Page 74 of Ravenous

“You’re supposed to have my back here.”

“I’m…” Ollie bit his lip, trying to hold back when he saw movement through the window. “Wait, is that a real deer?”

“No, it’s a rental.” Opening the bag, Joe packed the pipe with very fragrant green buds, chuckling to himself.

Making a silly face at Joe, Ollie got up. “Ihaveto take a pic of that adorable girl.”

“Knock yourself out,” Joe told him. Finn gave him a nod as well and since Ollie knew that the two probably needed to talk, he didn’t feel bad about skipping out.

Walking onto the porch, Ollie filled his lungs with crisp clean air, stepping down onto the grass. His foot throbbed again, and he rotated it as he limped around the side of the cabin, glad that Finn had urged a doctor’s appointment along with a therapist.

She was there right as he turned the corner, her coat a sleek honey brown, her little ears flicking as she ate from a bird feeder that hung from a massive oak tree. Ollie didn’t want to disturb the gal so he used the zoom lens to grab a few photos and videos. He even managed to lean out and capture them both in selfie mode.

Since they were still in the middle of nowhere with zero reception, Ollie had to post later. So, he pocketed his phone, wished the doe - now named Lulu - the best, and headed back around the house.

“You know I only care about you. Can you at least slow down on the drinking? Please?”

Ollie froze, the gentle slope of the land putting him right under a cracked-open window, the cabin’s open floor plan enabling all voices to carry.

“Fine, I’ll limit it to weekends. Stop giving me that damn look, your mother did the same thing and it’s creepy.” The words sounded stern but Joe’s tone held affection.

“That would make me incredibly happy.” Finn’s voice emitted relief that washed over Ollie, making him understand his own family even more. All they’d been guilty of was caring, and he’d shunned them, moved away, and refused their help. If Joe had done that to Finn, he would’ve been devastated, so Ollie could only imagine what his family had been going through.

A wave of shame rushed through him, and instead of wallowing, Ollie added it to his determination. He needed to heal - he didn’t want them to see him like this. He’d let them down but at least he’d taken the first few steps, and he wasn’t doing it alone. Finn had been his savior, and Ollie shouldn’t be eavesdropping on him.

“I think Ollie is already taking care of that,” Joe teased.

Now that Ollie had heard his name, he couldn’t help but linger.

“He is.” Finn’s quick and earnest admission did Ollie’s heart good.

“Are you in love with him?”

Ollie couldn’t move a muscle and he stared at the window hard enough to break it, every part of him needing to know the answer.

“Yeah.” It was sure but laced with shock and wonder, and Ollie understood because he was still getting used to the idea as well. “He has some problems though.”

Frowning, Ollie waited, not wanting to celebrate just yet.

“Who doesn’t?” Joe’s voice was tight like he was using the pipe. “It’s how you get through the problems that shows your love.”

It was quiet for a moment, as Finn thought things over. “Have you ever been in love?”

A lighter flicked, and after a moment Ollie could hear the exhale. Joe coughed. “Sure, many times.”

“It’s kind of scary.”

Ollie nodded, for it truly was, but knowing that Finn loved him back made the whole thing a lot less terrifying.

“It is, Nephewson, it is. Just remember to talk to each other.” The lighter flicked again and a long exhale followed a few seconds later. “Also, I’m gonna sound like a broken record but your father has been real pushy lately, he says all he needs is five minutes.”

Gritting his teeth, Ollie made another face. There was no way Finn wanted to talk about that, so he hauled ass around the side of the house, ignoring his foot as he raced up the stairs. Pushing open the door, he tapped his phone awake, selecting the gallery. He’d made it just in time because Finn’s expression was cloudy.

“I made a new friend - Lulu!” Ollie exclaimed. If there was one thing he knew how to do, it was derail a conversation. Waving his cell in Finn’s face, he plopped next to him. “Look at her.” Ollie scrolled through the photos. “She’sgiving!”

The tension broke as Joe alternated between laughing and coughing, and Finn softened, his shoulders relaxing as he nosed Ollie’s hair.

“Thank you, Sunshine,” he whispered, and Ollie tried not to preentoomuch. Finn had been the knight for so long that it felt amazing to finally come to his rescue.

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