16
The drive to the sanctuary had quickly become the best part of Nolan’s week. Despiteyet anotherargument with Gavin on his way out the door, he could feel himself relaxing as he passed familiar landmarks that told him he was only a few minutes away now.
It was hard to tell whether Gavin was getting worse, or whether his tolerance for it had just weakened because of the time he’d spent here. People at the sanctuary werenice. They didn’t yell even if he actually screwed something up, and they’d been nothing but kind, warm, and happy to see him.
Finn had been sending him updates on Ollie all week, and he’d managed to troubleshoot a network problem for Ryan over the phone. All of that made him feel like he waspartof something here.
He’d never felt that before.
The big, bright sign for the sanctuary made his heart swell as he drove under it, and the sight of Finn’s car—still dinged and scratched, but freshly washed and polished—filled him with relief. He’d been worried that it’d been dead. Knowing what the car meant to Finn, Nolan was glad he hadn’t lost it suddenly.
Finn was already standing a few yards behind his car by the time Nolan got out, grinning broadly.
“Hey,” Finn rocked on the balls of his feet, hands shoved in his pockets as Nolan stuffed his keys in his pocket. “Long time no see,” he teased.
“I’m twenty minutes late, I know,” Nolan sighed. “Gavin held me back to argue about… something. You know, I don’t even remember what his problemwas.”
A dark look flitted over Finn’s features, but it was gone in the next heartbeat. “You don’t have to show up right on time. You can show up whenever you want, honestly.”
Nolan smiled a small, tired smile at Finn. “You’re too kind to me, you know that?”
Finn shook his head. “I’m exactly the amount of kind you deserve,” he said. “Anyway, you’re just in time for cupcakes.”
“Cupcakes?” Nolan raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah, and there’s someone I want you to meet. Well, you already kind of met her, but… properly.”
Curious, Nolan followed Finn into the house and the kitchen, where Oscar, Ryan, Ezra, and an older woman Nolan recognized from the charity auction. May. The woman who’d plucked Finn out of his miserable living situation and given him somewhere to call home when he needed it most.
“You must be Nolan,” she said the moment he looked at her, face lighting up. Nolan could barely look away from her bright green eyes, sparkling in the light coming through the kitchen window. At her age—and she must have been in her early sixties—she was striking, but she must have been stunning when she was younger.
She had the air of a Southern Belle about her, but in the best possible warm, friendly way. Nolan liked her instantly.
“I am,” Nolan confirmed, unsure what else to say.
“I’m May,” she said, which Nolan knew, but they hadn’t been formally introduced before now. “I’ve heard so much about you, but I haven’t had the chance to come down and meet you before now.”
“I, uh…” Nolan rubbed the back of his neck. A hand landing on his shoulder made him jump at first, but he relaxed when he realized it belonged to Finn.
Finn squeezed gently, stroking with his thumb, and Nolan managed a smile. A woman who ran an animal sanctuary really couldn’t be all that scary. Not when she so obviously had the loyalty of a man like Finn.
“It’s nice to finally meet you,” Nolan said, his brain finally coming back online. “Finn’s told me a lot about you, too.”
“All lies,” May said, waving her hand dismissively. “If Iwerea swamp witch, I’d never have to go to another fundraising event again.”
“He didn’t actually say that,” Nolan said, though he got the impression May was teasing.
“Didn’t he?” she looked at Finn with mock-confusion. “He’s losing his touch.”
“I wanted Nolan to stay,” Finn said softly.
May looked at him, and then at Nolan, and something like understanding washed over her features. She nodded, just once, but the gesture radiated satisfaction.
Not everyone stayed, Nolan realized. He was unusual.
“Well, you’d better eat a cupcake before Oscar finished them off,” May said, glancing over at Oscar, who was currently eating the one in his hand as though he’d never seen a cupcake before.
“She’s serious about that,” Ryan said, “this is his third one.”
