Page 23

FINN

Red and orange streaked the sky in a blazing sunset, reflecting off the blooming trees like fire as Finn headed north, tearing through back roads toward the hospital. Gritting his teeth, he tightened his hands on the steering wheel, trying to keep from shaking out of his seat.

“Liam says he and Owen want to meet us there.” Ollie stared at his phone, his voice soft in the tense silence. While his situation had trailed into serious, he’d insisted on coming along and Finn couldn’t disagree; the intense heart-to-heart coupled with the news about Uncle Joe left his mind a whirlwind. He was unable to leave Ollie behind; besides, if he had any issues, they were going to be in the best place possible, and once Finn knew the important details about Uncle Joe he’d immediately get Ollie into care.

“Tell them…” At some point, Finn must’ve unclenched one hand because he was fiddling with his mother’s ring. “Can they wait until I know more?”

“Sure.” Ollie reached over, patting his thigh. Huddled in Finn’s jacket, he looked so weak, so frail, but a spark of strength still burned inside. “I’ll ask them to get my car.”

“Thank you,” Finn replied absently, dropping the ring to steer with both hands as the road curved. The last time they took this drive they’d been hopeful, excited. Now? Finn deeply understood Ollie’s fears because he might lose his only family.

And maybe his soulmate too.

Solitude reared its head, howling, but Ollie’s presence kept it in check. “They’re heading up there now, I dropped them a pin and told them where to find the keys. They send their love. Owen said Joe’s going to be okay.” Putting the phone in his lap, he rested a hand on Finn’s thigh again. “And he will.”

Briefly, Finn glanced at Ollie. “I hope so.”

It seemed like the longest ride and yet when Finn parked in the emergency lot, he was shocked at how quickly they’d gotten there. Joining hands, they walked into the hospital together, a small part of Finn’s consciousness noticing that Ollie limped every few steps.

Thankfully, a small-town hospital meant a lot more attention and once Finn gave his information to the man at the desk, a nurse called his name within minutes. His hand stayed glued to Ollie’s as they followed her to the back of the emergency room and onto the elevators, where they went up a few floors before being ushered through the cardiac care unit.

Turning into the fourth room on the right, which ended up being an office, she gestured toward the doctor behind the desk before leaving, closing the door.

“Mr. Cooper, I’m Dr. Shoan.” He gestured toward the chairs in front and Finn and Ollie took them, hands still interlocked. Finn was sure that his palms were sweating, because everything else was, yet Ollie never let go. “I’ll get right to it. Your uncle is very fortunate. He collapsed at the grocery store but there was a paramedic in the shopping center so he got immediate help. Early tests show that he had a heart attack, and he’s conscious but not very alert. I have him out for more testing right now, to further confirm, and once he’s back in his room you can see him.”

Finn wanted to ask a question, ask anything, but the words heart attack kept looping in his brain, getting louder with each pass and drowning out all other thoughts.

“Thank you, Dr. Shoan.” Ollie’s words rang out, strong despite his earlier weakness, he must be running on adrenaline. That made two of them. “How are his chances? And what’s the treatment?”

“I don’t like to speculate but the fact that he arrived here quickly is a point in his favor. Treatment ranges from lifestyle changes and medication to surgery, depending on what I find in the results.” Dr. Shoan stopped, giving Ollie a once-over, but he only pursed his lips, waving one of his hands to the left. “There’s a waiting room at the end of the corridor. One of the nurses will get you when he’s done with testing. It won’t be too long.”

Why did the doctor sound like he was underwater? Did he say surgery? Finn blinked, shaking himself as Ollie tugged on his hand, watching him with concern. Clearing his throat, he managed to nod, and once he stood, his legs were surprisingly weak.

“It’ll be okay,” Ollie whispered as they found their way to the waiting room. At least it was empty, and their hands separated as Finn dropped down onto one of the couches, rubbing his face. He needed to get his shit together.

Ollie joined him, leaning his head on Finn’s shoulder.

“You don’t have your cushion,” Finn mumbled, realizing they’d forgotten it in their dash from the car.

“It’s fine. The doc’s chairs were awful but this couch is pretty soft, I’ll live. And so will Joe. I mean it, Finn, he’s gonna bounce back from this. People have heart attacks all the time.”

“And they die from them all the time.” Finn tilted his head into Ollie’s, the fabric of his hat rough against Finn’s cheek.

“Yeah, but that’s like, immediately. He’s in good hands now. In the hospital.”

“But-”

Without looking, Ollie placed a finger over Finn’s lips. “Just go with it. It’s hard being the optimist, that’s usually your job. Uncle Joe will be fine and I’m not accepting any other outcomes at this time.”

That brought a hint of a smile to Finn’s face. “You too. You’re going to be fine. I demand it.”

