Chapter 15 #2
A slow smile spread across her face, hesitant but real. “I’d like that.”
“Then it’s settled,” Ollie said, grinning back. “You’re hired as long as your dad’s cool with you working. First shift could be next Saturday, unless you’d rather start sooner.”
Brooklyn’s eyes sparkled with something like hope. “Saturday’s good. I’ll have to check with Dad, but…yeah. Thanks, Ollie.”
He probably should have checked with Finn first to make sure he wasn’t opposed to his daughter having a job. Ollie’d just been so excited when Brooklyn opened up to him a bit about what had been bothering her lately that he’d acted without thinking.
He shrugged, trying to play it cool even as relief and pride bloomed in his chest. “Anytime. Besides, every bookstore needs a resident sci-fi expert.”
Finn returned, holding up the next movie. “Ready for round two?”
“Ready,” Brooklyn said, glancing at Ollie, her smile lingering.
As they settled back into the living room, Finn paused by Ollie’s side. “What was that about?” he asked quietly.
“I might have offered Brooklyn a job at the bookstore,” Ollie admitted, wincing slightly. “I should have asked you first. Sorry.”
Instead of the hesitation Ollie expected, Finn’s face softened. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“I know. I wanted to.” Ollie met his gaze steadily.
He considered how much to share with Finn.
On the one hand, he had a right to know what was going on as her father, but on the other, Brooklyn had trusted Ollie enough to open up to him.
He didn’t want to betray that trust. He wanted to be someone she knew she could come to when she wasn’t ready to burden her dad.
“She’s smart, Finn. And she needs something that’s hers.
I’d been putting off suggesting to my parents that we hire someone after our part-timer left in August for college because of the money situation, but we need to get someone else in there. It seemed like a good fit.”
Finn studied him for a long moment, something unreadable flickering in his eyes. Then he nodded once, his hand finding Ollie’s wrist and squeezing briefly. “Thank you.”
The simple words carried more weight than either of them acknowledged. As they moved back to their seats, Ollie caught Brooklyn watching them, her expression thoughtful.
During the second movie, the space between them shrank.
Brooklyn sat at one end of the couch, with Finn in the middle and Ollie on the other side.
She leaned forward occasionally, passing candy across her dad to Ollie without prompting.
Finn settled deeper into the cushions, his shoulder warm against Ollie’s, their knees occasionally bumping when he reached for the popcorn bowl.
“This part’s the best,” Brooklyn whispered, eyes fixed on the screen. She glanced at Ollie, making sure he was paying attention, including him in the moment.
“It’s pretty good,” Ollie agreed. The smile they shared felt like a promise—tentative but real. For the first time all evening, he let himself believe he might actually fit here—not just as Finn’s boyfriend, but as someone Brooklyn could trust, even if it was just one movie night at a time.
When Brooklyn dozed off during the third movie, her head resting against Finn’s shoulder with her feet curled under her, Ollie felt a strange sense of belonging wash over him.
The soft blue glow of the television illuminated their faces in the darkened living room, and as Finn’s eyes met his, Ollie realized he didn’t feel like an intruder anymore.
“Stay,” Finn mouthed silently, the word both a question and an invitation.
Ollie nodded, something warm unfurling in his chest. “I’m not going anywhere,” he whispered back.
And for once, the promise felt easy to keep.
Later, after Finn had gently woken Brooklyn and sent her to bed, they stood in the kitchen, the house quiet around them. Finn leaned against the counter, watching as Ollie rinsed out the popcorn bowls.
“You didn’t have to clean up,” Finn said, but there was a softness in his voice that belied the protest.
Ollie shrugged, setting the last bowl in the dish rack. “Force of habit. My mom would disown me if I left a mess in someone else’s kitchen.”
Finn moved closer, his presence a warm weight at Ollie’s back. “Thank you. For tonight. For everything with Brooklyn.”
Ollie turned, finding himself caught between the sink and Finn’s body. “I didn’t do anything special.”
“You did,” Finn insisted, his voice low. “You saw her. Not just as my daughter, but as herself.”
The simple observation made Ollie’s chest tighten. “She’s a lot like you, you know.”
Finn’s eyebrows rose. “God help us all.”
Ollie laughed, the sound soft in the quiet kitchen. “I mean it. She’s thoughtful. Observant. Doesn’t waste words.” He reached up, adjusting his glasses. “And she cares. Deeply. Even when she pretends not to.”
Something shifted in Finn’s expression—a vulnerability that made him look younger somehow. He stepped closer, one hand coming up to cup Ollie’s cheek. “You’re something else, Oliver Jennings.”
