Page 103 of Ravenous

“Why is she so cute?” Ollie gushed, putting his hands over his lips. But then he stopped, squinting. “That table looks familiar.”

Rain snatched the cell away, quickly pocketing it. “My roommate got it at some flea market.” Looking at the floor, he tapped his headset. “Marci’s calling me. I gotta gobutI’ll see you later since we’re working together now!” Giving Ollie another hug, he dashed off.

Staring after him, Ollie blinked, confused. What was that about? And wheredidhe see that table?

Going to the small window on the left, he watched everyone scurrying around the main room below. Just like his previous first day at The Pointe, Owen had started him off with a smaller party and Ollie needed to get down there soon to take some room shots before the guests arrived. Turning, he studied the company phone, once again feeling fortunate that he didn’t have to use his device. It helped keep work separate from his personal life, and he could easily maintain his current boundaries about powering up his phone.

Picking it up, Ollie flipped it in his hand and dove in, clearing out the gallery, updating a few of the apps, adjusting profiles, and taking new photos when necessary. While in treatment, he hadn’t been sure about his career in social media. Did it run too close to his Olleelicious persona and appearance issues? Thankfully, he got an answer to that fast because as he worked the birthday party that night, he felt competent, invigorated, and alive. He’d forgotten how much he loved being a content creator, either behind or in front of the camera. It fed his soul, and a flicker of need lit inside of him, making him want to return to his own social media. However, if he did that, he had to make a fundamental shift in his platform.

When Ollie had found out that Jax’s friend went into treatment because of him, he’d cried for twenty minutes, withI’m going to get help tooflashing through his mind. He hoped that both of those people had as much support as he did. And if they didn’t? Then maybe he could lend some support.

Lost in thought, he barely realized that he and Finn were heading home from work until Finn spoke.

“You’ve been quiet. You feeling all right, Sunshine?” Turning into their complex, the SUV slowed, going over a speed bump.

“Actually, I am.” To be fair, Ollie had made the decision a long time ago, during his last Live, and it had taken him until now to realize it. “I think I’m going to turn on my phone.”

“Yeah?” Pulling into the driveway, Finn put the car in park and faced Ollie. “Are you still going to be Olleelicious?”

He couldn’t go back to hisoldself. Now, when he looked in the mirror, he didn’t see high school Ollie, or pre-treatment Ollie, but present-day Ollie. And present-day Ollie had started dressing for fun and playing with the artistry of makeup again, not out of a need for escape or validation, but from a place of personal enjoyment. And he didn’t want to put pressure on that. He might occasionally post a makeup tutorial, but from here on out, things were going to change.

“Sort of…” Ollie let out a long breath. “I mean, I lost all my affiliate work and I don’t want it back. I thought about deleting everything, or just the pictures where I look sick. But why? It’s my story, and it should be out there for other people to see. To see that it can happen to them. To let them know that theyarebeautiful, theyareallowed to be who they are, to feel what they feel, to take up space and that, like you said, nothing is guaranteed. To tell them that if they want to be happy, then they have to do it today. The new Olleelicious is going to be a safe space for people with eating disorders and hopefully, I can convince anyone who needs it to get help.”

“I think that’s wonderful.” Finn took Ollie’s hand. “Make sure you focus onyoufirst though.”

“Of course,” Ollie nodded. “Being unplugged showed me that I don’t need to be chronically online. And I’m not, like, saying I’m an expert. I just want to be honest, be myself, and be there for my followers.”

“Istillthink it’s wonderful.” Absently, Finn spun the ring on Ollie’s finger. “You’ll help a lot of people.”

Ollie pursed his lips, trying not to blush. “I think you’re biased.”

“But it doesn’t mean I’m wrong.” Looking down at their joined hands, Finn chuckled at his fidgeting. “Sorry, I guess it’s like a magnet for me.”

“Don’t apologize,” Ollie insisted. “I love the touch. Thank you for giving me this ring. You were right, you know. It helped me during some of the worst parts of treatment. I used to sit in my room and hold it at night, thinking about you.” He chuckled. “Now I sound like some silly romance novel-”

“Why is it silly?” Finn leaned in, devotion glittering in his gaze. “This ring is a promise, I’m with you for life, and you leaned on that during a difficult time. It’s not silly, it’s beautiful. Our love is beautiful.” Lifting Ollie’s hand, Finn pressed his lips over the band, kissing Ollie’s finger as well. “One day I’m going to take this ring off, say my vows, and put it back on you, for good.”

Ollie jolted with a gasp, slapping his free hand to his chest. “Oh my god, Finn Cooper. Are we really doing this right now? Are you asking me to-”

“It can be a proposal or whatever you want. But you’re not getting rid of me. Ever.” Pulling Ollie by the hand, Finn met him over the center console, and they hugged as much as they could. “Okay?”

“Okay,” Ollie declared into Finn’s shoulder, the word soaked in joy. “But I’m telling everyone we’re engaged.”

“Good.” Breaking apart, Finn gave him a devious smile, and before Ollie could react, he opened the window, shouting. “He’s my fiancé!”It echoed down the road, bouncing off the other townhouses, and an elderly woman gardening across the street stopped to wave at them.

This time, instead of cringing and sinking in his seat, Ollie threw his head back, laughing. “I can’t believe we’re doing this right now, in thecar.”

“Why?” Closing the window, Finn turned to him, his smile tender as he brushed his fingers along Ollie’s cheek. “This is where we met.”

“It is.” Holding his hand up, Ollie stared at the ring, blinking away tears. He didn’t think that he could ever be this happy, this carefree, this excited about the future, and a lot of that was thanks to Finn - the knight who supported him, who adored him, and who fought by his side until Ollie could stand on his own. And who proved without a shadow of a doubt that rules were meant to be broken. “Why are you so nice to me?”

“Because I love you, Sunshine.” Leaning in, Finn placed a gentle kiss on Ollie’s lips, and at that moment Ollie felt like his nickname, a bright and brilliant star, ready to shine his light upon the world.

Epilogue

FINN

“Howmanypackagesdoyou think there are?” Finn stared up at Mason’s house, arms crossed. The last time he’d been here, he and Owen had been shoving Ollie’s mattress through the front door, and the time before that he’d broken in, so he hoped to run this errand with minimal fuss.

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