“You’re lucky,” Finn whispered, holding his uncle’s rough hand, calloused from years of plucking strings. “If you had that heart attack at home, alone?” He shifted in his seat, letting out a long breath. “I don’t know what I would’ve done.”

Standing next to him, Ollie rested a hand on Finn’s shoulder, holding a cup of water in the other that he slowly sipped from. He’d gotten some crackers from the vending machine but before he could open them, a different nurse had appeared, letting them know that Joe had come back from testing and was ready for visitors.

There were more tubes and machines than Finn had expected, making his uncle seem fragile in his large hospital bed. But being able to see him, touch him, and watch his breathing, gave Finn some comfort.

“I’m so glad you’re still here.” His eyes stung again. For someone who never cried, today he’d set a record. “And you need to give me at least twenty more years which means there’s no more arguing. You’re moving nearby. Or into my townhouse, I don’t care. And you’re not drinking anymore. And you’re gonna start using edibles. And eat better. And go for walks.” He’d repeat all this as many times as he had to once his uncledad woke up because he wasn’t taking no for an answer.

Ollie gave Finn’s shoulder a tiny squeeze. “Why don’t you two bond and…” He tried to be cute about it but his hands shook when he gestured between them. “And I’ll call my parents.”

“I can help if you need it.” Finn started to get up but Ollie waved him back into the chair.

“No, I have to do this myself.” Straightening his spine, he gave Finn a tight smile. “I’ll be in the waiting room.”

“Okay. Either text me or come back here when you’re done?” Reaching for Ollie, he placed a kiss on the underside of his wrist. “Good luck, Sunshine. Remember, they love you.”

“I know.” That peck earned him a real smile. It was soft and barely there but it fueled Finn as Ollie slipped out the door.

“I’m worried about him too, you know,” he stated in a hushed voice, knowing that somehow his uncle heard him. “He doesn’t see it but he’s amazing, like this bright golden sunlight that glitters through the trees on summer mornings. He’s upended my life completely and I couldn’t be more grateful. I didn’t know that being with someone could feel like this,” he sighed. “But he doesn’t love himself the way that I love him. And he’s so afraid. I wish I could do more-”

Finn froze as he realized that his uncle’s hand was moving.

“Uncle Joe?” Springing to his feet, Finn leaned over him, watching as his uncle’s eyes cracked open. He tried to say something, but with the oxygen mask, Finn couldn’t make it out. “It’s okay, I’m here. You’re gonna be fine.”

That seemed to appease Joe, who relaxed, slipping easily back to sleep. Even though it was only a few seconds, seeing his uncle conscious gave Finn some cautious relief, and he stayed for another twenty minutes before deciding to check on Ollie.

Exiting his uncle’s room, Finn headed toward the waiting area, and as he turned a corner he bumped right into someone.

“Oh, sorry.” Taking a few steps back, he looked up and his lizard brain took over, making him freeze.

Was this some kind of uncanny valley? A few inches taller, the man standing in front of him had thinning dark brown hair, a bushy beard, and Finn’s eyes.

“Who are you?” Finn’s voice echoed down the hallway as they stared at each other.

“Who are you?”he parroted back, spreading his arms wide like he expected a hug. “You don’t recognize me, son?”

Realization hit Finn like a bus, knocking him back a step. This day continued its descent into hell, dragging Finn along for the ride and leaving him with zero emotional bandwidth to deal with Ronald Cooper, his pushy absentee sperm donor. “What the fuck are you doing here? Did the hospital call you?”

Slowly, those arms dropped. “I’ve been trying to get in touch wi-”

“I know,” Finn snapped, “and I thought I made it clear that I don’t care. Answer the question.”

Tense silence reigned as they stared each other down until Ron heaved a sigh, acting like he’d been asked to spill a secret. “I used to be Joe’s emergency contact when you were young. I guess they called both of us but I was a couple of hours away. How is he?”

“Stable. He had a heart attack but he got here quick and is in good care. He’s sleeping now.” And Ron wasn’t allowed to see him. Finn didn’t care how long he’d driven; he could turn around and drive right back.

“Good.” Ron nodded, rocking back and forth on his heels in such a familiar way that Finn vowed to never do it again. “Listen, I-”

“I don’t want to hear anything you have to say,” Finn shot back, wishing he could split into two so he could simultaneously walk away and guard his uncle’s room.

Ron gave him an infuriating smirk. “Even if it’s about your siblings?”

“What are you talking about?” Hospital or not, if this was some kind of game, then Finn was going to knock his lights out.

Reaching into his pocket, Ron handed Finn an envelope. Although he was reluctant to take it, curiosity won out and he unfolded the paperwork inside, which showed lab results.

