Page 66 of Brad & Finn
“Yes. Whether that’s quitting your job and moving to Indianapolis, or keeping your job, and having Finn move in with you, the details don’t matter. I wholeheartedly, with every fiber of my being, love and support you, honey. I want absolutely nothing for you—not success, not wealth, not notoriety.Nothingexcept happiness.”
The caffeine in Brad’s system desperately tried to keep up with his mom’s earnestness. Where Finn’s thoughts seemed to spool out and away from him, his mom’s had always sort of fallen right out of her mouth.
“I…don’t think I’m going to quit my job and move to Indianapolis,” he said slowly. “I’m excited for my job. It’s my dream job. I mean…it's been my dream job for so long.”
Brad wished there was more conviction in his voice because he could see it on his mom’s face, the doubt he’d started to see when he looked in the mirror.
“I think there are some aspects of this job that are your dream,” she said slowly. “I also think—no, Iknowthat you are incredible with those kids, and you provide them with acceptance and belonging that they might not have ever had before. You did it on your short recruitment trips when you’d only have a few hours to talk to them about their single-parent homes or being LGBTQ or having to work to support their families. I can’t even imagine the type of support you could give them over an entire season. I worry that it won’t leave much room in your life for anything else, though.”
Brad had been thinking about this, too. “I think…or, at least, IhopeI’ll have more free time. The first year might be a bit rough, and it might take me a while to figure out routines and schedules, but I hope it’s going to be a lot better.”
His mom nodded slowly. “That sounds very reasonable. Knowing you, I doubt it will take very long for you to figure everything out and start excelling at it.”
Brad tried to smile, but it slipped back off his face. His head was a swirl of pictures of what his life could be like with Finn. However, the dark, grey reality of what it was right now kept muting the colors. Sort of like the clouds turning the green field into a muted gray.
“I don’t even know where to start with Finn,” he said. “It would be amazing if he wanted to try and make things work. Even if that means doing long-distance at first, and we have to take turns going to see each other. I would do it without hesitation. I realized that last night.”
“When you were running yourself ragged, like you always do, instead of enjoying prom with your friends?”
Brad dropped his gaze, and his mom squeezed his hand. “I wasn’t?—”
“Braden Willson, I saw you in your running clothes, which you clearly slept in. Do not lie to my face.”
Oh lord, not the full name. “I…messed up, mom.”
“I know, honey. It seems we both did, and Finn had to pay the price for it last night.”
Brad glanced up, pain slicing through his chest. “What do you mean?”
His mom patted his arm. “He was very upset. So was Chloe. They were disappointed and, I think, a bit heartbroken that you didn’t ask Finn to prom and then didn’t even go with them on top of that.”
Brad felt like his own heart was breaking.
“You need to talk to him,” she said.
“I know.”
“And apologize.”
“I know.”
“And tell him how you feel, and ask him to be your boyfriend, and then live happily ever after with you, and your five children.”
Brad raised an eyebrow, and his mom grinned back at him.
“I draw the line at three,” he acquiesced.
“Honey, I would be happy if the two of you even went on a real date.”
The honesty of her words sat between them on the cold metal of the bleachers.
“You would? You wouldn’t…be disappointed in me? If I turned down the job or moved to—” He couldn’t repress a shudder. “–Indiana? Or never had children and–”
She squeezed his arm, and he closed his mouth. “Would you be happy?”
“I—”
“Does Finn make you happy?” she pressed.
