27. Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Seven
O llie hadn’t been to visit his dad’s since he and Fin had made things official, but now that a few weeks had passed, it was finally time.
Time to introduce Fin to his family.
They’d been nervous as fuck all day, even if they’d never admit it. They showed it in other ways, like tying him up and claiming his ass with three different cocks, cracking more jokes than normal, and amping their bratting up to eleven.
Honestly, he understood the nerves. Ollie was glad he’d never met Fin’s family and wouldn’t.
After witnessing the result of a meeting—the black eye on Fin—he was pretty sure the sight of their father would make him violent.
However, Fin wasn’t just meeting Julian, who they already knew.
No, Fin would get introduced to the whole family en masse because Dad was hosting a shindig to celebrate Izzy’s new promotion.
And since the whole family would be in town, it felt like the perfect time to bring his new partner and introduce them to his family.
Fucking wild that when he’d been with his ex, he’d been fine with keeping his family at a distance. However, since then, he’d come to realize what support from the motley bunch of Hales meant. He’d also come to learn ways to open himself up that weren’t utterly terrifying.
And he had Fin to thank for that.
“Are you sure you don’t want to keep driving to a park so I can rail you under the stars?”
“Please don’t tell me you packed your cock to my family get-together.” Ollie clutched the steering wheel.
Fin cracked a grin as they sailed across the highway. “It’s like you don’t even know me. I’ve got my pack ’n’ play model on, so I’m always packing, sweetness.”
Ollie’s cheeks heated. The first time they’d been together, he’d gotten to enjoy that model well.
Such an unforgettable fuck. And the sex kept getting better.
But even more than that, even in the short few weeks since they’d made things official, any remaining tension of wondering where he stood with Fin had vanished.
“Right, like I need to be thinking of that when we’re visiting my family.” Ollie rolled his eyes.
Fin grabbed their junk and squeezed. “Not my fault your brain’s always on my cock. Don’t worry. If I survive tonight, I’ll dick you down real good. You’re coming home with me, right?”
Home. The word was so simple, and yet it meant everything to Ollie.
The moment Fin had started letting him in, the floodgates opened.
All this affection, care, and neediness they’d clearly been holding back for years.
They were independent as fuck and didn’t hesitate to keep their own interests, but they always invited him into them too.
He chose to pass on the board game nights, the same as they passed on his football games.
“Yeah,” he said. “I’m crashing with you tonight. I left my phone charger at your place anyway.”
He pretty much lived in his apartment in name only, but he was fine taking this at whatever pace Fin needed to. Though truth be told, if they asked, he’d move in ASAP.
Ollie pulled behind one of the many cars littering the street that belonged to his siblings. Now that they were older and a fair amount of them dating, family gatherings became huge with minimal effort.
“How many fucking kids are in your family?” Fin asked, their eyes bugging out.
“I’m one of five.” Ollie turned the ignition off.
“Jules you know, and he’ll bring Cal and Kay, but Izzy will be the focus tonight, and she’s dating a guy…
Steve, I think? And Luke’s the middle child, though I don’t know if he’s bringing anyone.
And Ames is closest in age to me, currently single. And that leaves us.”
“You know this shit is alien to an only child with a Garbage Patch family, right?” Fin scrubbed at their arms. “I’m going to overstep somewhere or blurt out something inappropriate. It’s my default.”
Their nerves broadcasted loud and clear, and seeing them like this was…
well, it was damn cute, but Ollie valued his life, so he’d never say that out loud.
He rested his hand on their thigh. “Remember, you’re dating the fuckup rebel kid of the family, so anything you do or say won’t be as bad as the shit I’ve pulled. ”
“No wonder we get along.” Fin nipped at his earlobe. “Thanks, sweetness. Let’s head on in. ”
Like a switch had flipped, Fin broadcasted the bluster they normally did rolling through life. The only difference? Ollie could tell it was a mantle they wore. He’d seen enough of the real deal to know.
He slipped out of the car, and the crisp air smacked him in the face.
Nights here were cooler, which was welcome with the amount he tended to sweat.
He walked up the familiar steps to his dad’s house.
It hadn’t been that long since he lived here, but in that short while, he’d noticed all the details.
Somehow, in his time apart, this place had changed, just like he had.
Dad had taken over more space, something he’d never been able to before, and set up a workshop for carpentry projects.
