Page 83 of Ravenous

Returning, he opened the door and Ollie sat there for a moment, getting his bearings. Gathering his cushion and whatever strength he had, he attempted to stand and an arm wrapped around him, helping him up. Used to the heat of the car, he shivered once the air hit him, and something dropped across his shoulders, something that smelled like pine and old denim.

Finn’s jacket. The same one he’d draped over Ollie the night they met. For some reason, that simple gesture shattered whatever composure Ollie had left and tears began to trickle down his cheeks.

“It’s okay, Sunshine.” Finn’s thumbs brushed his face, wiping the wetness away. “Let’s get you home.”

Thankfully, Finn didn’t ask about the seat but Ollie could see his concern as he started the car.

“I just need to text Owen and send him the location.” He pulled out his phone, tapping the screen awake, his finger about to hit the messaging app when the cell rang in his hand. All the color drained out of his face. “It’s a hospital.”

Adrenaline dashed through Ollie’s system, granting him anxious energy, and he sat up straighter, touching Finn’s shoulder, trying to lend him whatever meager strength he had as Finn set his jaw and pressedaccept.

“Hello? Yes, this is Finn Cooper.” His face twisted with panic. “What?Okay, okay, I’ll be right there.”

Seeing that kind of fear on Finn’s usually calm face unnerved Ollie, and his skin rippled with goosebumps as Finn turned to him, eyes wide with fright.

“It’s Uncle Joe.”

22

FINN

Redandorangestreakedthe sky in a blazing sunset, reflecting off the blooming trees like fire as Finn headed north, tearing through back roads toward the hospital. Gritting his teeth, he tightened his hands on the steering wheel, trying to keep from shaking out of his seat.

“Liam says he and Owen want to meet us there.” Ollie stared at his phone, his voice soft in the tense silence. While his situation had trailed into serious, he’d insisted on coming along and Finn couldn’t disagree; the intense heart-to-heart coupled with the news about Uncle Joe left his mind a whirlwind. He was unable to leave Ollie behind; besides, if he had any issues, they were going to be in the best place possible, and once Finn knew the important details about Uncle Joe he’d immediately get Ollie into care.

“Tell them…” At some point, Finn must’ve unclenched one hand because he was fiddling with his mother’s ring. “Can they wait until I know more?”

“Sure.” Ollie reached over, patting his thigh. Huddled in Finn’s jacket, he looked so weak, so frail, but a spark of strength still burned inside. “I’ll ask them to get my car.”

“Thank you,” Finn replied absently, dropping the ring to steer with both hands as the road curved. The last time they took this drive they’d been hopeful, excited. Now? Finn deeply understood Ollie’s fears because he might lose his only family.

And maybe his soulmate too.

Solitude reared its head, howling, but Ollie’s presence kept it in check. “They’re heading up there now, I dropped them a pin and told them where to find the keys. They send their love. Owen said Joe’s going to be okay.” Putting the phone in his lap, he rested a hand on Finn’s thigh again. “And he will.”

Briefly, Finn glanced at Ollie. “I hope so.”

It seemed like the longest ride and yet when Finn parked in the emergency lot, he was shocked at how quickly they’d gotten there. Joining hands, they walked into the hospital together, a small part of Finn’s consciousness noticing that Ollie limped every few steps.

Thankfully, a small-town hospital meant a lot more attention and once Finn gave his information to the man at the desk, a nurse called his name within minutes. His hand stayed glued to Ollie’s as they followed her to the back of the emergency room and onto the elevators, where they went up a few floors before being ushered through the cardiac care unit.

Turning into the fourth room on the right, which ended up being an office, she gestured toward the doctor behind the desk before leaving, closing the door.

“Mr. Cooper, I’m Dr. Shoan.” He gestured toward the chairs in front and Finn and Ollie took them, hands still interlocked. Finn was sure that his palms were sweating, because everything else was, yet Ollie never let go. “I’ll get right to it. Your uncle isveryfortunate. He collapsed at the grocery store but there was a paramedic in the shopping center so he got immediate help. Early tests show that he had a heart attack, and he’s conscious but not very alert. I have him out for more testing right now, to further confirm, and once he’s back in his room you can see him.”

Finn wanted to ask a question, ask anything, but the wordsheart attackkept looping in his brain, getting louder with each pass and drowning out all other thoughts.

“Thank you, Dr. Shoan.” Ollie’s words rang out, strong despite his earlier weakness, he must be running on adrenaline. That made two of them. “How are his chances? And what’s the treatment?”

“I don’t like to speculate but the fact that he arrived here quickly is a point in his favor. Treatment ranges from lifestyle changes and medication to surgery, depending on what I find in the results.” Dr. Shoan stopped, giving Ollie a once-over, but he only pursed his lips, waving one of his hands to the left. “There’s a waiting room at the end of the corridor. One of the nurses will get you when he’s done with testing. It won’t be too long.”

Why did the doctor sound like he was underwater? Did he say surgery? Finn blinked, shaking himself as Ollie tugged on his hand, watching him with concern. Clearing his throat, he managed to nod, and once he stood, his legs were surprisingly weak.

“It’ll be okay,” Ollie whispered as they found their way to the waiting room. At least it was empty, and their hands separated as Finn dropped down onto one of the couches, rubbing his face. He needed to get his shit together.

Ollie joined him, leaning his head on Finn’s shoulder.

“You don’t have your cushion,” Finn mumbled, realizing they’d forgotten it in their dash from the car.

---