Page 28 of A Hard Sell

Luka took a deep breath, trying to get his heart under control.

“Wow,” Thomas murmured as he approached. “Your costume is…amazing.” He took off his sunglasses, his eyes sliding up and down Luka’s body.

Goosebumps prickled all over Luka’s skin. He laughed, cheeks flushing. “Do you have chills?”Or is it just me?

Understanding dawned on Thomas’ face in response to Luka’s hint, then he offered a tiny smile. “They’re multiplying.”

“Nice.” Luka grinned. “Tawney was supposed to be Danny, but she’s sick.”

“That’s too bad.”

“And you’re…a time-traveler?” Luka frowned and took the opportunity to study Thomas’ costume.Shit, apparently I have a thing for biker boys.

“I’ll give you another hint. ‘I need your clothes, your boots and your motorcycle’.”

“You’re the Terminator!”Explains why I’m dying.“Great costume!”

Thomas shrugged. “I had it in my closet.”

Holy fuck, that’shisjacket.“You have a motorcycle?” Luka resisted the urge to fan his face.

“Mmm. I take it out on weekends, mostly.”

Luka bobbed his head, speechless.

“So…” Thomas cleared his throat. “Are you and Tawney…?”

Luka waited, not sure what he was asking.

“…together?” Thomas finished.

“What? No! Oh…no, no, no. No. I am single…and very gay. No, she’s just my friend.” Luka shook his head emphatically as his mind replayed their conversation in the coffee shop.Couples costumes… ‘Tawney and I will make a day trip of it’… Fuck, I’m dumb.

“Oh. Okay. I wasn’t sure. Me too.” Thomas tucked his sunglasses into the inside pocket of his jacket.

Luka’s mind raced, but he couldn’t come up with anything to say better thanI already knew you were gay because Tawney and I were talking about you.So he bobbed his head. “Cool.” Then they stood there in excruciating silence until Finn swooped in, to the rescue once again.

“You crazy kids!” He clapped them on the shoulders. “Welcome! First question—why don’t you have a drink yet?”

Rory followed behind. “Danny and Sandy!” they exclaimed. “You guys look great!”

Luka and Thomas looked at each other in surprise.

“Holy shit,” Luka laughed, realizing that Thomas could in fact very easily be Danny. Something promising fluttered in his chest. “Actually, Tawney was supposed to be Danny, but she’s sick.”

“And I’m the Terminator,” Thomas added.

“Oh,” Rory chuckled. “That’s funny. You go together like rama-lama-lama.”

Luka’s heart thudded as they all laughed. “Yeah, I guess that works out for me, then. You two look great, too!” he said to Rory and Finn, changing the subject.

The patch on Rory’s flight suit said ‘Goose’ and Finn was ‘Maverick.’ They grinned at each other.

“I feel the need…” Finn began.

“The need…for speed!” Rory joined in. They high-fived each other, cackling.

“Adorable.” Luka shook his head and bit his tongue.

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