hours. Why’d they give you a loaner?” My eyes narrowed as I watched her fumble through her lie.
She scratched the side of her nose, adopting an innocent expression. “The shop was busy.” She shrugged.
Liar. Delight lifted in my chest, and I shot her a wicked grin. “They gave you this gnarly ride so I guess you showed me, huh?”
She pushed a giant ruffle out of the way so she could fold her arms over her chest. “We’re going to be late,” she said, acting casual.
I rolled my lips to hold back my laugh. She wasn’t going to win this. My chest strained with excited energy and I made my way to the passenger seat.
Liv turned the car on and it roared to life; apparently the muffler had fallen off. As she drove down the street, I rolled my window down and stuck my head out, waving at the residents of Queen’s Cove walking along the sidewalk, and even the tourists. Miri Yang’s eyes widened and she whipped her phone out to take a photo for the social media account she ran for the town.
“Can you not?” Liv hissed when I leaned over at a red light and honked the horn. She swatted my hand away, face going bright red. “Stop that.”
Her embarrassment was like blood in the water for me. My head buzzed with excitement.
“What’s the matter, Liv? I want everyone to see us in this sick ride. Look, it’s Emmett.” I leaned out the window and put my hands up to my mouth. “EMMETT!” I waved and he turned, jaw slack. I jerked my thumb over my shoulder at the ride. “Got that minivan you suggested!”
“Oh my god,” Liv muttered, hitting the button on her door to roll up the window.
The window whirred beneath my hands but I held it down. The motor died and I leaned my chin on my palm, smiling as we passed people, waving like I was on a parade float.
“This is going to be a fun night.” I nodded at Liv, smiling at her flared nostrils. “I can tell.”