Page 69 of Brad & Finn
Finn barked out a laugh, and his eyes weren’t just sparkling anymore; they were shiny and wet, and their hands were knotted so tightly together that Brad wasn’t sure if they’d ever be able to get free of each other.
“I want that, too,” Finn said, and tears spilled down his cheeks. Then he scrunched up his face and let out a growl thatmade Brad’s heart flutter. “I also would really like to stop crying this weekend!”
He grabbed Brad’s spare napkin and dabbed one-handed at his eyes. Brad disentangled one of his hands and brought it to Finn’s cheek, catching one of his stray tears.
“Oh, sweetheart…I’m so sorry about yesterday,” he said. He didn’t need Finn to say it, but he knew he’d been one of the things to make Finn cry that weekend.
Finn leaned into his palm and closed his eyes. “It’s okay?—”
“It’s not.”
Finn opened his eyes, just a crack, and turned to press a kiss to Brad’s palm. “Alright, it’s not. But I forgive you.”
Brad slid his hand around to the back of Finn’s neck and pulled him in, leaning forward himself until their foreheads met with a gentle tap. He wanted to tilt his head and kiss Finn, but they were in a busy coffee shop, and they’d only just reconciled. Brad maintained their position until the end of the soft pop song playing over the speakers.
“Did Chloe say you guys were meeting up later?” Brad asked, keeping Finn’s hand in his but taking up a more relaxed posture in his chair.
Finn also got a bit more comfortable, crossing his leg over his knee at the ankle, but his cheeks grew strangely pink. “Yeah, later tonight we’re doing something with Naomi and Mariana. I…was hoping you’d want to come?”
Brad’s mouth turned up into a lopsided grin. “Absolutely! I really like them both, and I want to make it up to Chloe.”
Finn played with the cardboard sleeve on his coffee cup. “Yeah, she’s done a lot this weekend for her mom—and for us. I hope she has a fun night,” he said, and there was still something a little off about his tone.
Brad decided to ignore it for now, figuring if there were something else Finn wanted to talk about, they would. Instead,he asked how prom went, and Finn groaned. They discussed overly sweet drinks, hangovers, and catered banquet foods, and Brad enjoyed every second of it.
They finished their coffees, but Finn made no move to get a refill or any more food. Finally, Brad squeezed his hand. “What do you say about heading back to our rooms for a bit?”
Finn’s smile dimmed. “Oh…yeah, sorry, you look exhausted. If you want to take a nap, maybe I’ll?—”
“Together,” Brad interrupted.
Finn ran his left canine over his bottom lip. “Together?”
“What do you say to heading back tooneof our rooms,together?”
Finn stood up so fast he knocked into the table, sending both of their empty cups flying. “Oh gosh,” he said as he quickly scrambled around the table collecting their trash.
“Really?I’mthe absurd one?” Brad gasped through his laughter.
Finn glared at him, but his bottom lip stuck out in the most adorable pout, and suddenly, Brad was overcome with warmth. It spread from the tips of his ears down his chest.
“Fuck, Finn?—”
He pulled Finn towards him, and he came all too willingly, a confused but happy look on his face. Brad wrapped his arms tightly around Finn’s back and buried his face in his soft neck.
“I…” he tried to say, but Finn’s oaky scent and the feel of him back in Brad’s arms was overwhelming.
“I know,” Finn whispered.
Brad huffed. “You know a lot of things, huh?”
Finn laughed, and it fluttered pleasantly against Brad’s chest. “God, I wish, but…I think I do know how you’re feeling right now.”
Brad pulled back until their faces were only an inch or so apart. “That I love you. As a friend, yeah, but…I think already a bit more than that.”
Finn surged forward and pressed his lips to Brad’s, right there in the corner of the shop. The reunion was over, and thus far, Brad had inadvertently outed himself to several of the townspeople, and nothing bad had happened.
Still, he wasn’t willing to risk it. He pulled back but then tipped his head until his mouth was right next to Finn’s ear. “Hotel?”
