Page 20 of A Hard Fit

Luka scrambled out of the conference room again. Finn followed him. He was still rattled, Finn supposed. Could probably use a distraction.

“Oh, I didn’t tell you, Rory was looking at the data again from the last batch of Sartini surveys? They noticed that the favorables, if you break them down by age, are actually a whole different story…” Finn chattered away until they got back to Luka’s office. “Anyway, Rory said they weren't too worried about it, so I figure it will be fine.”

“Mmhmm. Are we going to talk about it?” Luka asked, leaning back in his chair with a smile.

Finn scratched his head and leaned against the doorframe. “Talk about what?”

Luka’s grin widened. “You want me to say it?”

His heart skipped a beat. “Don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.”

“Your undying love for Rory.”

Finn’s stomach shrank into a lump of granite. His face flamed. “I don’t… I—what…” he stammered.Oh shit.How did Luka know?

“I’m sorry, what now?” Luka cupped a hand around his ear. “You don’t…?” He was thoroughly amused.

“Fuck off,” Finn mumbled, fighting off an embarrassed smile. He pushed himself off the frame and marched out, eyes on the ground. Luka chuckled behind him.

Okay. So. Luka knew he was losing his shit for Rory. That was fine. Luka was his best friend. Finn could survive some gentle teasing. The concern was that other people might notice too. He had to get the lost shit back together.

Finn rounded a corner and almost crashed full-on into Rory. His hand slid onto Rory’s waist to steady them, then he quickly yanked it away when he realized what he was doing.

“Sorry,” Finn stammered as Rory apologized too.

“No, my fault. I wasn’t paying attention. Are you okay?”

“Totally fine.”Not fine.“You?”

“Oh, I’m fine too.” Rory smoothed their hair and looked up at Finn. Today there was a cuff ring over the helix of their ear with Greek meander lines on it. “What did Luka say?”

Finn’s heart tried to escape up his throat. “What?”

“The other meeting? With Thomas… Did Luka recover okay?”

“Oh. Yeah. Yeah, it was fine. He did good.” Finn took a deep breath, trying to calm his thrashing heart.

“That’s good.”

“Yup.”

Another awkward pause.

“Well, I’ll see you tomorrow morning, I guess?” Rory said, eyelashes fluttering at Finn.

Finn’s brain raced. Rory’s eyes were so warm, pools of cedar brown he wanted to soak in.Tomorrow morning…?

“When we meet with Ilona about Thrill Island?” Rory supplied in the silence.

“Right! Right. Ilona. Yes. I will see you tomorrow.”

“Okay. Have a good day, Finn.”

Finn nodded and continued down the hall. A sigh burst from his lips that might have been more like a groan.

Shit. Is. Lost.

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