Page 128 of Clean Finish

I chuckled. “No, they’re not.”

He waved a hand. “Moreso than werewolves.”

“I think Larkin’s parents are hippies though,” I added. “Did you see his mom at the diner the other weekend?”

“Hard to miss the fae goddess with bright pink hair gliding over to talk to you.”

“Yeah. I think she knows how much I… care about him.”

Ludo glanced over as he opened his locker. “That’s not a bad thing.”

“No, I know, it’s just…” I pursed my lips. “I don’t want to freak Larkin out. If he thinks I’m… getting too serious too quickly.”

“You can’t worry about stuff like that, man.” Ludo grabbed his towel and turned to face me. “Don’t overthink it. Just enjoy it.”

“Yeah.”

He was right. I wasn’t going to let myself start worrying when I was this blissfully happy. I knew it wouldn’t always be quite like this—the sharp desperation to spend every second together, the overwhelming, insatiable need for each other, the excitement of doing things for the first time as a couple. But I was excited for the stuff that would come after too. The bone-deep familiarity and comfort. Knowing him inside and out—every single part of him, all his worries and fears and secret hopes—and having him know me that well too. The quiet evenings doing nothing and the routines and the boring chores we would do together.

I couldn’t wait for all of that. I just wanted him by my side in life—in all parts of it. The good and the bad.

After showering, I got dressed in jeans and a nice charcoal grey cashmere sweater, wanting to make a good impression. As I sat down on the bench to pull on my boots, I sent Larkin a quick text to let him know I was on my way.

“Good luck, man.” Ludo swung his gym bag onto his shoulder. “See you at work.”

“Thanks. See you later.”

I was climbing into my car when my phone vibrated with a text. Larkin had replied.

Okay :D :D my parents have gone overboard with the food, so I hope you’re hungry.

I smiled, quickly typing that yes, I was, then started the car. On the way to Larkin’s, I stopped briefly at a florist to buy his mom some flowers. It just seemed like a good idea. Seeing that they also sold honey from a local apiarist—whose name on the label hinted at them being fae—I bought a jar for his dad.

I was getting a little stressed as I turned onto the suburban street Larkin’s family lived on. This felt really, really important, and I wasn’t great at talking to people I didn’t know. Plus, Larkin’s younger brother, Nolan, would be there. I had no fucking idea how to talk to seventeen-year-olds, and I was pretty sure that attempting to relate to him would just make me look like a sad old man.

Hopefully he’d just be moody and silent like I assumed all teenagers still were, and hopefully Larkin would talk enough for the both of us, like he usually did. Some of the nerves quieted, an affectionate smile curving my mouth as I pulled over to park.

The Fairchild house was wood clad and painted a pale yellow, with honeysuckle growing from trellising expertly fixed to the front. The front yard teemed with flowering plants, and there were at least three windchimes hanging from the porch, tinkling discordantly in the light breeze.

I tried not to fiddle too much with my sweater and hair after knocking on the front door. I was sweating a little, but the moment the door opened and Larkin appeared in front of me, my face relaxed into a grin.

“Hey.” He grinned back, stepping out to wrap his arms around my neck and lean up to kiss me. I moved the flowers out of the way so they wouldn’t get crushed and reluctantly kept the kiss chaste since we were on his parents’ front porch.

He stepped back and fidgeted restlessly, eyes darting down my frame before returning to mine as he flushed. “You look really handsome.”

I smiled. “Thanks. So do you.”

He was in pale jeans and a lavender T-shirt with an oversized grey cardigan over the top. At the compliment, he flushed a darker pink—seeing as he was in his human form to open the door—and tucked his long fingers into the sleeves.

“Um, want to come in? Sorry.” He laughed, taking my empty hand and leading me inside. “You didn’t have to bring flowers,” he whispered, “but my mom will love them.”

I cleared my throat nervously. “I hope so.”

“I’ve obv never brought a boyfriend home before, so they’re just really excited.” He sounded a little embarrassed. “Sorry in advance. Especially for my dad. He’s a total dork.”

It seemed a little ridiculous considering the heartfelt conversation we’d had in the arena at work, but my throat closed up at the word ‘boyfriend.’ I clutched Larkin’s hand tighter, letting him lead me into a big, open-plan kitchen and living area that stretched from the front to the back of the house. The two spaces were separated only by a wooden archway with stained-glass panes around its edge, the sunlight streaming in through the windows casting diamonds of pink and green and yellow onto the dark floorboards.

There was a kid who looked a bit like Larkin sprawled idly on the couch, face in his phone, except his hair was short and spiky and pale purple. He glanced up, his light green eyes widening in excitement before he hastily tempered his reaction and jerked his chin up in a nod.