Page 49 of Ravenous

MarcisidledovertoFinn, who was sipping a soda at the bar. “I think your husband is drunk.”

“Aren’tyoudrunk?” he smirked, eyes on her crooked ponytail.

“I’m atmaybea three. But Fashion Plate over there? He’s a five.” She tilted her bottle at Ollie, who was leaning heavily on Liam, taking selfies. It was clear that if Liam were to step aside, Ollie would end up sprawled on the floor. The last picture must’ve been particularly silly, because Ollie burst into loud laughter that caused him to stumble, and Liam held onto him, his birthday crown falling off his head as his wide hazel eyes called out for help.

“Oh boy.” Putting his soda down, Finn grabbed the free pitcher of water and filled up a glass.

“Good call.” Marci toasted him and he rolled his eyes at her, making his way to Ollie. As he approached, the relief that washed over Liam’s features was almost comical.

“Yay! Finn is here!” He nudged Ollie, who looked up at Finn, and his flushed face lit up with joy, making Finn’s heart flutter. Over the years he’d learned to live with his solitude, not accepting it but cohabitating with it, and it was never lost on him that loneliness was his only company. But living without it after so long? Turning in his Lone Wolf badge and getting to have someoneelsearound? And being lucky enough to have that someone be Ollie? Despite all his concerns about Ollie’s health, it was freeing.

“Just Finn!” Ollie launched himself at him but was caught easily, even with his momentum. “I am having thebesttime.”

Giving Finn a nod and a worried look, Liam took the opportunity to slink away, heading straight to Owen, who was deep in conversation with Dylan and Angelo.

“I bet you are.” Removing Ollie’s party hat, which had ended up around his neck, Finn pressed a kiss to Ollie’s forehead and presented the cup.

“Whasssthiss?” Ollie stared down at it, his forehead cutely wrinkled.

“If you drink thisentireglass of water, I will give you a kiss,” Finn declared with a wink.

Ollie continued to stare, and the lines of anxiety began to lose their appeal. After a few awkward seconds, his face cleared and he grabbed the cup. “What the hell, I’m way over calories today anyway.”

Putting the edge to his lips, he took measured swallows. Finn watched him until the glass was empty. “What’s so terrible about water?”

“You think liquids are weightless?” Ollie finished off the cup, putting it on a nearby table, and then leaned forward at Finn, puckering his lips. “Kiss. Now.”

Shaking his head, Finn tried not to laugh. He was tempted to give Ollie a quick peck but hediddrink the water, so he deserved a reward. Wrapping an arm around Ollie’s shoulders, Finn placed a hand at his waist and dipped him, kissing him briefly but deeply enough to be considered a reward.

“Get a room!” Marci yelled, and Finn heard applause. Once upright, Ollie had to hold on because his legs didn’t seem to work.

Finn gave him a smug grin. “How about I take you home?”

Ollie waggled his eyebrows. “For more of this?”

“Let’s see how you feel when you get there.” There was zero chance of Finn doing anything with Ollie when he was drunk but Ollie didn’t need to know that.

Liam, always a gem, rushed over with their coats. It took a moment to wrangle Ollie into his, and another to pull Ollie away from Liam once they hugged goodbye, but eventually Finn got them to his SUV.

“I reeeaaalllyyy like you, Finn,” Ollie rambled, his head lolling back and forth. The one water he drank wasn’t going to do much; he was soused.

Finn chuckled. “I really like you too, Sunshine.” He made sure that Ollie was safely buckled up, tilted the seat back so he was more comfortable, and ran around to the driver’s side, getting in.

“Mmm,” Ollie shifted, blinking slowly, like a stoned cat. “Are yousureyou like me?”

“Very sure.” Finn glanced down at Ollie before backing out of their parking spot and heading toward the exit. “Why do you ask?”

“Because your eyes are funny lately. Like you wanna ask me something but you’re afraid.” Ollie’s voice was low, sad. “And it mademeafraid, so I had a few drinks.”

Finn almost slammed on the brakes. He thought he’d been hiding his doubts, but he’d clearly been failing at that. He truly wanted to sit down and address Ollie’s eating issues but could never find the right time. It didn’t help that Ollie ate normally on occasion, claiming that it was his cheat day, but he was still unsettlingly thin, sending Finn into a spiral and leaving him unsure if he should bring it up and risk losing the person he’d always wanted, or say nothing…

And risk losing the person he’d always wanted.

Owen always said that Finn cared a lot and it made him fearless in his boundaries, and that was true for anyone but Ollie. Because what he had with Ollie was precious, fragile, and Finn’s words needed to be perfect or Ollie would shatter like spun glass.

“Can we discuss that tomorrow?” As usual, now wasn’t the right time. Finn tried to keep his tone light, like it was no big deal when it was the biggest deal ever.

“Discusshh wha?” Ollie’s eyes were half-lidded as he struggled to stay awake.

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