Chapter Thirty
Finn
Finn met Theo in the hotel lobby the next morning, both of them buzzing with the kind of energy that only came from a day dedicated to fun shopping. Theo had already pulled up a list on his phone titled Pride Parade Essentials, complete with emojis.
“Okay,” Theo said, linking his arm through Finn’s as they stepped outside. “We need outfits that scream queer joy but also say we didn’t try too hard.”
Finn laughed. “So… wigs?”
“Obviously wigs,” Theo said. “And makeup. And something rainbow. Preferably sparkly.”
They wandered through the Castro, ducking into a thrift shop that looked like it had been curated by a drag queen with a sense of humor. Finn held up a rainbow crop top.
Theo gasped. “You would look adorable in that.”
Finn grinned. “I would own up to my name, Rainbow Flirt.”
“But no flirting,” Theo said.
“Mr. Santos said I graduated to Rainbow Romance.”
Theo said, “Very cute.”
They ended up with two bags each—rainbow shorts, glitter eyeliner, a pink wig for Theo, and a soft pastel-blue one Finn wasn’t sure he could pull off but bought anyway because Theo insisted it matched his eyes.
By lunchtime, they were starving. Finn and Theo grabbed a table outside a deli, the kind with wobbly metal legs and a bright yellow umbrella that flapped every time the breeze rolled in from the bay.
The air carried a mix of toasted bread, sea salt, and the faint sweetness of someone’s iced coffee drifting by.
Cable cars clanged in the distance, their bells echoing off the steep streets.
“I love it here,” Finn said, unwrapping his turkey sandwich.
Theo took a huge bite of his roast beef. “Me too. I keep wondering what Charlottesville will be like.”
Finn shrugged. “Never been. But the food here is ridiculous.” He lifted his sandwich. “This is the best turkey I’ve ever had.”
Theo wiped his mouth with a napkin. “I called my mother last night. Told her I want to move to Virginia with a man.”
Finn put his sandwich down. “And?”
“She got upset at first,” Theo said, picking at the crust of his bread. “But she agreed to talk to my uncle. He’s the one paying for school. She said if I could get into another program, she’d move to Charlottesville too. But only if I stay in Charlottesville after my last year.”
Finn leaned back in his chair, watching a group of tourists pose in front of a mural splashed with neon colors. “So what happens if your uncle won’t pay for your last year in Virginia?”
“David told me not to stress about it.” Theo took another bite, talking around it. “He said if it comes to that, he’ll help me. But honestly, my uncle’s always been supportive. He bought my Pride Express tickets. He just wants me happy.”
Finn smiled. “I bet it all works out.”
A cable car rattled past them, tourists hanging off the side, cheering as it climbed the hill. The sun broke through the fog for a moment, lighting up the rainbow flags lining the street.
“Tomorrow’s going to be so much fun,” Finn said. “I can’t wait.”
Theo grinned. “Me too.”
They sat there for a moment, letting the city buzz around them—the chatter, the clanging bells, the smell of the ocean drifting in from somewhere beyond the buildings. It felt like the kind of day that stuck with you.
And Finn liked that.
Finn had just dipped a French fry into ketchup when his phone started ringing. He glanced at the screen. “Oh boy,” he muttered. “My parents.”
Theo perked up. “Put it on speaker. I want to hear what Danish parents sound like.”
Finn rolled his eyes but tapped the speaker anyway. “Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad.”
His mother’s voice came through first. “Hi, sweetheart! How are you doing?”
His dad chimed in. “Where are you? It sounds loud.”
Finn swallowed his bite. “Uh… I’m in San Francisco.”
There was a pause.
His mom said, “San Francisco? Did you take a trip alone?”
“Yeah,” Finn said, leaning back in his chair. “I went on a Pride Train. Cross-country. It was amazing.”
Theo gave him thumbs-up.
His dad sounded impressed. “We wondered why you hadn’t mentioned it to us, but I saw your Pride Train ticket and was waiting to hear, but nothing. I know we’re in Denmark, but we still want to keep up with your daily life.”
Finn hesitated for half a second, then decided to just say it. “I, um… met someone. A guy. And I’m thinking about moving in with him. He lives in Charlottesville, Virginia.”
Theo’s eyes widened as if he were watching a soap opera.
His mom gasped—but in a happy way. “Oh, honey, that’s wonderful!”
His dad added, “We’re proud of you. Really.”
Finn blinked. He hadn’t expected it to be that easy. “You are?”
“Of course,” his mom said. “But keep your apartment for six months. Just in case.”
Finn nearly dropped his sandwich. “Six months?”
“Yes,” his dad said. “We want you to feel secure while you figure things out.”
“What about a job?” his mother asked.
“Charlottesville is a big city, and I’ll find something I want.”
Theo mouthed, Whew.
Finn grinned. “Okay. Yeah. I can do that.”
His mom asked, “What’s his name?”
“Maurice Dubois,” Finn said, feeling warm just saying it. “He’s an attorney. Smart. Kind. Really steady and he’s so good to me.”