The cracked pavers on the walkway had been repaired, and the house had been powerwashed after years and years of going untouched.
Since his five kids had moved out, Dad could breathe again.
The twinge of nostalgia socked him in the chest as he approached the front door.
Fin matched his stride, showing no fear.
Pride thrummed through his chest. He’d dated in high school occasionally, but they were short relationships, never ones worth braving the Hale family chaos.
And then he’d dated Asher for a year, but something had held him back.
Maybe all that time, he hadn’t been ready for his family to view him differently.
He was so used to being the youngest, the fuckup, the one causing problems that he hadn’t been prepared for them to see this side of him.
A guy who worked a career he loved with a steady paycheck.
A guy who’d figured out a hell of a lot more of who he was, even past his new labels of queer kinkster.
A guy who could reach out for help because he believed others wanted to give it rather than think the worst.
And being with Fin had helped him get there. He reached down and offered them a hand, and they took it without hesitation .
Ollie pushed the door open, and the familiar wall of noise greeted him. Even when a gathering was just the family, they all tended to get loud.
A kid’s shriek echoed, and a small, Kay-sized blur almost raced by them, but she skidded to a halt.
“Uncle Ollie,” she screeched, then launched herself right at him, all brown hair in pigtails and perpetually sticky fingers.
He scooped her up with one arm and gave her a squeeze, his other hand entangled with Fin’s. “Hey, kiddo.” She was five, so not as easy to toss around as when she’d first come into their lives, but she only got cleverer and more mischievous with each year. He loved it.
“Who’s that?” Kay asked, staring at Fin.
“This is Fin—”
“I’m your uncle Ollie’s partner,” they said. “Who’re you?”
“I’m five.” She held up all five fingers. Ollie plunked her down. “I’m gonna be in kindergarten this year, and I’m going to ride a bus.”
Ollie’s chest squeezed tight. Damn, this kid was adorable.
“Who arrived?” Julian’s voice sounded. His oldest brother swept in, dressed to kill with his chestnut locks pulled back, a light blue blouse, and matching nails.
Julian’s gaze settled on him and Fin and where their hands were entangled, and a soft smile reached his lips.
Unmistakable pride beamed in his expression, the sort that made Ollie’s throat squeeze.
It wasn’t that Jules had thought he needed to be partnered up to be happy, but Jules had seen him through all his worsts.
And at the end of the day, the big brother who had raised him had just wanted him happy.
Ollie definitely was—more than he’d ever believed he could be .
“Glad to see both of you.” Julian wrapped him in a hug, and Ollie let go of Fin’s hand. This would keep happening until they got through greeting the whole crew. He hugged Julian back.
“Is everyone here?” Ollie asked, ignoring the way his eyes stung.
“Yeah, they’re in the kitchen attacking Luke’s buffalo chicken dip.” Jules pulled back. “Good luck getting some.” He turned to Fin and opened his arms. “Never thought I’d see you at one of these, but I’m so damn happy you’re here. Welcome to the family.”
Fin stepped into the offered hug, and the sight on their face struck Ollie square in the chest. Fin blinked rapidly, a bit of utter shock to them, as if they’d expected to get grilled rather than welcomed in. Fin hugged Julian hard.
“Thanks, man,” they said, their voice hoarse.
Ollie’s chest squeezed tight, his heart outside of his chest. It belonged to Fin. Truthfully, it had the moment they’d met.
Jules let Fin go and flashed Ollie a grin. “Go take them to meet the rest of the family. I’ll get Kay-bee.”
Cal stepped in, looking in both directions for his daughter. His smile reached his warm eyes. “Thank fuck, someone I already know who I can weather the chaos with.”
Fin snorted. “Have you met me?”
Ollie shook his head. “Not wrong. You open the door for the chaos and feed it shots of whiskey.”
“Do I finally get to meet your partner?” Ames stomped in, all but shoving Cal out of the way. They could go months without talking and always be close, just because of the connection they’d shared growing up. He’d been wondering what Ames would think of Fin, although he wasn’t really nervous.
“No, I’m a figment of your imagination,” Fin said in a deadpan voice.
“You’re dating another you?” She scrunched her nose as she looked between them.
Fin barked out a laugh. “Ollie’s far too sweet to be another me.”
Ames lifted her brows. “Sweet? Oliver Hale?”
