“Ollie?” Finn looked down at that pinched angular face, unease spreading through his chest. He’d thought about fear a lot after their conversation a few months ago, even acknowledging his own fears - like losing his uncle and being alone for the rest of his life - but right now he also feared for the man he held gently in his arms.
“Mason!” Finn shouted. “Mason!”It took several more calls until Mason finally peered out of the basement door with a frown on his face and a camera in his hands.
“What?” His eyes swept over Ollie lying prone in Finn’s arms but his expression didn’t change at all.
“Ollie fainted! Can you call an ambulance?”
“What did you do to him?” Mason tilted his head a millimeter to the right.
“Nothing! I said hi and I think I scared him.” Finn looked down, straightened Ollie’s headband, and then smoothed the hair back from his head. His curls were still slightly damp from his run.
“Is he breathing? Bleeding?”
“He’s breathing fine, I think, and no, he’s not bleeding.”
“Don’t call an ambulance. It’ll cause problems. He’ll be fine.” Mason shrugged, which seemed to be his default reaction to everything, and snapped a photo.
“Did you just take a picture of us? What the hell is wrong with you?” Finn shouted as he stood, easily bringing Ollie with him and holding him in his arms, bridal style; he was lighter than Finn had expected. “Don’t you have any compassion? He needs help.”
“According to my family, I lack in that department.” Mason turned to descend, reaching back and closing the door behind him.
“Asshole,” Finn muttered, looking down at Ollie, who was beginning to stir. His eyebrows furrowed, wrinkles appearing on his forehead as he turned his head to the side, snuggling into Finn’s chest. That small movement caused something fierce and protective to awaken inside of Finn, obliterating his loneliness once again, and the sensation was so strong that, without thinking, he pressed his lips to Ollie’s temple, whispering. “Don’t be afraid. I’m here now.”
3
OLLIE
Therewassomethingcoldon Ollie’s brow; it served as a beacon, pulling him out of the dark water he’d been floating in and bringing him closer to consciousness. He must be in bed, for the soft mattress underneath felt good, but he couldn’t remember falling asleep and anxiety churned in his stomach, nagging him, telling him that something was wrong.
Out of habit, he ran his hands over his hip bones, which he did every morning before he opened his eyes, and a wave of relief washed through him when he found that they were still quite prominent.
The refreshing sensation on his forehead disappeared but came right back, and as Ollie drifted toward reality, he realized that it wasn’t morning and someone was dabbing at his face with a washcloth.
“Biz?” he mumbled, for his sister always played nursemaid when he was sick.
“Who?” The voice was familiar yet not; however, Ollie’s lizard brain must have recognized it because his gut twisted even further and adrenaline shot through his system, snapping his eyes open. Blinking a few times at the onslaught of light he tried not to gasp as his vision cleared and he found Finn staring down at him.
It all came rushing back. The foyer, Ollie thinking that he was hallucinating, Finn touching his arm. But what happened after that?
“Hey, Sunshine. Glad to see you’re among the living again.” Finn gave him a gentle smile.
“Wh-What happened? Why am I in bed?” Ollie looked around. The half-unpacked room was exactly as he’d left it before his run; in fact, he was still in his gross workout clothes. Great. Not only was Finn seeing him sweaty and practically bare-faced, but he also got to witness Ollie’s just-moved-in messiness. What a great way to make a second impression.
“You passed out.”
”Iwhat?” Ollie sat up, and a washcloth fell from his forehead to his lap as he shuffled back, leaning against the headboard. The motion left him a little dizzy, verifying the truth of Finn’s statement. To be fair, he had been lightheaded over the last few days, ever since he’d reduced his calorie limit a tiny bit more, but he’d adapt.
“I touched you and you fainted.” Finn picked up the washcloth, putting it aside. “So, I carried you up here.”
“Youcarriedme?” Ollie wanted to dive under the covers and never come out.
“Yes, no thanks to Mason. It’s like he’s allergic to helping people.” A sour expression ghosted across Finn’s face but it was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by earnestness. “I’m glad you woke up so fast. Another few minutes and I was going to call an ambulance.”
“Oh my god.” Ollie put a hand to his head, trying to process, relieved that he’d come to when he did because sirens and drama would have pissed Mason off. “Hold on.” Ollie dropped his hand. “Mason saw me pass out? You know his name? How do you know him? Wait.” The questions piled up so Ollie cut through them, holding up a finger. “Start at the beginning. How are you evenhere,Finnegan?”
“My name’s not Finnegan. Just Finn.”
“Okay,JustFinn.Justanswer me.”
