Page 16 of Brad & Finn
He’d bumbled through freshman year of college, his graduating class being larger than the entire population of the town of Gomillion. He finally found his stride in sophomore year and made some friends on the football team, but then he’d crashed headlong into his bisexual awakening junior year and distanced himself from much of the team. He’d spent all of his twenties trying to start his career, and his thirties had been a long grind towards a coaching position. He had friends, but theirhangouts were few and far between, unlike the tightly knit group he spent all of high school with.
He wilted a little further, and Chloe reached out a hand again, but this time to gently soothe down his arm.
“You haven’t done anything wrong, Brad,” she assured him. “I mean, we were all dumb kids in high school, trying to figure ourselves out. If I understand your ‘boyfriend’ comment correctly, it seems it took you leaving town to find yourself, and it was the same for me and Finn. I was lucky enough to be there for his entire transition—and unlucky enough to witness him being discriminated against and hurt by people being careless with his identity and his feelings. It’s made us both a little skeptical and cautious.”
For a second, he wondered what Chloe had needed to leave town to discover about herself, but he quashed that small-town gossip instinct. She was right about everything she said. He didn’t fault either of them for not trusting him up front. Maybe he could prove his trustworthiness throughout the weekend, though.
During his long, sleepless night, he’d looked up the distance between Indianapolis and Chicago and found that it was only a three-hour drive. Maybe, if they could all rekindle their friendship, they’d be able to stay in touch better after the reunion.
That is, if he hadn’t already messed things up.
“No, that makes total sense,” he said. “I’m sorry I fumbled the ball back there. I didn’t get much sleep last night, so I wasn’t quick enough to back you both up. I promise I’ll be on my A-game moving forward.”
Chloe smiled, and crow’s feet appeared around her eyes. It reminded Brad of his mom’s “bless your heart” expression. “You’re not the only one a bit off his game,” she admitted. “Finn was exhausted when I dragged him out of the hotel this morning.He barely got through explaining running into and then coming out to you before we smelled cinnamon rolls. When I saw you and your mom walk inside, I decided we might as well kill two birds with one stone.”
A lump formed in Brad’s throat, and he tried to swallow around it. So, this little confrontation had at least been partially premeditated. He hoped Finn hadn’t told Chloe the night had gone poorly, and that’s why she’d sunk her overprotective talons into him.
Chloe rolled her eyes and flicked her head, tossing a perfectly styled golden lock over her shoulder. “Don’t look so worried. He had nothing but nice things to say about you.I’mthe one who saw a need to go all mama bear.”
Brad made a noncommittal noise, the muscles in his back and abs still braced for bad news.
“Seriously, he said he had a good night,” Chloe said, her posture relaxing as she tucked that same lock of hair behind her ear. It was so achingly familiar, a gesture he’d seen her do a thousand times while hanging out on the sidelines of the football field or listening to a lecture in class.
“Do you hug?” he asked before he could stop himself.
Chloe froze, her hand still up by her face. “I do, yes,” she said slowly. “Why? Would you…like a hug?”
“Only if it’s okay. I just…sorry, I’m feeling a little overwhelmed being back here.” He gestured vaguely at her, Finn, the cafe, the high school, and the town.
Chloe’s shoulders, which had lifted several inches in the air, relaxed, and she held open both arms. He leaned down and pulled her into a tight hug. She was several inches taller than Finn, and Brad’s hands naturally settled at the small of her back, but he lifted them and pressed into her shoulder blades, so her face smooshed against his collarbone.
“Oh my gosh,” she mumbled, a laugh rolling its way down her back. “You always did give the most ridiculous hugs. Feels like I’m being smothered.”
Despite her protests, her arms tightened mercilessly around his back, and he let out his own choked laugh, saying, “And you could always break a rib with yours.”
She leaned back enough to grin up at him and then pulled him back in for another squeeze. Her perfume was lovely, some sort of tangy, fruity mix. She also had a bit of that oaky smell on her, and Brad realized with a start it must be from Finn. He’d noticed something woodsy in Finn’s hotel room the night before, but it had been muted by the smell of alcohol they’d brought with them from the bar. The oak scent was rich, and it caused something to churn low in Brad’s belly. He released Chloe from the hug so he wouldn’t accidentally send any mixed messages.
“It really is good to see you,” Chloe said, warmth radiating through every word. “I’m excited for the reunion, but with all the subterfuge—which I’m aware ismydoing—I was also a bit nervous. Knowing you’ll be there helps me feel nothing but excited now.”
Before Brad could pull her back into another hug, because apparently sleep deprivation made him feel some big feelings, Ethan called Chloe’s name from behind the counter.
They grabbed the four coffees and returned to Finn and Brad’s mom. They were engaged in a lively conversation about cactus and only paused long enough for Finn to ask Chloe if she’d also put in an order for cinnamon rolls. She huffed, whipped out that credit card—which appeared to live in an inside pocket of her jacket—and asked Finn to submit the order. Finn dutifully accepted the card, cast Brad one more glance, and then walked back to the counter.
Brad tried to focus on Chloe and his mom catching up on years’ worth of town gossip, but his eyes kept drifting back toFinn. As he placed his order with Ethan, he held his shoulders back, head tilted gently to the side as he listened to whatever Ethan said in return. Brad tried to picture a younger Finn standing like that, with a soft confidence, like he was sure of his place in the world. All he could remember from high school was Finn’s hunched shoulders and dazzling green eyes, too often staring at the ground.
Brad hadn’t known Finn’s dad very well. From what Brad had gathered, he was a quiet man who didn’t involve himself much with town life. Brad once heard his mom say that Finn’s dad stopped truly living the day his wife died. Finn was somewhat similar in school: quiet and unassuming. Whether they were at the lunch table, a football game, or parties, he never took up much space. However, when they were alone, or with Chloe and Kendall, Finn seemed to blossom. There was a fire in him, and Brad had once or twice wondered if it came from his late mom. If there was a subtle way he could ask his mom about it now, he would, but that seemed like an entire can of worms he’d just promised Chloe he wouldn’t open up.
Finn returned with a box of cinnamon rolls right as Ethan waved to them and pointed at a table that had just been cleared. They exchanged goodbyes, and Brad and his mom settled into the uncomfortable yet familiar chairs.
“It was wonderful to see Chloe. I’m glad you’ll get to spend more time with her at the reunion,” his mom said as they briefly scanned their menus before closing them back up. Brad had been getting the same thing since freshman year of high school, and he didn’t see that changing now.
He went back up to the counter to order their sandwiches and cinnamon rolls, and Ethan beamed at him, promising he’d bring them right out. Brad tried to argue that he’d be happy to wait at the counter for them, since the shop was quite crowded, but Ethan just winked at him and shooed him back to his table.
His mom grinned at him over the top of her coffee cup as he retook his seat.
“Please do not try to set me up with Ethan, Mom,” he said, taking a large drink of the gnarly coffee.
“He’s a nice young man! Much like Chloe’s new boyfriend,” she said, and Brad choked as he tried to swallow the acrid liquid.