Fin’s grin grew wicked. “Just a schmoopy little sweetheart, aren’t you, baby cakes?”
Ollie snorted and lifted his middle finger. “Thanks, asshole.” If their brat energy was starting to make an appearance, they were doing fine.
Ames cackled, and as if that was a signal to his siblings, Luke walked in next.
“Shit, Ollie, are you going to drop a bomb on us every time we see you?” He glanced between him and Fin.
“Next time it’ll be a Prince Albert,” Fin said.
Luke’s eyes widened, and a second later, he laughed. “Okay, so you’re clearly fearless. And this is your first time meeting all of us?”
Ollie’s heart thumped hard. Fin appeared that way—utterly fearless, just a complete chaos goblin.
However, he’d seen the truth behind their facade from the moment they met.
Fin wasn’t fearless, and they’d been dealt a shit hand, but they were a fighter. And he was prouder of them with every day that they embraced their relationship.
Ames squeezed him tight. “I’m so glad you brought…wait, what are your pronouns, Fin?”
“They/them,” they said, their gaze softening. “Thanks for asking, babe.”
Ollie knocked Fin in the shoulder. “Nuh-uh, with the ‘babe’ and smooth-talking. Hands off my sister. ”
“Maybe I’ll come out as queer at the next family gathering and get myself a hot partner,” Ames said with a sniff.
Fin’s expression was pure mischief. “See, she thinks I’m hot.”
“Because you are.” Ollie nudged them in the side. “But you’ve already got an overinflated ego, which doesn’t need more expanding.”
“Come on into the kitchen before the dip’s gone.” Luke clapped a hand on his shoulder and gave a forceful nudge. “Plus, Izzy’s arguing with her boyfriend, and I’m pretty sure they’re going to break up tonight, which is all sorts of awks.”
“Want me to add fuel to the fire?” Fin asked. “I could pretend to be a long-lost lover.”
“That’d be a no.” He grabbed their hand and dragged them toward the kitchen. “You’ve only met Izzy once, but if she’s fired up, she gets stabby.”
True to what Luke had said, the moment they stepped into the kitchen, they caught Izzy in a whisper-hiss argument with her boyfriend. The energy between them was hostile at minimum. Dad bustled around at the stove, ignoring what was going on.
“What’re you making?” Ollie asked.
“Potato soup,” Dad said. “Jules brought a bunch of other sides as well, but this is almost done.” He set the stirring spoon down, wiped his hands on his beat-up jeans, and faced him. “C’mere.”
Ollie crushed his dad into a bear hug. He’d never known the father pre-Mom’s death, the one who wasn’t always a little weary or frayed around the edges, but he saw more of him now.
Raising five kids while working around the clock couldn’t have been easy, but Julian and Izzy had stepped up to help as best they could.
His heart thrummed a little faster as Dad’s gaze switched to Fin.
“This is my partner, Fin,” he said .
Dad’s eyes crinkled at the edges. “You’re the one who wore down Ollie? Good job.”
Fin’s eyes widened, and a small smile emerged on their face.
Dad stepped away from him and opened his arms. “This is a family of huggers, if you’re comfortable.”
Fin walked in, and Dad crushed them in another of his fierce hugs. Fin’s lower lip wobbled for a second, and Ollie’s heart thumped hard. This had to be difficult for them.
“Let’s go throw our jackets into the living room before we get mobbed by the rest of the family.” Ollie wrapped an arm around Fin’s shoulder and swept them in that direction.
They made it to the other room, which was blessedly free from siblings. At least for the next few seconds.
“You okay?” he asked.
Fin nodded and speared fingers through their hair. “Dunno what I was bracing for. Maybe a few more plates thrown? Some slurs tossed around? Shit, no one’s even been sucker-punched.”
Ollie wanted to pull them in his arms, their pain rife in the air, but he waited.
They glanced up at him and rested a hand on his hip. “Thanks for bringing me here. I thought family was this terrifying thing, and I’d been bracing myself ever since you brought it up. But the energy here? It’s familiar.”
Ollie grinned. “It’s what you have with the crew at Whipped.”
“Damn right.” They sucked in a shaky breath. “Now, let’s go back so I can hit on your dad next.”
“You’re such a shit.” He smiled so hard his cheeks hurt.
“True, but you love me.” They winked and walked back to the kitchen.
Ollie had never heard a truer statement in his life.