Finn pulled back just enough to see Maurice’s face, all while Finn’s heart did that stupid, happy stutter. “Okay,” he said, trying to sound more composed than he felt. “I need a shower first. Then I’m going to see what he wants, and I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“How about meeting me at the Welcome Car?” Maurice asked. “I need to talk to David about some travel logistics now.”
“Okay,” Finn said. “I’ll find you at the bar.”
Maurice cupped his jaw for a second, thumb brushing his cheek, then leaned in and kissed him as if they had all the time in the world. When he pulled away, Finn felt steadier. Maurice left him alone to shower.
Finn got dressed, smoothed his shirt like that would somehow make him look more responsible, then stepped out into the hallway. The air out there felt cooler, the low thrum of the engine running up through his feet. He walked past a couple of passengers chatting quietly, the world outside a blur of green and gray through the narrow windows and made his way toward the front of the train. He paused when Theo stopped him.
“Hey, do you have a minute?” Theo asked.
“I’m meeting Mr. Santos, but can meet after?”
“Okay, come to my cabin and we can talk.”
“Will do.”
At the door to the Engineer Car, Finn paused, took in a deep breath, and knocked. The door opened a moment later.Mr. Santos stood there, expression as unreadable as ever, then stepped aside to let him in.
“Sit,” Mr. Santos said, nodding toward a small chair near the console.
Finn sat, hands resting on his knees, trying not to fidget. The Engineer Car felt different from the rest of the train. More focused, more alive. Panels glowed, switches clicked softly, and the view ahead was just endless track and sky.
Mr. Santos stayed standing for a moment, looking at him like he was assessing a piece of equipment. Then he nodded once, almost to himself.
“I wanted to tell you,” Mr. Santos began, “after your unfortunate start on Pride Express, you have changed and made some excellent decisions.”
Finn winced a little at “unfortunate start,” but…fair.
Mr. Santos continued, “I think Maurice is an excellent choice for you. He’ll make a great daddy. Please keep me posted on how you two are doing.”
Finn blinked. Of all the things he’d expected, that wasn’t on the list.
“I didn’t expect you to say that at all,” Finn admitted. “But… thank you. And yeah, of course I’ll keep you posted. I feel like we’ll have a real chance if we live in the same state.”
“That’s geography,” Mr. Santos said, as if he were correcting a math problem. “You have the power to change that but make sure you take the time to think clearly.”
Finn nodded slowly. “I’m thinking clearly. Or at least, I’m trying to. He’s… he’s good for me. I don’t want to screw that up.”
Mr. Santos’s mouth twitched, almost a smile. “You are less impulsive than when you boarded. That is progress. And I think I’ll remember you as the Rainbow Romantic instead of the Rainbow Flirt.”
“I’ll do my best to live up to my new nickname,” Finn said. “And I’ll email you. Or… whatever you prefer.”
“Email is fine,” Mr. Santos said. “I find it reassuring to know that my special passengers don’t ruin their lives after disembarking from my train.”
Finn grinned. “That’s a pretty low bar, but I’ll aim higher.”
Mr. Santos gave a curt nod, then turned back toward the controls, clearly signaling that the conversation was over. “You may go. Enjoy your last day.”
“Thank you,” Finn said, meaning more than just the meeting. He stood, gave the room one last glance, then stepped back into the hallway.
The air out there felt cooler, carrying a faint metallic rattle from somewhere deep in the train’s frame. As he moved through the cars, he replayed Mr. Santos’s words, the stamped approval on the actions he wanted most.
He headed down the hallway toward Theo’s room, the walls giving off a low, steady vibration like the whole car was quietly awake. When he knocked, Theo opened the door almost immediately, as if he’d been waiting.
“Hey,” Theo said, stepping aside so Finn could slip in. “I missed you, you know. We were roommates for, what—five minutes? And then you bailed on me.”
Finn winced. “Yeah… sorry about that. Everything with Maurice happened fast.”