“Is that a good thing?” Ollie asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
“The best thing,” Finn murmured, leaning in to kiss him. Ollie’s hands found Finn’s waist, anchoring himself as he melted into the kiss.
When they pulled apart, Finn’s forehead rested against Ollie’s, their breaths mingling in the small space between them. “I could get used to this. Family movie nights, taking you to bed, waking up next to you in the morning.”
Ollie nodded, something settling in his chest—a certainty he hadn’t felt in longer than he could remember. “Sounds pretty perfect to me.”
Ollie followed Finn down the dimly lit hallway, his heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and nervous energy. He stepped inside, his breath hitching as Finn closed the door behind them, the click of the latch echoing in the quiet room.
Finn turned to face him, his eyes dark with desire and a hint of uncertainty. Ollie reached up, cupping Finn’s cheek, his thumb brushing over the rough stubble.
“We’re going to have to be quiet,” he whispered, his voice steady despite the butterflies in his stomach. “Don’t want to traumatize Brooklyn if she overhears us. What did you have in mind for tonight?”
Finn’s hand covered Ollie’s, pressing it closer to his face. “I want more, Ollie. I want you.” His breath hitched, a nervous edge to his words. “I want to know what it feels like to bury my cock inside of you.”
Ollie smiled softly, his other hand coming up to mirror the first, framing Finn’s face. He could feel the slight tremble in Finn’s jaw, the warmth of his breath. “I like the sound of that. It’s been a while, and you’re not exactly small, so you’ll have to get me ready.”
He leaned in, pressing his lips to Finn’s in a slow, deep kiss.
Finn’s arms wrapped around him, pulling him closer, their bodies aligning in a way that felt both new and familiar.
Ollie felt the heat of Finn’s skin through his shirt, the solid strength of his body, and the hard press of his arousal against his own.
Finn’s desire was palpable, a desperate need that made his breath come quick and sharp.
Finn’s hands roamed over Ollie’s back, gripping him tightly as if afraid to let go. His lips parted, allowing Ollie’s tongue to explore, to taste the sweet-and-salty mix of popcorn and desire. Finn’s body was tense, his nerves evident in the way his muscles flexed and released under Ollie’s touch.
“Touch me, Finn,” Ollie whispered, guiding one of Finn’s hands to the hem of his sweater. Finn’s fingers brushed against the skin of his stomach, sending a shiver up Ollie’s spine. “Do whatever feels right. I promise I’m going to love it all.”
Finn wasted no time stripping Ollie’s sweater, tossing it to the side. His fingers traced the lines of his stomach, growing bolder with each passing second. Ollie felt the shift in Finn, tentative touches turning into a hungry need as he grew more confident.
Ollie gasped as Finn’s hand brushed against his nipple, the sensitive nub hardening under his touch. “That’s it,” he encouraged, his voice breathy with desire. He guided Finn’s free hand to his groin, curling their interwoven fingers around his shaft. “Feel what you do to me, Finn.”
Finn’s breath hitched, his eyes darkening with lust. “I want to feel all of you, Ollie. I want to see you.” His hand moved lower, his hands shaky as he undid Ollie’s belt.
He guided Ollie to the bed, their bodies tangling together as they fell onto the soft sheets. Ollie rolled on top of Finn, his hands braced on either side of Finn’s head as he looked down at him. Finn’s eyes were wide, his breath coming in quick gasps, and Ollie knew he needed to take the lead.
He leaned down, his lips finding Finn’s in a searing kiss.
Their tongues tangled, their breaths mingling as Ollie’s hands roamed over Finn’s body, mapping out every inch of him.
He felt Finn’s arousal, hard and insistent against his own, and he rocked his hips, drawing a groan from deep within Finn’s chest.
Ollie broke the kiss, his lips trailing down Finn’s neck, his teeth nipping at the sensitive skin. Finn’s hands gripped his hips, his fingers digging into the flesh as Ollie continued his exploration, his mouth moving lower, tasting and teasing.
“We’re overdressed.” When he reached Finn’s belt, he looked up, his eyes meeting Finn’s.
His breath hitched as Ollie slowly undid the buckle.
He took his time, his hands steady as he unbuttoned Finn’s jeans, his fingers tracing the line of his zipper.
Finn lifted his hips, helping Ollie as he pulled the jeans down, revealing the hard length of him.
Ollie’s mouth watered at the sight, his own arousal throbbing in response.
He scooted back up, his breath hot on Finn’s skin as he took him into his mouth. Finn’s hands fisted in the sheets, his body arching off the bed as Ollie worked him, his tongue and lips driving him closer and closer to the edge.