“Yeah, I do.”
“Hey, Teddy. Ready for dessert?” Blaise appeared, making Teddy’s heart flutter for a different reason, but he hadn’t been so loud as to draw attention from the kitchen.
It was only moments later when they went back to sit at the table that Finn came in with a decadent-looking chocolate cake from Blaise’s bakery, and Rose asked, “How do you take your coffee, Teddy?”
He couldn’t resist. “Got any ice cream?”
“Guess I’m a bad influence,” Finn said, following Teddy out to the porch after they’d finished dessert and theiraffogato, Blaise had informed them. Finn’s concoction had a name, though he’d seemed as surprised as Teddy to learn that.
“Terrible. But it made for a better dessert. I’d offer you a ride home, only….” Teddy indicated both their vehicles in the driveway.
“I promise I won’t race you,” Finn joked. He’d seemed more at ease ever since his conversation with Rose in the kitchen, but he was nervous now; Teddy could see it in the tension of his shoulders.
He leaned against the railing of the porch beside Teddy, the evening calm and cool and lovely, though Teddy still preferred seeing Finn highlighted in moonlight glinting off water in the distance.
“Listen, I swear I didn’t cancel our appointment today to avoid you. I really did have a patient emergency.”
“I believe you. How about next time? Do you want to avoid me then?”
Finn looked down, ashamed.
“That is what you said, you know, drunk as you may have been.”
“Huh?” Finn glanced up again.
“You told me you weren’t going to avoid taking chances anymore, not when you really want something. Also”—Teddy leaned against the railing too, tilting his head close enough to see the freckles in Finn’s eyes from the light of the porch—“I never do anything just to be nice.”
“Y-you heard all that?” Finn was so smooth usually that Teddy forgot how often he tripped over himself and showed insecurities, something Teddy had seen long before he’d known about Finn’s past.
“I heard, and I agree with Rose,” Teddy said, “but only if you want me. If the baggage between us feels too heavy, then I get it. Funny thing about that, though, is I’ve heard it’s easier to carry baggage with help. Of course, I already have Smudge to fill that role, so—”
Finn’s lips were on him so quickly, Teddy sucked in a breath, breathing in the aftertaste of chocolate and coffee, sweet and addictive enough that he opened his mouth for more—
Just as Finn pulled away. “Shit, sorry, I wasn’t thinking, I—”
“Finn,” Teddy said in a growl, though he let his actions show the gentleness of what he wanted, that he wasn’t angry, just eager.
When Finn met his eyes, still ashamed and unsure, Teddy reached for his face, cupping his jaw and teasing fingers along the hairs at Finn’s neck. He felt Finn shiver, and that was enough to encourage him forward, stepping into Finn’s space and kissinghimthis time—bold, hungry. The taste of chocolate was stronger when their tongues met, exploring without holding back. Teddy had nothing to lose but what he’d already been denied, though he hoped Finn wouldn’t pull away again.
After what seemed like minutes uninterrupted, just the slow motion of their mouths and Teddy’s thumb smoothing along Finn’s cheekbone, it was only when Finn clutched at Teddy’s shirt and whimpered that they parted for breath.
“So,” Teddy said through an exhale, “about that date.”
Finn’s giggle was answer enough, but Teddy only felt relief when he heard the words, “Okay. Wednesday after your appointment to make up for last week?”
“Deal. We’ll call it a do-over.”
The smile on Finn’s face banished all his demons. They still lurked, but they didn’t have to take center stage, and neither did any of Teddy’s.
When Teddy walked down the stoop to his car, he felt a lightness in his step he hadn’t known in a long time, sore hip or otherwise. It was tempting to wait for Finn to get in his car as well, follow each other home, end up at one destination instead of two, but rather than spoil how perfect that moment had been by rushing this, Teddy drove away with Finn still staring after him.
six
Teddystaredinthemirror. He never thought he could fuss so much over what workout clothes to wear, but that’s what he needed for physical therapy, and afterward, he and Finn would be embarking on their first date.
Finally.
Sweats were not conducive to seduction, though. Teddy reminded himself that Finn had been plenty seduced even when carrying Teddy inside his house and for several sessions already with him in sweats, but today Teddy needed confidence that he was definitely lacking after noticing the way these particular sweats looked unfortunate in places.
