Page 75 of Ravenous

“Just so you know, I’m never breaking up with you. Every time Uncle Joe tried to bring up my father, you magically changed the subject. Are you sure you aren’t a wizard?” Finn raised an eyebrow, impressed.

“It’s more like my mom is a bloodhound so I have a PhD in getting parents off your back.” Ollie gave up resisting and embraced the smugness; it was well-deserved because, after everything that had happened yesterday, he’d taken life by the horns and pushed back. He’d not only had the best sex of his life, he’d also called a bunch of doctors and therapists, had two actual meals, met Finn’s Uncle - who hugged Ollie goodbye, thanking him for making his nephewson so happy - and helped Finn avoid father talk.

But the best part of the day was learning that Finn loved him back. It was the top news story spinning in his mind but it left him at an impasse. Should he confess first or wait for Finn? Either way, the bumpy dirt roads leading them back to civilization were not the place to approach the subject, although Ollie felt like he was going to burst with excitement and anticipation. This was like Christmas mornings as a kid but ten times more powerful and the present was Finn’s heart, something he’d treasure more than any material gift.

“Ah, your brother did say that.” Finn nodded, turning out onto the larger back road, which jostled them less, but not by much. “Still nothing from your family?”

“Nope.” Ollie let out a relieved sigh, leaning his head back against the headrest. “But I probably have a few more days at most.”

“Then maybe you should hide out with me,” Finn stated nonchalantly, as if he didn’t just give Ollie an open-ended invitation.

“What?” Ollie blinked, suddenly more awake.

“What?” Finn echoed, a smirk on his face.

“I mean…” Why the hell would Ollie say no to that? Especially when all he wanted was to spend more time with Finn, not just because he needed the support for mealtimes, doctor visits, and therapist callbacks, but because being around Finn was the easiest thing in the world. After spending the last twenty-four hours together, parting would feel unnatural. “Sure. But I need to pick up a few more things. Can we stop at my place on the way back?”

“Absolutely. You’re on the outside of town so we’ll pass right by it.” He pressed a button on the steering wheel and progressive rock blared from the speakers again. The music wasn’t bad but Ollie would never admit that. “By the way, we didn’t finish the earlier lesson on amazing music you need to hear.”

“How about we switch being DJ every fifteen minutes? I think I could broaden your horizons too.” Leaning over the center console, Ollie tapped Finn’s nose.

“I’m game.” Finn nipped at Ollie’s finger, flashing him a smile

The trip home went by far too fast. It turned out that Finn liked a lot of the electronic dance music that Ollie chose, doing some strange arm movement at red lights that had Ollie in stitches, and Ollie enjoyed about ninety percent of what Finn played, smirking whenever Finn asked if he liked it.

“It’s okay,” he eventually relented.

”A-ha!” Finn pointed, the two of them being silly as they waited at the stoplight around the corner from Mason’s house. “I knew you couldn’t resist!”

Giggling, Ollie put his hands up. “I didn’t say it wasamazing.”

“We all know you loved it.” Finn drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, his grin infuriating.

“We?Who else is in the car with us?” Ollie glanced around, still giggling. Finally, the light changed and within seconds they were turning up the long green driveway, with pines on either side standing proudly like soldiers.

“Well, there’s me, and there’s also my feelings for you - which take up so much more room than this car.” Finn parked near the garage and faced Ollie, his deep brown eyes intense and full of meaning.

Wow, okay, they were going to do thisright now. Ollie took in a deep breath, steadying himself. This was a big moment but he was ready. Ready to tell Finn that he’d been wrong to push him away, that he was grateful they’d run into each other on Christmas Eve, and that he returned his love.

“Finn, I feel the same wa-” Movement caught his eye and he looked past Finn out the driver’s side window. It was difficult to see the front porch from the driveway but he could tell a few people were standing on it, and Ollie instantly recognized them.

Heart rate skyrocketing, he checked his phone - not a single message. Swiveling his head, he tried to find their cars but they must’ve parked up the street.

“Sunshine, what’s wrong?” Cool hands rested on either side of Ollie’s face, grounding him. He was sweating, his breaths coming in little gasps. Dread taunted him from the sidelines but he leaned into Finn’s touch, trying to ignore its growing shadow.

Gulping down air, Ollie jutted his chin toward the house. “My family’s here.”

Turning toward the porch, Finn squinted into the distance.

“Wonderful.” His eyes sank to his lap, a small frown on his face and Ollie could practically see his mind whirring. Suddenly, he took a breath and nodded, determination in his eyes. “Okay, we got this.”

“Maybe you got this but I don’t.” Ollie pulled out of Finn’s hold, gesturing at the gear shift. “They haven’t seen us yet. Let’s go.”

“You can’t run from them forever.” Finn reached for one of Ollie’s hands and even though he was panicking he couldn’t refuse. “They’re here because they care-”

“But I haven’t seen them since Christmas. My mom is gonna freak out.” His body was one long tremor, and Finn’s soothing grip was helpless against it. “Please.I don’t want to face them right now.”

But it was too late because they’d been noticed, and all the oxygen in the car vanished as Ollie’s father knocked on the driver’s side window. Finn jumped, his head swiveling back and forth like it was a tennis match; eventually, he sighed in defeat.

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