Page 23 of A Hard Fit

“She asked how you were doing.”

“For fuck’s sake, Liz. Why are you calling?” Finn realized his voice was growing louder. Probably enough that Rory could hear.

“Oh, I don’t know, because you’re my brother and maybe you should give a fuck about either of us?”

All Finn could do was laugh. “Excuse me if I’m not into being manipulated and lied to every time I talk to you.”

“Lied to? If that’s what you think—”

Finn hung up. He took a deep breath, eyes on a wave, trying to find a calmness in the rhythm. He took another breath with the next swell, then went to join Rory on the bench again.

“Are you okay?” Rory said after a pause, lying a gentle hand on Finn’s arm.

“Yeah.” His voice cracked. “Fine.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

His curls bounced as he shook his head. “My sister…” Another breath, in and out. “Do you get along with your siblings?”

Rory answered without hesitation. “Yes. They’re my best friends. Even when my brother can sometimes be a bit…”

“That’s great.” Finn studied his shorts.

Rory moved their hand to Finn’s. “I’m sorry you don’t have that.”

Finn looked up and met Rory’s eyes. The compassion he saw nearly broke his heart with its tenderness. “Thank you. I’m glad that you do.”

Rory squeezed. They sat for a minute. Finn looked at Rory’s hand on his and thought about stroking it with his thumb, then Rory pulled it away and straightened.

“Are you hungry?” they asked.

“Starving.”

About halfway back, they found a trendy brewery, the type with vaulted ceilings, rustic beams and large, communal tables.

They each got a flight of beers to sample, then Finn ordered a pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw and Rory got fried chicken with a salad.

“Tell me about your sister and brothers,” Finn said when the server left.

“All right.” Rory straightened the label on one of their samplers while they thought. “The oldest is Jackson. He’s a VP at the company now. He’ll take over when my parents retire. Griffin is younger than me and he does sales. He’s…still trying to figure his life out. The youngest is Bailey. She just finished college, and she recently transitioned.”

“Good for her,” Finn said.

“Yeah. I’m really proud of her.”

“Have you always gotten along so well with them?”

“Yeah… I mean, we scrapped a bit as kids. You know, dumb stuff like fighting over the TV or the last of the good cereal.”

Finn nodded, the lump in his throat coming back. Rory’s childhood was absolutely nothing like his. They had dollar-store cereal that was nowhere near as good, but that was the least of it.

Rory told him more about their family, but didn’t pry into Finn’s at all. The food was delicious, and they rode slowly back to Finn’s truck after, stomachs full. Finn loaded his bike into the back, then turned to face Rory. “Are you sure you don’t want a ride?”

“No, it’s okay. I’m so close.”

Then Rory was hugging him. They fit so snuggly right under Finn’s chin. Finn wrapped Rory in his arms, buried his nose in Rory’s hair, closed his eyes and let himself sink into it.

It was a long hug.

---