10
Nolan couldn’t help being aware of Finn’s gaze on him as he shrugged off his t-shirt and changed into the one Finn had offered him. It felt like a physical thing that seeped through his bare skin and settled heavily in his gut, hot and tight.
Finn’s t-shirt still smelled of him despite being clean, and now Nolan was surrounded by his scent, too. What he wanted most of all right now was to roll around in it, taking comfort in the warmth and safety he was starting to associate with Finn.
“Looks good on you,” Finn said, despite the fact that the shirt was two sizes too big and hanging off Nolan’s narrower shoulders.
“Thanks,” Nolan said, trying to will himself not to blush. By the way his cheeks heated up, he could tell he was failing horribly. “I think this one’s done for,” he added, holding up the same black t-shirt he’d worn every time he’d come to the sanctuary.
“Well, if you’re not gonna wear it, I bet Ollie’d love it. It’s covered in familiar mud and the scent of his personal hero,” Finn said.
Nolan loved hearing that. He felt like he’d made a difference today. Sure, it was just one otter, but to that otter it’d been life-or-death.
Finn seemed impressed with him, too, which he loved evenmore. There wasn’t much he wouldn’t have done to impress Finn.
“He can have it,” Nolan said, balling it up and opening the cage to shove it inside. Ollie had climbed out of the sack, dragging his leg behind him, and Finn had made unhappy noises about it but ultimately decided that it wasn’t broken, just hurt.
He’d also decided that Ollie was actually a boy.
“I normally sleep in it anyway,” Nolan admitted. “After I shrunk it in the wash.”
“Ididwonder why it was so small on you,” Finn said. “Figured maybe you were into that.”
“My sister told me I should dress up a little for our first date… thing,” Nolan said. “I planned on showing up in a Pikachu t-shirt.”
“I was always more of a Charizard guy.”
Nolan laughed, relieved that Finn didn’t think that was weird after all.
Maybe being who he was wouldn’t have been the worst thing, after all.
“You gotta stop listening to what assorted family members think,” Finn said.
“She meant well,” Nolan defended. “And peoplelikeher. I figured she knew what she was talking about.”
“Yeah, well… I like you just as you are,” Finn said.
The thought of that made the tips of Nolan’s ears burn. “Yeah?” he asked, barely more than a breath.
“Yeah,” Finn said. “You’re a dork, I’m a dork…”
“I could take that as an insult,” Nolan responded, shoving his hands as deep into his pockets as he could.
He’d managed to rip a hole in his too-tight jeans on the way back up the slope, so he had a good excuse to stop wearing them, too.
“It’s meant as a compliment. We’re kindred spirits,” Finn said.
Nolan swallowed. Wow. Finndidlike him.
That felt like a big deal.
“Thanks,” Nolan murmured, not sure what else to say.
I like you toowas a little too scary, no matter how true it was. That wasn’t what Finn meant, anyway. He meant he liked Nolan’scompany, not that he was romantically interested in him. They weren’t in middle school.
Although, passing a note that saiddo you like me? Y/Nseemed like a much better way of handling a crush right about now. At least that way, Nolan could pretend someone else had forged his handwriting.
He wasn’t sure Tommy Myers had ever believed that, but he’d forgotten about it after a week.
