Page 104 of On Thin Ice

“Jacob Braun,” Jacob said and, after a weighty pause, added, “Finn’s boyfriend.” He slid an arm around Finn’s waist and tugged him in closer. Elliott’s eyes nearly bugged out of his head. In fact, even Mal looked shocked.

He hadn’t needed to say it, but when Finn glanced back at him, giving him a happy, reassuring smile, he only looked proud. Not worried or upset or conflicted, in the least.

“Feels like big news,” Mal said, his matter-of-fact tone the opposite of how monumental it really was.

Elliott elbowed his boyfriend. “No shit,” he hissed under his breath.

“But we’re happy for you,” Mal added, a ghost of a smile emerging on his face.

“Yeah, seriously happy,” Elliott agreed.

It was weird to Finn that what had only been a few months back these two had been on such different wavelengths they could barely say a single civil word to each other, and now it felt like they’d completely, utterly aligned.

“Thanks,” Finn said, “we’re pretty happy about it.” He shot another smile at Jacob so he never doubted that hewasn’thappy that he’d told their friends the truth. “But,” he added, “we’re still . . .uh . . .working on some of the details, so don’t go around telling everyone.”

“Yeah, Elliott, don’t go around telling everyone,” Mal teased, nudging him.

“Hey, I wouldn’t,” Elliott claimed, but he was smiling, still, which meant thatyes,he probably would. “How did your dad react?”

“Uh,” Finn said.

“He doesn’t know yet,” Jacob admitted. “That’s the details.”

“Well, you’ve got both of our support,” Mal said briskly. He shook Jacob’s hand again, because of course he did.

God bless Malcolm.

“Thanks,” Jacob said.

“You have a good practice, Finn?” Ell asked.

“Yeah, actually.”

“Tomorrow Coach said he’s going to let us at you again.” Elliott rubbed his hands together in anticipation and for the first time in a long time, Finn realized he was looking forward to it, too. To a chance to show the rest of his team—and himself—that he could hold his own. That he was a damn good goalie.

“Can’t wait,” Finn said.

Elliott’s smile softened. “Yeah? I’m happy to hear that.”

“Me too,” Jacob said. He paused. “Finn has a study session so we’d better run.”

When they were out of Sammy’s and out of earshot of Elliott and Malcolm, Finn stopped and turned to Jacob.

“You did that,” Finn said and decided that if his father was lurking in the shadows he could get what he deserved and leaned in, pressing a quick kiss to Jacob’s mouth.

Before he could pull away, Jacob had wrapped an arm around his waist and tugged him in closer, and Finn groaned, his mouth opening against Jacob’s.

For a single glorious second, Jacob kissed him hard, his lips and his tongue and his hands making it clear to Finn—and to anyone else watching them—that they belonged together.

That Finn belonged to Jacob, and Jacob most definitely, Finn realized, belonged tohim.

“Yeah, I did, didn’t I?” Jacob said breathlessly, when he finally lifted his mouth from Finn’s.

“You sure fucking did. Coming out like an ace,” Finn said.

“It . . it wasn’t so hard. I liked it actually.”

Finn squeezed Jacob’s shoulder. “Not every time is going to be as good as bragging that you’re my boyfriend. And uh . . .” He paused. Smiling even harder. “That’s new. That word. That’s new.”

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