Page 26 of Filtration Play
Ollie squeezed the back of his neck. “Ah, that would be my family.”
Chapter Nine
When he’d entered the apartment with Fin, they’d seemed guarded, on edge, like at any point, someone would jump out to startle them. However, as they’d eaten pizza like a goblin and flirted every other sentence, Fin had calmed down and acted like their snarky self.
However, the second the knock had sounded at the door, Fin’s shoulders tensed again.
They were full of mysteries, for sure, but Ollie recognized their deflection for what it was. He’d mastered that at an early age. Maybe that was why he felt so comfortable with them from the start, as if they were a kindred spirit in a way.
“Want me to tell Jules to go away?” Ollie said, needing to defusethe tension.
“Nah, the threshold spell to my house has been ruined anyway, so we might as well get the whole parade stomping through,” they said, a glint of amusement in their features. Fin pushed up from their spot on the couch. “How mother hennish is Jules going to be? Can I antagonize? How much are you comfortable with them knowing?”
Ollie had been bracing himself for the moment Jules stormed in, full of worries. He loved his brother something fierce, but he was so tired of getting viewed as too young to handle himself. However, the idea of Fin’s brand of chaos descending?
“Oh fuck yes. Share away.”
Fin’s grin grew wolfish, and they headed for the door. The second they opened it, not just Jules but also Izzy burst into the house like they expected him to be passed out somewhere.
“What happened?” Izzy marched right up to him. She was in her business-professional attire, her hair only slightly mussed. “Why the fuck were you parked outside an abandoned factory?”
“We were fucking there.” Fin crossed their arms across their chest. “I can’t get it up unless I’m surrounded by destruction.”
Izzy opened her mouth, closed it again, then opened it again.
Ollie’s laugh exploded out of him. Fuck, he didn’t think it was possible for someone to strike Izzy speechless, but if anyone would, Fin would be the person.
“You haven’t met Fin before,” Julian said to Izzy, as if the comment had never happened, clearly prepared for Fin’s nonsense. “But they’re a regular at Tabletop Tavern.” Julian glanced at Ollie. “Are you feeling better? I drove your car over and parked outside. Izzy’s my ride.”
“Thank you,” Ollie said. As much as he struggled sometimes with his position in the family, he was grateful for how much they cared. Not everyone had that support.
“Of course. I just want you to be okay. Is this really the type of thing you want to be getting into, though, with your diabetes?” he asked, his eyes full of concern.
Irritation welled up inside Ollie. No one trusted him to make good decisions, even though he’d been living on his own for a few years now and holding down a regular job, which was more than even Luke or Amelia could say, since they were still in school. Granted, both of them would end up in high-paying careers, but he was doing fine.
“Mm, pretty sure that’s his call, not yours,” Fin said. “He told me about his diabetes, which was all he needed to do responsibility-wise.”
Julian wrinkled his nose, clearly not convinced, but he didn’t respond. Ollie’s heart thumped harder as he stared at Fin. Their confidence that made him fucking swoon. They were strong and resolute in a way that made it easy to drop to his knees for them. Even the hint of loneliness he caught in their expression drew him in more.
Fin had clearly established they were in the no-attachments club, though, so he needed to keep that in mind. He’d find it far too easy to fall for someone like them, and he had a habit of forming attachments.
“You’re feeling okay now, though? How’s your blood sugar?” Izzy asked, her gaze narrowed as she scanned him from head to toe as if he might fall over.
“It wasn’t like I passed out, guys,” Ollie said. “I was a little shaky afterward, and Fin made the call to take me to their place and get me stable rather than letting me drive off.”
Julian’s shoulders relaxed, his gaze softening. “Good.”
“What are your intentions with my brother?” Izzy asked, all brimstone and bluntness, as usual.
Before Ollie could tell her to fuck off with the nosy questions, Fin responded.
“To defile him, obviously.”
Ollie couldn’t hold back the laugh this time either. Fuck, Fin handled his siblings in the best damn way. Unapologetic and unashamed, and for once, he felt so fucking seen. So understood.
Julian groaned. “Ugh, things I never wanted to think about.” He pointed a finger at Fin. “And that wasn’t an invitation to go and describe in explicit detail.”
Fin batted their lashes. “Who, me? I would never.”
