I step out of the shower and wipe off the mirror. In a few hours, I'll be picking up Brynn for our special night. I meet my own eyes and I see the hesitation, the fear behind them. I stand up a little straighter and give myself a hard stare. "You will not screw this up, Finn!"

Great now, I'm talking to myself. Perfect! I rub my hand over my face and lean my hands on the sink, head hangs low. "Don't overthink it, Finn," I say, echoing my best friend's advice to me.

I enlisted Tyler's help as my excuse as to where I would be and why this evening. I felt guilty that my parents didn't even bat an eye at my excuse that I was sleeping over Tyler's because he's nervous about leading the team in the Championship game and wants to go over strategies with me.

"So you and Brynn, huh?" Tyler inquired of me in the locker room as I stayed after school one day. Brynn was out of school for some prep they had to do for her surgery next week, blood work, that sort of thing.

"Yeah," I said wondering why I can't seem to muster the excitement I expected this moment to cause.

"You, okay?" Tyler took a seat next to me on the bench.

"I don't know. I love her. I love her so damn much it hurts sometimes. I can't even think..." My throat closes off when I think of Brynn going under the knife, what if something goes wrong? What if she dies from them trying to fix her? To even consider a life in which Brynn does not exist is too painful a thought for my brain to even try to comprehend.

"I want this night to be perfect, you know," I said looking over to Tyler who looked like he was about to throw his cape once again, wanting to protect me but knowing that he can't, he instead rested a reassuring hand on my shoulder.

"It will be."

"How do you know?" I asked, wishing I felt so certain.

"It'll be perfect, Finn, because you love her and she loves you. Just... don't overthink it."

He pats my back and has to get out to the team. I take a moment to collect myself before joining him. My presence and support of the team from the sidelines have meant a lot to him and the others and I didn't want to appear anything but confident in what they were doing. I owed them that.

At this moment, however, I feel anything but confident and wonder if Brynn was fairing any better than me.

I knew I wanted my first time to be with someone I loved. I know there is no one I love more than Brynn. So what is wrong with me?

I move to my room to get dressed. I would have liked to have dressed up for the occasion but getting all fancy to sleep over your best friend's house would be weird by anyone's standards and I needed to keep up appearances.

I packed everything I think I may need. I called the hotel to be certain our reservations and my requests were handled. The last thing I dig out is the condoms I bought, trying not to think how badly I blushed as the young female cashier rung them up. Why did their self-checkout services have to be down?

I shake my head at the awkward memory and shove the box down deep in my bag. I look up and I see Cuddles sitting on my bed. I grin thinking of Brynn snuggling with him and our tickle fight. "Got any advice for me, buddy?"

I stare at my old bear. "I'm on my own you say?" I laugh at my own silliness. "You're just mad that I'm getting to sleep with her first." My imagination must be getting the better of me as I could almost swear he was judging me with those big brown eyes of his.

I sling my bag over my shoulder and head downstairs. "Got everything for tonight, kiddo?" My dad asks, as he just came in from work and was putting down his laptop bag in the entry.

"Hmmm? Oh, yeah," I said patting my bag, "all set."

"I'm sure, Tyler will do great. He's lucky to have you in his corner," my dad offers and I feel myself frown at him. He shrugged. "You looked worried so I thought I'd offer some fatherly encouragement."

I smile at him. "Thanks, Dad," I said trying not to feel even guiltier for lying to him and my mom.

My dad hangs up his coat and I see him pull out of his bag a rose for my mom. She appears in the hall. "You got your toothbrush? Don't you need a pillow? Or blanket?"

"I'm sleeping over but this isn't exactly a sleepover," I said using air quotes around the words sleepover. "We aren't six, Mom. I'll be fine."

My mom shrugs, "Okay, if you say so." That's when she notices my dad standing there with a single rose. "Oh!" she gasps. "It's beautiful," she exclaims bringing it to her lips so she can smell it, but I know it's to hide her smile as I see my father's smile grow in response.

Even my Dad is smoother at this stuff than I am. I'm pathetic.

"Do you need a ride?" my dad asked breaking me out of my thoughts.

"Uh... no, I'll take myself over there," I tell them as I reach for the door.

"Hey, what no hugs?" my mom pouts. I grin give her a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"Have fun tonight," my dad says, hugging me and patting my back. "Just tell him not to overthink it. Sometimes you just need to trust in yourself to do the right thing when it matters most, you know?"

I knew my Dad was talking about Tyler but I could have sworn those words were meant for me. "Yeah," I said, hesitantly. "Good night guys. You two, have fun tonight."

My dad pulls my mom close to his side. "Oh, I'm planning on it."

"TMI, Dad!" I said shaking my head and waving good-bye to them both before they shut the door but even I could see the look of anticipation in their eyes. What is wrong with me?

I look at myself and adjust my mirrors in the car. "Biggest night of your life, Finn Nash. You keep this up and you are going to blow it." I start the car and head to where Brynn asked me to pick her up.

She gave me a random address, 4661 Fuller Street. I recognized it from our bus route to school but had no idea why she chose that address. I pull up outside of the house, park, and get out of the car. I knock on the door and was surprised she answered.

"You're here!" she beaming at me. Just seeing her face smiling at me takes the edge off, which was until I'd seen another face staring at me behind her. If looks could kill...

