Page 43 of Ravenous

“Really? What was it called?”

“Death Beverage.” Finn didn’t know how he said it with a straight face but Ollie exploded into giggles so loud that the players in the next court glanced over.

“What?How did you even come up with that?” He clamped his hands over his mouth so his laughter would stop echoing.

“Our lead singer kept drinking this home brew that his dad created and it wasn’t good. Always made him sick. He used to call it the death beverage and it stuck. We played a few school talent shows, some open night mics, and we even did a house party, but once we graduated the band broke up.” Marci was right, Finn had been part of a garage band, but he wouldnevertell her that.

Ollie dropped his hands, most of his mirth in check. “Do you have any pictures?”

“I think my uncle does. And he probably has video too. I’ll show you one day.”

“I’d love to see it. Oh, that reminds me!” Ollie fished around in his tennis bag, pulling out his phone. Tapping it a few times, he used the front camera to check himself. “Am I sweaty?” he asked, blinking his large forget-me-not eyes at Finn.

“No. You’re adorable.” It was true. Ollie didn’t look like he’d been playing tennis for the last hour, he looked like he was ready to model athletic wear. His tennis set was all white with purple seams and edges, the T-shirt loose, flowy, and the shorts long enough to brush the tops of his knees. Matching purple wristbands were his accessories, along with a headband that held his curls back perfectly. There wasn’t a hint of perspiration on his smooth skin and Finn couldn’t tell if Ollie was wearing makeup but his eyes seemed wider, his lashes long, and when he blushed at Finn’s compliment, his red cheeks seemed to glow.

“Stahp.” Giving his hair a quick fluff, he winked at Finn, pressed the red button at the bottom of the screen, and transformed. Gone was anxious and hesitant Ollie, and in his place stood a glowing and confident man who smiled brightly as he stared into his phone, talking to it like he was entertaining a dear friend.

“Hello lovelies, Olleelicious here. Today I’m tearing up the tennis court with one of the members of Death Beverage, grrr.” Ollie growled the band name, curling his free hand like a claw and Finn was sure his laugh got picked up on camera. “Today’s outfit is another banger from Hella Kewt and you can get it from their site, just remember to use my code for five percent off! And if you’re ever in the area and want to hit a tennis ball please check out Match Makers because this place is wonderful. Smooches all around and remember - Olleelicious says you’re beautiful!” He blew a kiss at the screen and then stopped the recording.

“Olleelicious?” Finn gave him a sardonic grin.

“Yeah…” Ollie’s thumbs flew over the keys adding text and filters before he finished up, pressing a button on the bottom right. “Now you know my username so you can stalk me if you want.”

“I might because you’re a natural at that. I’m sure people adore you,” Finn thought that the whole thing was cute as fuck. Ollie had a certain presence; it was nice to see this side of him.

“They do.” Sidling over to him, Ollie showed Finn his Instagram profile.

“Holy shit.” Finn blinked. “Is that number real? I thought only celebrities had that many followers.”

“It’s real, and famous people have amuchhigher number than that.” Ollie swiped that app away, opening another one that had stats equally as impressive. “I just do Lives and video on this account.”

Scanning the page, Finn hit one of the posts with his index finger, his brain going offline as he stared at Ollie’s beautifully made-up face. With blue and white sparkly eyeshadow trailing to his temples and huge eyelashes, he looked ethereal. And he was giving the camera come-hither looks that made Finn want to jump through the screen. “How are you real?” he murmured.

“What?” Ollie gave him an odd look.

“You’re dazzling.” Finn tore his gaze away, staring at the real Ollie. Putting his hand on the back of that slender neck, Finn pulled him in closer. “I see why everyone likes you so much. You do amazing makeup and talk to your fans as if they’re your friends.”

“I…um…thank you?” Ollie stammered, that odd expression melting, replaced with a careful smile. But there was heat in his eyes and Finn grabbed onto it, pressing a lingering kiss to Ollie’s lips, hoping to make that smile less careful and more carefree.

Once they parted, Ollie kept his eyes closed for a few seconds and Finn took that as a good sign. When he opened them, he glanced at his phone. “Could we take a few pictures? I don’t have any of us, which is ridiculous because I take pics of everything.”

“Of course.” Finn leaned in and Ollie snapped selfies at several angles, immediately going through them and picking one, setting it as a lock screen, and sending it to Finn.

“I won’t post these. They’re for me.” Ollie looked deliciously shy again and Finn wanted to kiss him senseless but they’d paid for tennis, so he gave Ollie a quick peck and strode back onto the court.

They played a second set, which Ollie easily won, before bringing out the ball machine. Ollie did forehands first, and then a few backhand slices that made Finn whistle low. After that, Finn practiced backhands while Ollie stood off to the side, watching with his hands on his hips. It only took a few tries for Ollie to start shaking his head.

“No, no, no.” He strode forward, taking Finn’s spot so he could use the machine. “When the ball comes at you, you want to face the side and do a quick split step in that direction.” His feet moved swiftly into place. “Then you want to twist back at the shoulder. Remember to keep your eye on the ball…” A ball spat out of the machine, coming at him. “Twist back like this andconnect.” He hit the backhand perfectly. It grazed the net, clearing the court and bouncing near the baseline. “Here, I’ll show you a few more times and then you take over.”

Finn scrutinized Ollie’s form for the next three turns and then stepped up to the following ball. The first one he missed. The second one he hit into the net.

“Let me show you,” Ollie put his arms around him, pressing against his back and holding onto his forearms, and Finn froze. He should focus on the shot, not Ollie touching him, but he knew that was a hopeless endeavor.

“Um…” Finn tried to find a word. Ollie giggled.

“Don’t be a pervert. You need help with yourgrip.” Ollie vibrated with repressed laughter.

“My grip, huh?”

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