Page 114 of A Hard Fit

Griffin guffawed from the back of the pack. “Amazing.”

Rory grinned. “Time for you to go, Jackson.”

“Yes,” Bailey chimed in. “You are uninvited from my party.”

Jackson’s gaze darted from person to person and he was met with a wall of ice. “Fine, if you really… Let’s go, Amy.”

“Nah.” Amy raised her wine glass at him. “I’m not done.”

Jackon’s mouth flapped. “But you… But I… You know what? Fine. Fuck all of you.”He turned and stormed through the garage door, slamming it behind him.

“Suchan asshole.” Lainey sniffed. “I can’t believe he’s mine sometimes.” She turned to Finn. “Finn, please accept my apology on behalf of Jackson. We didn’t realize… I hope you understand that he does not speak for the rest of us, and we are so happy that Rory has found someone who clearly loves them as much as you do.”

“Thank you,” Finn said, choking up.

“Thanks, Mom,” Rory said. “I—”

“Rory Hayden Barrett!” Lainey rounded on them. “You gotengaged? And you didn’t tell us right away?”

“Er…”

She dove for Finn and Rory and squished them in a tight hug, then pulled away as quickly as she had attacked and held up a finger. “Bailey videos first, and then…then we’ll talk. Davis!” she called back down the hallway.

“Ma’am?” came the faint reply.

“Put some more champagne on ice!”

* * * *

“You’ll have to get married at the Cerulean,” Lainey said on their way up the stairs after the Bailey videos. “We can probably book there for next summer, if we hurry. And I’m sure Alice and Bently will be available for catering with this much notice. I wonder if Simone is still doing wedding flowers? Have you thought about colors yet?”

“Er, no,” Rory said.

Finn’s eyebrows crept higher and higher on his forehead as she spoke.

“No?” Lainey frowned. “What about a cake? Lemon? Almond?”

“Mom, I don’t know if we—”

“You know what would be terrific?” Lainey said. “We’ll do a four-piece string for the ceremony, of course, and some sort of band for the reception, but then we should have a jazz ensemble for the midnight champagne toast and refreshments.”

“Um…”

Lainey bustled over the sideboard to approve Davis’ champagne selection as he set outcrystal flutes, while the rest of the group filed into the living room behind them.

“I’m so excited for you!” Bailey said, sliding an arm around Rory then Finn to give them a squeeze. “Congratulations!”

“Thank you. I’m sorry we took over your birthday party though,” Rory said.

“Don’t be silly.” Bailey scoffed. “I’m thrilled.”

“Finn!” Griffin wrapped Finn in a bear-hug, lifting him right off his feet. “Fuck yeah!”

Finn’s cheeks flushed. “Thanks, Griffin.”

“Listen, if either of you need a best man”—Griffin straightened an imaginary bowtie—“I’m available. I have a tux.”

Finn laughed. “Good to know.”

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