Page 112 of A Violet Obsession

Finally, she finds her voice. “I can’t believe you’re still calling her that.” She flaps a hand at him. “Grow up. And stop calling me Bob.”

“It's not the same reason anymore.” Finn’s thumb traces an idle circle on my knee.

It’s not?

“She’s my butterfly effect.”

Emma blinks. “Your what?”

“The butterfly effect,” he explains. “A butterfly flaps its wings on one side of the world,” he says, like it’s obvious, “and sends a ripple that changes everything on the other side.” He presses a quick kiss to my lips. “The moment I saw Lily again, I knew everything was going to change. And it did.”

For a moment Emma just looks at him, and something soft appears on her face before she stamps it out. She turns to me with a perfectly arched brow.

“Are you sure that’s a compliment?” She wrinkles her nose. “I think I’d tell people it’s because of your butterfly pajamas. They were super cute.”

The driver’s door opens.

Vincent climbs into the front seat, glances in the rearview mirror, and takes in the three of us crammed onto the bench seat.

His gaze lingers on Emma’s horrified expression. Then travels to Finn, before landing on me.

A grin tugs at the corner of his mouth.

“Everything good back there?”

“Just fucking drive,” Finn grumbles.

40

FINN

My sister is furious when I insist on walking her all the way to her apartment door.

The two SUVs glide under the portico. When I pull her bag from the back, I’m surprised to find Leo already out of his vehicle, watching Emma like she might vanish. She stares right back.

“Thanks, Leo. I’ve got her.” I sling the bag over my shoulder. “Stay with Lily.”

Leo nods and moves to Lily’s side of the SUV, putting his back to us, guarding the exposed door.

Emma chews her lip, then her jaw sets. “Goodbye, Leopold,” she snipes, and stomps through the sliding glass doors.

I should ask what that was about. Good-brother protocol and all. But I don’t have the energy for whatever drama she’s stirred up with one of my guys.

I clear her apartment out of habit, then head for the door, eager to get back downstairs to Lily.

“Finn, wait.” Emma’s voice is uncharacteristically serious. It stops me cold. “About Lily.”

I turn.

“I love you,” she says. “And I know I give you endless shit, but you’re a really good guy, Finn.” She crosses her arms, then uncrosses them. “And Lily is literally the best.”

“You won’t get an argument from me.”

Emma frowns. “This isn’t some snowed-in-cabin, one-time thing, right? No feelings, no strings? Because I know Lily. She’ll say she’s fine with it—she won’t want to disappoint you—but she’s not wired that way⁠—”

“I love her, Emma.”

Her face goes blank, then a radiant smile lifts her lips.