“I took one of those big DNA tests last year.” Ron’s chest puffed with pride. “You have a brother and a sister. I thought you should know.”

The following pages held their information. Finn stared at it, the logical comprehension there but the emotional counterpart still in line behind Uncle Joe and Ollie. Of course, he’d have to thoroughly vet Ron’s claims, but if they were true…

“Wow, so there’s a bunch of us you walked out on. Maybe we should get together and nominate you for Father of the Year,” Finn said flatly.

Rage bloomed in those similar eyes, replacing Ron’s misguided pride, and Finn wondered if he’d be the one taking a punch when a soft voice broke through the tension.

“Is everything okay?” Ollie appeared to Finn’s left, coming from the waiting room. Finn instantly moved to the side, blocking him from Ron, not wanting that man’s filthy energy anywhere near his Sunshine.

“Yeah, we’re done.” Finn’s sharp tone left no argument as he glanced over his shoulder, meeting Ollie’s curious gaze. “Things go all right?”

“Mmhmm.” Giving Finn a quick nod, Ollie peered around him, obviously seeing the resemblance because his eyebrows almost met his hairline. “Who is that?”

“I’m his father,” Ron tried. “Who are you?”

Finn could tell when Ollie put it together because he latched onto Finn’s hand and snorted, loudly. “No, you’re not. Finn’s father is in there.” He jerked a thumb toward Joe’s room. “And I’m his boyfriend.”

Shock washed across Ron’s face, followed by revulsion as he honed in on the protective way Finn stood and how Ollie clung to him. Sneering, he crossed his arms. “Boyfriend? Joe never mentioned that you were a fag.”

It took way too long for Finn to register the slur. He knew that homophobes existed but being randomly accosted by one who claimed to be his father at the end of the longest day ever made Finn wonder if he’d heard the words correctly.

However, Ollie heard them loud and clear, and for someone in serious condition, he moved fast. Before Finn could blink, Ollie was in Ron’s personal space, and it didn’t matter that he was at least seven inches shorter and a third of Ron’s size because in that moment he fully embraced his nickname, squaring up with the force of a thousand suns.

“Excuse the fuck out of me? Did you just call my boyfriend a fag? In the twenty-first century?” He pitched his voice so it carried and Finn’s eyes snapped to the end of the hallway, where several nurses leaned out of their station, looking toward them. “That’s hilarious coming from someone who decided that playing guitar in some shitty cover band was more important than raising his son. A kid who just lost his mom. You’re fucking pathetic. But you know what? You did him a favor because he was a hundred times better off with Joe than with you, a homophobic, washed-up loser who doesn’t know how to pull out-”

“How about you shut the fuck up and eat a sandwich?” Ron, who’d been shrinking away, decided to fight back with low-hanging fruit, and Finn saw red, curling his right hand into a fist, ready to uppercut the jerk into next week, but Ollie’s genuine laugh stopped him in his tracks.

“Really? Eat a fucking sandwich?” He dropped his voice, imitating Ron in the least flattering way. “That’s your comeback? That’s all you’ve got?” Ollie rolled his eyes, unimpressed. “At least I’m not a deadbeat.”

“Excuse me sirs, this is a hospital. Do I need to call security?” A wall of a man, clad in scrubs, ambled over to them.

“No, sorry about that. I was just taking out the trash.” Ollie stepped back toward Finn, who automatically wrapped arms around him. His emotions were jangled but love stood out in stark relief and he clung to it, grateful for this man, this tortured yet exquisite man, who stood up for Finn when he couldn’t and who was going to fight to stay by his side.

As Ron stared at them, the disgust in his gaze was palpable, even to the man watching them, who had clearly heard Ollie’s rant because he eyeballed Ron with a similar expression.

“Forget it,” Ron finally spat. “Waste of my time.” Turning on his heel, he strode away. After giving Finn and Ollie a once-over, the burly man decided to follow.

Turning in his hold, Ollie faced Finn. “Um, sorry about that, I probably overstepped but-”

“Are you kidding?” Gently placing his hands on either side of Ollie’s face, he kissed those chapped lips. “That was amazing, five stars, it’s going to live in my mind forever. Who’s the knight now?”

“Stahp.” Ollie blinked a few times as exhaustion seemed to catch up with him, and Finn gathered him close.

“Come on, let’s get you home.”

“What about-”

“He’s stable. The nurses and the doctor have my number. I know this is a crucial time but I’d feel a lot better if you went into treatment.” The next few weeks were going to be the hardest of Finn’s life but it was all worth it because he’d give anything to help those he loved.

“Okay. Um. Yeah.” Ollie looked back at Joe’s room. “Let me pop in there and say goodbye, and then we can go to my place?” He let out a long breath. “I need to pack.”