Page 23 of Ravenous

Dylan crossed his arms. “I never get to be Keanu Reeves.”

Finn had to wait until the following day to call Ellie since the wedding reception had run into overtime and he’d gotten home at an hour unfit for contact. The next morning, he took a few hours to clear his head, using the workout bike in his spare room and then enjoying a light breakfast while wrapped in his quilt, gently swaying in his hammock on the back porch. The private fenced-off yard with the small garden and exquisite deck was the major reason Finn had bought the townhouse, the minor ones being that it had three bedrooms, a basement, and a garage. More than enough space for him and his uncle, and Finn had tried a few more times over his recent visits to get the man on board with moving closer, but Joe had given him a firm no whenever he’d brought it up. If he pushed any more, then his uncle would start to get mad.

For a few weeks, Finn had considered selling his place and going back to his childhood home but it was in the middle of nowhere, the commute to The Pointe would kill him, Owen had recently moved close by, and Ollie had just come back into his life.

Ollie, whose tears pierced Finn’s heart. Ollie, who was gorgeous, funny, and charming. Ollie, the first man Finn had ever kissed.

The man Finn wanted back.

When he felt like he’d procrastinated enough, Finn readied himself and selected Ellie’s number. They’d spoken a few times since their breakup. She was a direct person to the point of bluntness and Finn never had doubts about what she wanted. Dating her had been refreshing; he’d known exactly what to expect and hadn’t gotten his hopes up so, when it ended, it had been amicable on both sides.

U UP? No seriously, it’s Finn. Let me know when you’re good for a phone call. I need your expert advice.

It didn’t take long for her to respond.HI FINN!

Hello you little hellion. I hope life has been good to you.He was waiting for a reply when the phone rang in his hand.

“Elizabeth,” he said very sternly.

“Oh my fucking god don’t do that you asshole, you sound like my dad.” Even though she was stern, her voice was still low and sultry. She would make a killing in audiobooks but wanted to be an author instead, going for her master’s in creative writing.

“Well, you did call me daddy that one time,” he teased.

“That was your idea, dipshit. Or should I say 'That was your idea,Daddy.'”She inflected the final word like someone was force-feeding her mud and Finn chuckled. Ellie was many things but she was certainly not boring. “Anyway, why are you bothering me this early?”

“It’s noon.” Finn checked his watch.

“You know I am a creature of the night,” she deadpanned.

“True, true, but I need your assistance.”

She gave him a dramatic sigh. “IguessI could help you out since youarethe favorite of all my exes.”

“Of course, I’m the favorite.” Finn grinned into the phone.

“Don’t let it go to your head.”

“Me? Never.”

“Anyway, what is your problem, Finn? Can’t get it up?” Her voice wavered with stifled laughter.

“No,” Finn scoffed. “I met a guy, okay?”

“So? You met a gu-” She took in a quick, high-pitched gasp. “You met a guy?Oh my god. Wow.Wow.I didn’t know you had it in you!”

“I didn’t expect it to happen it just…” He ran a hand through his hair, the hammock swinging beneath him. “Happened.”

“Well, you must really like him if you’re calling me to ask about it. But why me?”

“Because I don’t want to rehash it with my friend, I mean, my friends.” Finn didn’t want to reveal that while he was the Favorite Ex, she was his Favorite Acquaintance right now, tied with Liam and Dylan, and there was no way he was going to talk to Liam about this. “And you have a good head on your shoulders.”

“When you’re right, you’re right,” she declared. “Does the question have to do with your sexuality?”

“In a way, yes. I’m fine with it but he isn’t.”

“He isn’t what?”

“Fine with me being not-straight for him.” Finn sighed. His long internal struggle about labels had been instantly crushed by Ollie’s one rule. Absently reaching under the collar of his shirt, he pulled out his mother’s ring again, twisting it between his fingers.

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