29
The drive to the spot where Finn planned to release Ollie—the same one they’d found him in—was silent, but not an uncomfortable silence. As they’d watched the trees go past outside, Nolan’s presence in the car had been soothing.
Finn had missed him. Missed him so badly it’d been like having a gaping hole in his life.
“This is it,” he said, pulling into the same lookout point he had last time. The river was lower today, but still flowing steadily. He could see the spot where he’d had to drag Nolan away from the bank, the indent softened at the edges but still visible.
That had been the moment this all started, Finn realized.Reallystarted. When Nolan had moved from cute to cuteandsomeone he could have seen himself with.
Nolan was back. He was still processing everything that meant.
“Ready?” he asked, turning the engine off.
“Yeah,” Nolan said. “I’m ready.”
They hadn’t talked at all, yet. Finn had given him a hug when he arrived, and Nolan had followed him to get Ollie, and then they’d gotten in the car and driven off.
All the same, Finn could feel his heart healing. Nolan had said sorry.
He’ddonesomething, too. Finn didn’t know what yet, but it had to be something big. Something about him had changed.
It was a good change, though. He’d been sitting up straighter. His whole presence was more peaceful, less anxious than usual.
Nolan seemedhappy, which was all Finn had wanted for him.
If his happiness could also include Finn—and Finn was starting to think that was why he was here—then that would have been a bonus.
They both got out of the car, heading around the back to get Ollie out.
“Hey, little guy,” Nolan said. “Ready to go home?”
Ollie peered at him through the bars of his cage, and Finn really didn’t know whether otters could recognize people, but hefeltlike this one did. Like he knew Nolan, and remembered what he’d done.
“I think you’d better do the honors,” Finn said, handing the cage over.
Nolan took it and set his sights on the river below, marching over to the low guard rail that presumably stopped speeding cars from crashing over the edge and stepping over it easily.
Following along, Finn tried to pick something to say first. A thousand options were spinning around in his head, fromI’m sorry tootoit’s so good to see you I wanna cry,or even the option of just pulling Nolan in for a kiss and letting that speak for itself.
“I quit my job,” Nolan said, which immediately solved Finn’s indecision for him, at least.
“Wow,” Finn responded, not sure what else to say. “Just like that?”
“Just like that,” Nolan agreed. “More or less told Gavin where to shove it.”
“Found your strength,” Finn said, understanding now what Nolan had meant.
“You were right,” Nolan said, setting the cage down by the river bank. “About Gavin. About everything. I’m sorry I didn’t believe you.”
“He got into your head,” Finn said. “I get it. I shouldn’t have been so harsh with you.”
“You were hurt.” Nolan knelt down in front of the cage. “And I needed you to walk away. You walking away was the kick in the ass I’ve been waiting for.”
“Always happy to kick your ass,” Finn said, smiling to himself. “Proud of you.”
Nolan’s whole face lit up. Even though he wasn’t looking at Finn, seeing it still made his heart flutter.
Hewasproud of Nolan. That had been a huge thing, and Finn had been expecting to need to help him with it someday.
