“I know,” Theo said, dropping onto the edge of the bed. “I’m not mad. Just… would’ve been nice to have you around.”
Finn sat beside him. “We still hung out.”
“Yeah, but it’s different,” Theo said, nudging him with his shoulder. “Roommates get the late-night gossip.”
Finn laughed. “You would’ve gotten more than gossip, but yeah, I missed us being roomies too.”
Theo fiddled with the hem of his shirt, eyes flicking toward the window. He sat on the edge of the bed, elbows on his knees, picking at a loose thread on his sleeve like it was the only thing keeping him grounded. Finn could tell something was on his mind—Theo kept opening his mouth like he was about to say something, then shutting it again.
“So…” Theo finally said, eyes fixed on the floor. “David and I have been talking.”
Finn shifted closer. “Yeah?”
Theo nodded, but it was small, hesitant. His shoulders tightened instead of relaxing. “About… you know. Stuff.”
“Stuff,” Finn echoed, waiting him out.
Theo’s fingers twisted the thread harder. “The future,” he said at last, voice barely above a whisper.
Finn’s chest warmed. “That sounds serious.”
Theo didn’t answer right away. He swallowed, eyes darting to the door like he was checking to make sure no one else could hear. “He, um… asked me something. But it’s not—like—it’s not a big deal. It was just a question.”
Finn raised an eyebrow. “Theo.”
Theo winced. “Okay, okay.” He dragged a hand through his hair, messing it up even more. “He asked if I’d ever think about moving to Virginia.”
Finn blinked. “Wow.”
Theo’s face went pink, but not the cute kind—more like theI’m-about-to-panic kind. “Not now. Not soon. Just… someday.” He said the word like it physically hurt. “But I didn’t—I don’t know. I didn’t want to talk about it.”
Finn softened. “Why not?”
Theo’s knee bounced, fast and jittery. “Because I still have another year at college. And transferring is a nightmare. And my mother…” He trailed off, jaw tightening. “She’d lose it. Like,full meltdown. They already think I’m too young to make big decisions.”
Finn nudged him gently. “Do you want to move someday?”
Theo didn’t answer. He stared at his hands, twisting them together. His breathing went shallow, like the question itself was too heavy.
Finn tried again, softer. “Theo. It’s just me. You can say it.”
Theo’s shoulders slumped. He let out a shaky breath. “Yeah,” he whispered. “I want it. I really do. But wanting it and actually doing it are two different things.”
Finn nodded. “I get that. Really.”
Theo finally looked up, eyes wide and scared and hopeful all at once. “Do you think it’s stupid?”
“No,” Finn said immediately. “I think it’s brave. And honestly? I’m kind of in the same place.”
Theo blinked. “You are?”
Finn shrugged, but his heart thudded hard. “If things go well in San Francisco, I’m thinking about moving to Virginia too. New job. New everything.”
Theo’s mouth opened. “Wait—you’d actually do that?”
Finn laughed softly. “Yeah. I mean… I want to see how the five days go. But I’m open to it. Wide open.”
Theo let out a breath that sounded like he’d been holding it for hours. “That’s exactly how I feel. I want to see how this week goes with David. But I’m not ruling anything out.”
