23
“This is Gavin’s house?” Finn asked as they pulled up, through the gates that Nolan had needed to wave a keycard at to get past.
Finn had assumed it led into one of those gated communities where people built their miniature mansions and had two-point-five kids and a dog, but no. No, this whole place was Gavin’s.
“They didn’t put him on the thirty-under-thirty list for nothing,” Nolan shrugged. “He’s earned this. He’s worth millions.”
“Five thousand dollars was pocket change to him, huh?”
“Oh yeah,” Nolan said.
“Wow. He overpaid, too. I woulda gone on a date with you for five hundred,” Finn teased.
“You’re supposed to say for free,” Nolan responded, pulling up to what Finn imagined was his usual spot.
“Not when it’s Gavin’s money,” Finn joked, looking over at the house, and then back at his faded sanctuary t-shirt. “I feel underdressed.”
“You’re fine,” Nolan said, climbing out of the car and leaving Finn to scramble after him. He was wearing old jeans and the Pikachu t-shirt he’d told Finn he planned to wear to their first date, so at least they were both underdressed if Finn was.
Finn jogged a few paces to catch up with Nolan, falling into step at his shoulder. “I can fake a headache ten minutes in if you want,” Finn said. “Obviously, you’d have to take your poor ailing boyfriend home.”
“It’s fine.” Nolan looked up at the house and sighed. “This way I get a chance to show you off.”
“Well, if you change your mind, let me know. I’m happy to be your excuse to get out of an awkward situation.”
“It’ll be fine,” Nolan assured, though Finn wasn’t sure who he was trying to convince.
Finn stopped, waiting for Nolan to notice and then smiling his warmest at him when he finally did, turning around with a confused frown. “Hey. C’mere.”
Nolan closed the distance between them in two strides, standing six inches from Finn’s chest.
Stomach swooping, Finn leaned in to kiss him, tilting his chin up with just the knuckle of his index finger. He kept it soft and light, not a tease or a promise or anything but a kiss for the sake of kissing Nolan.
The way Nolan’s lips just barely parted under his made his heart swell to the point of being painful, a wave of affection washing over him and leaving him light-headed.
Damn.
He could have been with Nolan. He could have done this all the time, whenever he was worried or nervous. Could have held him and kissed him and promised that everything would be okay for as long as Nolan would have him.
Now wasn’t exactly the time to say so, but the thought would keep. The feeling didn’t seem like it was about to go away.
For the first time in Finn’s life, he had someone he could really imagine sharing a life with. That was worth handling with care.
“Come on,” he murmured, taking Nolan’s hand. “And try to breathe every now and again. It’s just a birthday party.”
“You say that now,” Nolan retorted, but there was a tiny smile playing around the corners of his lips. “You haven’t been to one of Gavin’s birthday parties before.”
Finn laughed at that, tugging on Nolan’s hand to lead him toward the house. It couldn’t be that bad, but there’d be a reward for him once they were back at his apartment all the same.
After all, Finn had to keep his boyfriend happy.