Page 92 of A Hard Sell

He looked a little embarrassed. “As a wedding gift.”

“No, that’s too much!” Finn insisted. “We wanted to take you out.”

“It is already done,” Dimitri interjected. “He snuck his card to me earlier.”

Finn and Rory thanked him profusely, while Thomas grew increasingly pink.

When they left, Dimitri hugged Rory and Finn again, and shook hands with Thomas and Luka. Dimitri’s other hand came to rest on Luka’s elbow. “You will be back again soon,n’est-ce que pas?”He held Luka’s gaze for longer than expected, giving him a soft smile.

“Definitely,” Luka replied. “Thank you for an amazing night.”

“Le plaisir était pour moi.” Dimitri waved without taking his eyes off Luka.

They strolled down the street after, Finn and Rory clinging to each other. Thomas and Luka followed behind, perhaps a little unsteady on their feet as well.

“I can’t tell if they’re drunk or I am,” Luka murmured.

Thomas took his arm. “Both, I think. I can hold you up.”

Luka leaned into him, brain and tongue thick. “Okay.”

When they got to the station, they parted ways with Finn and Rory, with many more hugs and congratulations and thank yous all around. The newlyweds waved through the window as their train pulled away. Luka’s train was next. Thomas and Luka walked over to a different platform, Luka still holding tight to his arm.

“That was a fun night,” Thomas said when they arrived and turned to face each other. “I’m so happy for them.”

“Me too,” Luka agreed. And he was, truly. But, there was no denying it… It hurt a whole fucking lot, seeing their happiness and knowing that wasn’t going to be the same for him and Thomas.

“Too bad the waiter was such a douche,” Thomas added.

“What?” A surprised laugh burst out of Luka. It echoed in the station. “You thought he was a douche?”

“Uh, yeah. ‘Coming home to such an outpouring of love’,” he said in his own terrible, exaggerated French accent.

Luka snorted and shook his head.

“What?”

“Nothing, I just thought…”

“Thought what?”

“That maybe you liked him.”

Thomas cranked one eyebrow up to an Olympic level of incredulity. “I did not like him. He sure liked you, though.”

“Yeah, he was flirting a bit… Is that why you were glaring at him? Are youjealous?” The idea was both maddening and appealing at the same time.

Thomas studied his feet. “Sorry. I know I’m ridiculous, and I have no right.” He rubbed his chin. “He seemed nice.”

“Yeah. Nice enough…” He stared at Thomas, willing him to look up.

Then he did. “Luka…” The next train arrived in a blast of warm, industrial air.

“Mmm?”

Thomas was staring at his lips. His heart skipped a beat.

Thomas leaned toward him, and for a heart-stopping second, he thought Thomas was going for his lips. But of course he wasn’t. His arms went around Luka in a careful hug. “Your train is here. Text me when you get home, okay?” The words vibrated in his chest.

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