“She’s seventy-five!”
They all laughed, and Teddy had to comment, “Ignoring HIPAA again, are we?”
“Technically not a violation unless I give identifying information about the patient,” Finn said with practiced ease. “Did I say she? Coz I meantthem.”
They laughed again. Finn was so charming without trying, especially when he was relaxed. That part of him wasn’t fabricated; he just had sorrow in him that crept up from time to time. Teddy liked knowing that, because it rounded Finn out as someone real and within his grasp, if only he could convince him to give this another try.
“I hope you shared those cupcakes,” he said. “Or did you hoard them all to yourself?”
Finn waved frantically beside his plate as if trying to get Teddy to backtrack.
“Um….”
“Cupcakes? From where?” Blaise zeroed in on Teddy.
“We don’t talk about outside baked goods in this house,” Finn said in an over-the-top whisper.
“I’m not jealous.” Blaise balked in a way that betrayed his lie. “I’m curious.”
“A friend from the city sent them to me,” Teddy explained. “He has celiac disease, so everything he makes is gluten free.”
“Those were gluten free? Wow.” Finn jumped when Blaise’s attention snapped to him. “I mean, they were fine. You nevermake gluten free anyway. You always say it’s impossible to get things moist enough.”
“It is! Or it’s supposed to be….” Blaise trailed off with a grumble.
“You and Dan will have to meet sometime,” Teddy said. “Should be entertaining. You’ll either claw each other’s eyes out or get along like gangbusters.”
That teased out a smile again—from Blaise and Finn.
“When theater season calms down for his husband, I’m sure they’ll be out to visit. Tell me, Blaise, only sensitive about outside baked goods around your loved ones? You don’t mind Finn cooking for your wife on their sibling nights?”
“Oh, Finn doesn’t count.”
“Thanks?” Finn shot him a funny look.
“You know what I mean. The way to anyone’s heart is through their stomach, but you’re not exactly a threat. She’s your sister!”
“Honey,” Rose said with a judging head tilt, “a married gay man who lives in the city and sent Finn’s neighbor cupcakes isn’t going to steal me away either.”
“I know, I just like being everyone’s main sugar supplier,” he said like it was something illicit—and considering how addictive sugar was, it really should be.
“Blaise”—Teddy stole his attention again—“I vow to you now, you will be my main supplier from now on whenever I need a fix. But when Dan visits, I will disavow all knowledge of your existence.”
The table erupted into laughter again.
“In all seriousness, you don’t mind missing movie night?” Teddy asked.
“Not for those movies. I mean, I like action and cheesy ridiculousness fine, but I can also live without it.”
“His one flaw,” Rose said dreamily. “Thankfully, I still love him.” She leaned over the corner of the table to kiss him soundly on the mouth.
They were very cute, natural, the kind of easy couple everyone not in a relationship hated—just like Rick and Dan. Teddy knew he probably looked at their interaction with more longing than he should have, but then he soon felt eyes on him, and there was only one person they could belong to.
Finn dropped his gaze to his food when Teddy glanced over. His smile was gone now, replaced with more of that sadness. Teddy wasn’t sure if pushing further was worth it if Finn was intent on ending things. He had to accept Finn’s wishes, whatever they may be; he’d just hoped Finn would change his mind like Frankie and Rose had hoped too.
Once they’d finished eating, Teddy tried to help clear the table, but Rose told him to stay put. They’d have coffee and dessert soon, and as the guest, he was meant to be served.
Blaise got a phone call, a supplier for his bakery, so he took it upstairs, while Rose and Finn went into the kitchen to put everything away. It wasn’t long before Teddy got antsy, afraid he’d run for the door if left to his thoughts for too long, so he wandered out of the dining area into the living room.