His dad hummed approvingly. “Sounds like a good man.”
“He is,” Finn said.
After a few more minutes of catching up, they said their goodbyes, and Finn hung up.
Theo leaned across the table. “Okay, that went way better than I expected.”
Finn laughed. “Same. I thought they’d freak out. I have a feeling they already knew.”
“How would they know?” Theo asked.
“My father said he saw my Pride Express ticket, and Mr. Santos said a Danish friend asked him to check on me.” Finn laughed. “So, I’m sure he told my father about Maurice. He must have said good things about him.”
“Your parents sound like good parents.”
“They are but way too overprotective. This is the first time in my life I’m alone without them. But you heard them. They’re still want to know everything.”
Theo stood, tossing his sandwich wrapper. “Alright. Now that your life is sorted, let’s go ride a trolley.”
Finn grabbed his bags and followed him toward the Powell Street turnaround, the sound of the cable car bell echoing through the street.
“Touring the city with wigs in our bags,” Finn said. “This is peak Pride energy.”
Theo grinned. “And we’re just getting started.”
After their ride, they walked a few blocks to the hotel.
“Do you want me to teach you how to make bracelets?” Finn asked.
“Yes, I love all yours.”
“Good, then we’ll go shopping for the materials while Maurice and David work and make bracelets.”
They took the elevator to their floor. Finn pushed open the door to the suite, juggling two shopping bags and a box of deli cookies Theo insisted he “absolutely needed for later.” The room was quiet except for the low murmur of voices.
Maurice and David were sitting at the small table by the window, laptops open, papers spread out like a miniature courtroom had exploded between them.
Maurice looked up first.
The second he saw Finn’s pastel-blue wig sticking out of one bag and rainbow fabric peeking from another, his eyebrows shot up in a way that was half surprised and half fond.
David grinned. “Oh good, the boys have returned.”
Finn held up a bag. “We went shopping for Pride outfits.”
Maurice leaned back in his chair, arms crossing over his chest in that relaxed way that always made Finn’s stomach flip. “Yeah? What’d you get?”
Finn pulled out the pastel-blue wig first.
Maurice blinked. “Is that… hair?”
Theo, who had followed Finn inside, answered for him. “It’s a look, Maurice.”
Finn laughed and set the wig on the bed. “We got outfits too. Rainbow shorts. Glitter eyeliner. Theo said I need to embrace my inner chaos.”
Maurice’s mouth twitched as if he were fighting a smile. “I like your outer chaos just fine.”
Finn felt his face warm. He set the bags down and walked over to him. “You’ll see the whole thing tomorrow.”
“Oh, I’m sure I will,” Maurice said, eyes softening.
Theo plopped onto the couch. “Finn also had a dramatic family phone call during lunch.”
Finn groaned. “It wasn’t dramatic.”
“It was very dramatic,” Theo insisted. “He told his parents he’s thinking of moving in with a new man.”
Maurice’s head snapped up so fast David actually laughed.
Finn held up his hands. “Okay, okay, let me explain.”
Maurice closed his laptop, giving Finn his full attention. “I’m listening.”
Finn sat on the edge of the bed, facing him. “My parents called. I told them about the Pride Train. And San Francisco. And… you.”
Maurice’s expression softened immediately. “Yeah?”
“Yeah,” Finn said. “I told them I’m thinking about moving in with you.” Maurice didn’t breathe for a second. His chest went still, his eyes widening just a fraction, the reaction hitting him before he masked it.
“And?” Maurice asked quietly.
“They were happy,” Finn said. “Really happy. They said I should keep my apartment for six months just in case.”
Maurice let out a breath that sounded like relief, and disbelief tangled together. “I’ll pay your rent.”
Finn nodded. “You don’t need to do that. They want me to feel secure while I figure things out.”
Maurice rubbed the back of his neck, looking down for a moment before meeting Finn’s eyes again. “And… you told them you want to figure things out with me?”
Finn smiled. “Yeah. I did.”
Maurice didn’t move toward him—not physically—but something in his expression shifted, like a door opening. Warm. Steady. A little overwhelmed in the best way.
“Well,” Maurice said, voice low, “that makes me really damn happy.”
David cleared his throat loudly. “Okay, I’m gonna pretend I didn’t hear any of that.”
Theo waved a hand. “Let them have their moment.”
Maurice shot them both a look. “You two can leave.”
David stood immediately. “Gladly.”
Theo grabbed his bags. “We’ll be in our room. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
Maurice muttered, “That doesn’t narrow it down.”
When the door finally shut behind them, Finn stood looking at Maurice.
Maurice stood, walked over, and cupped Finn’s cheek gently. “You really told them about me?”
Finn nodded. “I wanted to.”
Maurice leaned his forehead against Finn’s. “Good. Because I want you in my life. For real.”
Finn’s heart did a full somersault.
“Also,” Maurice added, pulling back just enough to smirk, “I can’t wait to see you in that wig.”
Finn laughed. “You’re gonna love it.”
Maurice kissed his forehead. “I already do.”