Finn gave him an unconvinced look.
“I’m fine,” Oscar said. “Honestly, I’m fine. Whatever’s going on with Ryan feels… good. Safe. I dunno.”
“Okay.” Finn nodded again. “But if you need to talk about it, I’m here. Always.”
“I know.” Oscar smiled at him. “I love you,” he said, because he always said that to Finn.
And maybe because it was good practice. Maybe because he’d want to say it to someone else someday soon.
The thought made him feel lightheaded, joy bubbling up in his chest.
Yeah, maybe someday soon, he’d want to tell someone else that he loved them.
But not right now. Right now, he could afford to just enjoy what he had.
“Did you need something?” Oscar asked belatedly, realizing that Finn probably wasn’t standing there for his health.
“I don’t like moving Buttercup alone,” Finn said. “Y’know, in case she decides I’m lunch.”
Oscar snorted. “You’re way too big for her to eat.”
“Yeah, but she doesn’t know that.” Finn shrugged. “I mean, unless you want me to spend the rest of the day giving you hell about yournew boyfriend.”
“Fine,” Oscar agreed quickly. Honestly, he liked the sound of that, but he didn’t need Ryan overhearing. Not yet. Going slow was working for them, and he didn’t want to compromise it by pushing.
He’d explain that to Finn once they were definitely out of earshot, and he knew Finn would stop immediately. Whether he helped move a seventy-pound python or not.
There was no point in ruining a good thing, and Oscar didn’t plan on being the one to do it.
