So much for having the entire morning to themselves.
Footsteps approached, and then Brooklyn appeared in the doorway. She stopped short at the sight of Ollie, her eyes widening slightly before her expression shuttered.
“Oh,” she said, her gaze flicking between them. “Hi.”
“Morning, Brooklyn,” Ollie said, aiming for casual and probably missing by a mile. “Your dad was just making breakfast. There’s plenty if you’re hungry.”
Brooklyn hesitated, clearly processing the scene before her—Ollie in her dad’s T-shirt, their coffee mugs side by side, the unmistakable intimacy of the moment.
“You’re up early,” Finn said, breaking the awkward silence. “I thought you were staying at Isabel’s until later.”
Brooklyn shrugged, dropping her overnight bag on the floor. “Marcus got called into work, and I finished my book. Figured I’d ask him for a ride on his way in so you didn’t have to pick me up later.” Her eyes lingered on Ollie for a moment before returning to her dad.
Ollie watched the exchange, acutely aware of being an outsider in this well-established dynamic. Brooklyn’s posture was defensive, not hostile but wary, and he could practically see the questions forming behind her eyes.
“I should get going,” he said, pushing back from the table. “Let you two have breakfast.”
“You don’t have to leave because of me,” Brooklyn said quickly, though her expression remained guarded.
“It’s okay,” Ollie assured her with a smile. “I promised Jules I’d help with some art stuff this afternoon anyway. They’re finally setting up a website to sell online.”
It was a lie, but a harmless one. Brooklyn needed time with her dad, and Ollie needed to process the whirlwind of the past twenty-four hours. Finn followed him to the living room, leaving Brooklyn in the kitchen.
“Sorry about that,” Finn said quietly, his hand finding Ollie’s. He spotted Ollie’s sweater on the floor, and handed it to him. “I wasn’t expecting her back so early.”
“It’s fine,” Ollie said, and meant it.
Finn’s expression softened, relief and something warmer flickering in his eyes. “Thank you. For understanding.”
“I’ll call you later?” Ollie suggested, suddenly shy despite the intimacy they’d shared.
“Please do,” Finn said, leaning in to kiss him goodbye. The kiss was brief but tender, a promise of more to come.
As Ollie walked down the driveway, he couldn’t help glancing back at the house. Through the window, he could see Finn and Brooklyn, their heads bent close in conversation. Something tightened in his chest—not jealousy, exactly, but a yearning to be part of that world, to find his place in their carefully constructed family of two.
He reached the end of the driveway and paused, suddenly realizing he didn’t have his car. He’d agreed to ride home withFinn, afraid that if he gave the man time to think, he might pull away again. That was biting him in the ass now.
“Right,” he muttered to himself, adjusting his glasses with a rueful smile. The walk home wasn’t long, maybe twenty minutes through the quiet neighborhood streets. He shoved his hands in his pockets and started walking, his mind replaying moments from the night before with each step. The chilly morning air cleared his head, but did nothing to dampen the warmth that had settled in his chest since waking up in Finn’s arms.
He wasn’t even a block away when Jules texted, asking him if he wanted to grab breakfast.
Be there soon.
“So,” Jules said, sliding into the booth across from Ollie at Brew & Barrel, “based on that dopey smile, I’m guessing last night went well?”
Ollie felt heat rush to his face. “Is it that obvious?”
“Honey, you’re practically glowing. I’m surprised the health department hasn’t quarantined you for radioactivity.” Jules grinned, signaling to Sam for coffee. “Details, please. And don’t skimp on the good parts.”
“I’m not giving you a play-by-play,” Ollie protested, though he couldn’t keep the smile from his face. “But yes, it was…really good. Better than good. Kind of amazing, actually.”
Jules’s expression softened. “I’m happy for you, Ol. You deserve this.”
“Thanks,” Ollie said, wrapping his hands around his mug. “It feels different, you know? Not like the beginning of something casual.”
“Finn seems like the type who doesn’t do casual,” Jules observed. “Then again, he’s not really the type to do serious either. But if I had to peg him as one or the other, he’s definitely the type to go all-in once he’s interested in someone.”
“That’s what scares me a little,” Ollie admitted. “What if I’m not worth that level of commitment? What if I mess this up?”
