“I thought I’d read from my upcoming release,” Finn continued, opening his laptop. “It’s about second chances, about the courage it takes to let someone see all of you, even the parts you’re not sure they’ll love.”
As Finn began to read, his voice taking on the rhythm and cadence of his prose, Ollie was transported. The passage was beautiful—a scene between two men learning to trust each other with their vulnerabilities—but what struck him most was how much of Finn lived in the words.
“What would you do,” Wyatt asked, “if you weren’t afraid?”
Finn’s eyes found Ollie’s across the crowded room, and the world seemed to narrow to just the two of them.
“I’d tell you the truth,” Eli answered. “All of it. Even the parts that might change how you see me. Because hiding from you is worse than any rejection could be.”
The words hung in the air, charged with meaning that went far beyond the fictional conversation. Ollie felt his throat tighten with emotion, with the recognition of their own story reflected back at him through Finn’s art. This was why he’d fallen for Rhett Wilder’s books in the first place—not just the craft, but the truth beneath it.
When the reading ended, the applause was thunderous. As Finn settled at the signing table, a line of eager readers formed immediately, each clutching books and wearing expressions of barely contained excitement.
Ollie threw his focus into the logistics of the event—directing traffic, restocking displays, handling the steady stream of purchases—but found his attention constantly drawn to the signing table. He watched Finn chat easily with each reader, asking about their favorite characters, listening intently to their stories about how his books had affected them.
There was a warmth to these interactions that Ollie had never seen before—Finn in his element, sharing the part ofhimself he’d kept most protected. The careful reserve that usually marked his interactions with strangers had melted away, replaced by genuine interest and connection.
“Excuse me,” an older woman approached the counter, clutching a stack of Rhett Wilder novels to her chest. “I just wanted to say thank you for bringing him here. His books…” Her voice caught slightly. “They helped me understand my son better. When he came out last year, I didn’t know how to show him I still loved him just the same. These stories taught me the words.”
Ollie felt tears prick his eyes. “I’ll make sure he knows that. It’ll mean the world to him.”
The woman nodded, pressing his hand briefly before disappearing back into the crowd. Ollie stood there for a moment, overwhelmed by the weight of what Finn’s work meant to people, what his courage in stepping forward today represented.
As the afternoon wore on, the success of the event became undeniable. They sold out of every Rhett Wilder title and were doing brisk business in the other romance novels as well. But more than the sales, it was the atmosphere—the joy, the community, the celebration of love in all its forms—that made Ollie’s heart swell with pride.
“You look like a proud boyfriend.” Jules appeared at his side, grinning. “You’re practically glowing.”
Ollie laughed. The entire day had been amazing, and as much as he loved seeing the sales on the register, he loved watching Finn break out of his shell even more. “Maybe I am.”
“Good,” Jules said, bumping his shoulder. “It suits you. Both of you, actually. He keeps looking over here like he needs to be sureyou’re doing okay, even though he’s still not comfortable with the attention being on him.”
Ollie followed Jules’s gaze to find Finn’s eyes on him, even as he signed another book. The look they shared was brief but loaded with meaning—gratitude, affection, and something deeper that made Ollie’s chest warm.
As the signing wound down, Finn caught Ollie’s eye and nodded toward the back of the store. They slipped away from the crowd, finding refuge in the quiet corner among the poetry shelves where they’d shared their first real conversation about books.
“How are you holding up?” Ollie asked, noting the slight tiredness around Finn’s eyes, the way his shoulders had begun to relax now that he was away from the crowd.
“Better than expected,” Finn admitted, leaning against the bookshelf. “This is incredible, Ollie. The turnout, the response. You did something amazing here.”
“Wedid something amazing,” Ollie corrected, moving closer. “I couldn’t have pulled this off without you. And not just because you’re Rhett Wilder—because you’re you. The way you talked to that teenage boy about seeing himself in your characters, how you made Mrs. Leonard laugh when she was nervous about buying her first gay romance novel…” He shook his head. “That wasn’t Rhett Wilder. That was Finn O’Riley.”
Finn’s expression softened, a quiet confidence in his gaze that hadn’t been there before the event. “Today was more than I ever imagined it could be. Everyone was so welcoming, so enthusiastic about the books.”
“That’s because they’re amazing books written by an amazing person,” Ollie said, his voice warm with pride. “And now theyknow the face behind the words.” He paused, then added with a small smile, “Though I have to admit, it’s going to take some getting used to, dating a bestselling author.”
“Dating?” Finn repeated, his eyes brightening with pleasure at the word.
“That’s what we’re doing, isn’t it?” Ollie asked, suddenly shy. The word felt both too small and exactly right. “I know we still have things to work through, but watching you today… I don’t want to lose this. Us.”
“Neither do I,” Finn said softly, reaching for Ollie’s hand. “But honestly, dating doesn’t feel like a strong enough word for what we’re doing. It’s too soon to make promises of forever or anything like that, but that’s where I see this thing between us heading. If the day after I came clean with you gave me a glimpse of what it’s like to not have you in my life, I don’t want it. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure we’re solid from now on.”
Their fingers intertwined, and Ollie marveled at how such a simple touch could feel like coming home.
They were interrupted by Brooklyn appearing around the corner, phone in hand and looking slightly frazzled. “Dad, there are still people waiting, and someone from the newspaper wants a photo. Also, Mrs. Roberts is asking if you’ll sign her entire collection, which is apparently all eight books.”
As Finn returned to his duties, Ollie remained in the poetry section, watching through the shelves as his boyfriend charmed another group of readers. The word felt strange but right, like trying on a piece of clothing that fit perfectly.
The last hour of the event passed in a warm haze of success. As the final customer left, clutching their signed books and wearinga satisfied smile, the volunteers began the process of cleaning up. Finn didn’t disappear as Ollie half-expected—instead, he rolled up his sleeves and helped stack chairs, box up leftover refreshments, and restore the store to its usual configuration.
