Page 89 of Ravenous

“Yeah.” Ollie flushed. “He’s taking care of his uncleandme and working on top of that.”

“That’s because he’s a great guy and we both know how few of them there are.” She gestured toward the window, at the world. “I had to outsource and I’msoglad I did.”

Movement in the doorway caught Ollie’s attention and he turned, expecting Finn, but Liam was the one walking toward them. Usually, Ollie would worry, especially with no phone to check, but he decided to test his new kind of strength training and put faith in things being okay, which immediately paid off.

“Hello!” Liam greeted them both with hugs, taking a seat next to Ollie. “Finn texted me on my way over. The bride was two hours late, they’re getting on the bus now.”

“So, he’ll be a little while.” Relieved and also touched that Finn had reached out, Ollie decided that this was a great time to work on patience.

“Is that normal?” Biz asked.

“The bride being late? Yeah, it happens a lot but for different reasons.” Taking off his messenger bag, Liam got comfortable.

“At one of the last weddings I did, the bride’s dress was too heavy and she passed out in the bridal suite.” Ollie made anoofface. “It took almost an hour for her to feel well enough to walk down the aisle.”

“Owen told me about that one.” Liam looked up at the ceiling, thinking. “My second year at The Pointe, the bridal party had been drinking in the limo after the church and showed up so wasted that they all passed out in the bridal suite. By the time they woke up, they missed the formal pictures and the cocktail hour.”

“I’m gonna need more of these stories,” Biz demanded, cackling. And they obliged, regaling her with wedding tales and mishaps until her eyeliner streaked from tears, although it only added to her look, and she left a small black mark on Ollie’s cheek when she hugged him goodbye.

“You seem to be doing a lot better.” Liam’s hazel eyes lit up with excitement as he watched Ollie scrub his face with his sleeve.

“I do?” Ollie looked down at himself but Liam swatted his hand.

“Not just with the physical stuff. You’re more…” He gestured in a circle around Ollie. “Ollie-y.”

“More Ollie-y?” he blinked.

Liam nodded. “Like eighty percent Ollie. It’s good to see.”

Ollie didn’t want to ask what percentage he’d been at before he’d started treatment. “I’m trying. It’s…” He resisted the urge to run a hand through his hair and make it worse. “It’s a lot of work. All the time. And in the beginning, you feel like…”

“An open wound?” Liam supplied, understanding in his gaze.

“Yeah,” Ollie nodded, feeling heard.

“Trust me, the wound slowly closes.”

“I know.” A sigh puffed Ollie’s cheeks. “It’s just taking a while for me to get there.”

“It takes as long as it takes. You thinkI’mdone healing?” Liam challenged, putting a hand on his chest.

Ollie stopped. He’d never considered that. Liam had come such a long way from who he’d been at August and Josh’s wedding that Ollie had made the very incorrect assumption that he’d fully healed. He’d suffered a huge tragedy; of course he’d still be working through it, and Ollie had selfishly pushed him away, making him wonder if he’d have another person to grieve for.

“Listen…” Ollie was all sincerity. “I’m sorry for walling you out. You didn’t deserve that.”

“It’s only okay because I can see how hard you’re working.” Liam grabbed his hand, holding it. “All I want is for you to get better. I’m getting married once I’m done with school and Ineedyou to be there.”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Ollie pledged with tears in his eyes. Now he had even more motivation to get well because his social calendar was filling up. First his double date with Biz and her girlfriend, and then his bestie’s wedding.

“Hi, Sunshine.”

Wrapped up in conversation, Ollie hadn’t been watching the door so he squeaked delightedly at the sound of Finn’s voice. Jumping up, he hopped over Liam’s legs, happy that the room no longer spun when he moved quickly, and wrapped himself in strong familiar arms that soothed his soul.

“Hello, Just Finn!”

25

FINN

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