Page 48 of Brad & Finn
“Pissy,” Chloe provided as she placed a hand on Brad’s shoulder and wrapped an arm around Finn’s back.
“A littleagitated,” Finn grumbled.
Several of the kids Brad had worked with were diagnosed, or in the process of being diagnosed with ADHD. He knew there were different types and a lot of varying symptoms. Executive dysfunction was one he’d heard of but didn’t know a lot about. He’d never asked the kids about it, and he didn’t want to push Finn on it now. Perhaps he could watch some more videos on it later.
Right now, he wanted to comfort his…Finn.
Brad pulled Finn into another hug, nuzzling his nose into his hair. He smelled like the odd combination of hotel shampoo andbodywash, but his underlying oaky scent made Brad smile. Finn saw his smile and gave him a soft one in return before turning to pull Chloe into a tight hug.
“Sorry I was being pissy,” he murmured, and Chloe squeezed him until his back cracked.
They got back to work, but this time with more lively commentary on what they were packing, sharing memories, and making up stories for items they couldn’t explain. Finn was in a noticeably better mood, and it seemed to brighten the room, casting light on Brad’s shadowy corner of the room as he packed box after box. Even though they were across the room from each other, he enjoyed every surprised noise and shout of triumph that came from the closet.
Finn gave a particularly loud shout when he found a Polaroid camera in an old backpack. Chloe raced over to his side, digging around inside the bag until she unearthed a box of film. She pointed the camera at Finn and snapped a picture, the shutter sound loud enough to carry over Finn’s cries of protest.
When Brad laughed a little too loudly, she turned the camera on him next. He joined them on the floor, and they hid the two photos under a box lid to develop. Finn only lasted a minute before he lost patience and pulled them out, saying, “There’s no way they need that long to develop.”
The quality wasn’t great, but the image was clear enough.
“We have to take pictures the rest of the day!” Chloe exclaimed, holding the camera up by its frayed leather strap.
They put the camera and film off to the side and worked for another hour before Chloe’s phone alarm went off, telling them it was time to head over to the basketball game. Chloe slung the camera over her neck and tried to fit the film into her magic pockets, but to her disappointment, it didn’t fit. Brad volunteered, as the one with the largest pockets, and afterborrowing three thermoses of Keurig coffee, they set off for campus.
8
FINN
Chloe decided halfway backto town that she was hungry and didn’t want the stale popcorn and snack-sized bags of chips the high school concession stand sold. Even though they were already running late, they stopped by The Roll, which was as crowded as ever, and Finn waited by the door to avoid the crowd of people. He watched in amusement as Ethan flirted with first Chloe and then Brad. While Chloe shot him down immediately, Brad looked so awkward that Finn couldn’t help but smile. He hurried back to Finn’s side with two savory breakfast pastries and sheepishly offered one to Finn.
Finn leaned into his side and tilted his head back, so only Brad could hear him whisper, “Thanks, babe.”
Brad had a distinct skip in his step all the way back to the car. Finn let him have the front seat so he could have more leg room, and he ended up chatting excitedly with Chloe about who they thought would be representing the alumni in the game. Chloe rattled off a bunch of names and then went back and ticked off who she’d seen at the gym or Timbers and Tallboys the previous night.
Brad was practically vibrating with excitement as they walked into the school. “I know Cameron’s a sports agent now. Obviously, it’s way too early for them to be signing contracts, but how awesome is it that these seniors get to play againsttheCameron Jameson—and then hopefully get to talk to him about what it means to go pro!”
Finn loved listening to Brad talk about sports and sports things. He’d been a cheerleader long enough to gain an appreciation for sports, and he watched most of the big games, including the Super Bowl, Final Four, World Cup, World Series, and, on occasion, even the Tennis Masters.
As they passed by their old cafeteria, Finn wondered if Brad kept games and sports commentary playing around the house. Finn didn’t mind ambient noise. If anything, it helped with his ADHD. Maybe that was why he couldn’t keep the smile off his face listening to Chloe and Brad chatting a mile a minute about college sports prospects and upcoming seasons.
Finn had grown up in an eerily silent home. When his dad was out, Finn would play CDs or leave the TV running to make the house feel a little less lonely. It was one of the many reasons he loved going to Chloe and Christian’s place. Those two could hold a conversation with a brick wall, and he loved letting their bright voices roll over him as he sat on the couch with their dogs or enjoyed mediocre meals at their cluttered kitchen table. None of them were talented chefs, but as they reached the small gym and Brad glanced over his shoulder to make sure Finn was still behind them, he wondered if Brad was a good cook.
As Chloe opened the metal doors, they were hit with a wall of sound and the warm scent of popcorn and exhilaration. Finn pressed in close behind Chloe as they made their way around the side of the gym to the bleachers. He remembered doing this on game days, too, leaning into Chloe and Kendall’s confidence as they entered the packed gymnasium, hundreds oftheir fellow classmates cheering and waving to them. Kendall usually got most of the attention, from guys and girls alike, and Chloe and Finn were happy to give her the spotlight. Chloe’s primary focus was keeping the other girls in formation, and Finn was responsible for keeping count during some of the more complicated cheers.
This was relatively true outside of games as well. Kendall would take all the attention, both good and bad, and Chloe was responsible for shepherding their friends around town and organizing hangouts, study sessions, and extra practices for the cheerleaders who needed it. Finn was the ever-loyal, always-present third, which was just the way he liked it. It was how his relationship with Chloe and Christian had played out over the past five years, too.
As Brad led them to some open seats, Chloe was right behind him, and Finn was close behind her. Without even trying, he’d become the happy third again.
When they slid into a row near the top left of the stands, Finn spotted Naomi next to Brad, and Mariana popped out of her seat to wave at them.
A buzzer sounded, indicating the high school team had scored, bringing them to 15 points as compared with the alumni’s 22.
Finn got lost in the repetitive back and forth of the game, occasionally gripping Chloe’s hand or jumping up with the rest of the alumni to cheer for a particularly impressive play.
There was a ten-minute break for halftime, and despite her earlier complaints, Chloe climbed over Finn to grab some popcorn. Wisely, both Finn and Brad kept their opinions on the matter to themselves, and Finn took Chloe’s seat so he could talk with Naomi and Brad. Chloe returned right as the game resumed, but she plopped down next to Finn without asking for her seat back.
The tide changed in favor of the varsity team as the alumni began to show clear signs of fatigue. Finn couldn’t fathom running around a court for that long anymore. A few of the current cheerleaders were there, throwing high kicks and split jumps that made Finn’s hips ache.
By the start of the fourth quarter, he found himself zoning out, and he startled when Chloe placed a hand on his leg. “Are you trying to remember some of our old cheers?”