"Thanks, Adam!" Brynn said giving him a kiss on the cheek and grabbing her bag, she moved past me to walk towards my car. I turn to follow but am held back when someone grabs hold of my shoulder.

Adam is glaring at me. "You hurt her. I will crush you. I don't care how big you are. I will end you, do you understand me?"

I brush his hand off my shoulder. I put my hand out and grab his hand in a handshake but pull him towards me. "I understand you, but you ever threaten me again and you'll never get that chance."

I let him go and he smirks at me. There's that look of respect again and it throws me.

"Thanks, for covering my shift at the pizza shop."

That quick the look disappears. "Don't mention it." And Adam shuts the door in my face.

"Yeah," I said to the door and turn to see Brynn leaning against the car waiting for me to let her in. I jog up to her, unlock, and open her door. She glances towards the house and gives me a quick kiss on the cheek and gets in.

She was probably concerned Adam may be watching. I resist the urge to roll my eyes, shut her door, and jog around to the other side of the car. I get in and she puts her bag next to mine in the back seat, grins at me, and buckles up.

I buckle up too and get us out of here and as far from Adam's as possible. I still can't believe she had me pick her up here.

"So... Adam's?"

She glances over me. "I didn't want to park my car some random place. So, it made the most sense to me at the time."

"What excuse did you give your, Dad to get away?" I asked not wanting to dwell on Adam any longer. Earlier in the week when I had all the plans made for this weekend I realized the one flaw I had to my plan was I had no idea what excuse to give Brynn that would allow her to get away with me.

She waves my question off with a physical swat of her hand. "Pfft, that was easy. I was going over my friend Jessica's house to get help to make up the work I have missed and we are going to have an all-night study session for the Physics test I have on Monday."

"Jessica?" I state with a raised eyebrow of her "choice" of friends.

Brynn grins sardonically at me. "I thought it ironic."

I laughed. "It is that. So, your dad was easily fooled as he obviously has no clue who your friends are but what about Gran?"

Gran had started living with them two weeks ago. Her dad is getting Gran's house modified with some safety features to make taking care of her in her older age easier and I have no doubt, though he doesn't wish to think of it, Brynn too in case... I push that thought away.

"Gran?" Brynn shrugs nonchalantly. "I just told her the truth."

Her confession nearly caused me to slam on the brakes in surprise. "What?!? Really?!" I was flabbergasted.

She laughed at my response. "Come on, Finn. You should know I can't keep anything from her."

"You managed not to tell her about me for a very long time?"

"I didn't tell her who you were related to. She always knew about you. There is no hiding things from Gran. You should know that?"

I glance at her briefly as I don't wish to take my eyes off the road, "And she was...okay with it?"

"It's Gran. Of course, she was okay with it. She knows we are responsible and that I'm on the pill and trusts Loveface to use protection..." Brynn said with a teasing tilt to her lips.

"Of course!" I quickly add in case there was any doubt.

"So... she kissed my forehead and told me to have a good time."

"Wow!" I'm shocked and amazed.

"How about you? How did you ever convince Principal Nash and your dad you were on the up and up?"

Her use of my mom's title wasn't lost on me. My mom is not an easy woman to fool or lie to. She just gives you that look and you swear she's able to read your mind to discern the truth. However, this time she had no real reason to second guess what I was telling her.

"Tyler has been coming over nearly every week to get pointers on leading the team. When I told them he wanted me to come over to discuss strategies for the upcoming Championship, neither of them thought anything of it."

"Huh," Brynn said, impressed. "Wait?!" she looks at me and suddenly looks awkward almost embarrassed. "Does that mean that Tyler knows that you and I... that we...well you know?"

"Yes," and I see her immediately color. Damn it! I'm screwing up already. "Look, Brynn, I needed him to cover for me. I trust, Tyler, with my life. He would never say a word to anyone about this. Besides he owes me... big time."

Brynn's eyes narrow and then go wide. "The thing... the thing you talked to me about when I first took you back to the train cars."

I nod. "He is dating Ms. Valentino."

"SHUT UP!" Brynn nearly shouts as she hits my arm. "Wow! No wonder you were so worried that day."

"Yeah," I tell her and she seems to relax now that Tyler and she are even in the secrets department.

"Is that why she left Lenape?"

"Yeah, things are pretty serious between them and she didn't want it jeopardizing him, her or my mom."

Brynn's eyes widen, again. "YOUR MOM! Holy crap, Finn! Your mom! How did you? I mean... wow!"

"Yeah. Not exactly the best time in my life back then. And then you had to come along and make it even more complicated."

Brynn giggles. "I'd say I'm sorry but I'm really not," she admits.

I laugh. "Neither am I," I said reaching over and taking her hand in mine. She smiles up at me.

"So, where are we going?"

"A hotel. Just over the bridge. We'll check-in and get the key but I thought we might do dinner first, before going to the room."

Her eyes narrow, "Are you trying to keep us out of the room, Finn Nash."

My eyes dart away briefly before coming back to rest on her face. "I have some things planned."

"Oh, really?" Brynn perks up with avid interest and I chuckle at her response.

"Now don't start with the fifty million questions. You'll see what I have planned after we get there."

"Okay," Brynn is beaming ear to ear and I can't stop grinning either. She lets out a sigh, and I glance back over at her. "We are really doing this, huh?" I can hear the nervousness in her voice and for some reason it makes me feel better knowing I'm not the only one.

I give her hand a squeeze along with a smile in reassurance. "It would seem so."