Page 34 of A Hard Fit

Ilona sighed, tapping her nails on the table. “Anything yet?”

Finn checked his email again. “Nothing.”

Finn and Rory were waiting with Ilona in the conference room Monday morning for Markos Palamarou, the owner of Thrill Island, to arrive. He was twenty minutes late.

Ilona stood, smoothing her skirt. “Text me if you hear from him.” She clacked out and the door thumped shut behind her.

Rory stretched in their chair, long and lazy, neck a pale expanse of skin, a pure—

“How was the rest of your weekend?” they asked.

Finn jumped.Fuck. He fluttered his hands over the sketches, ensuring they were laid out with parallel edges, for the fourth time, at least. “Fine,” he said. “Slept off all those beers Saturday morning.” It had been a blurry train ride home. He remembered the games of pool though, remembered their handshake at the end. “Did some yard cleanup, painted, hit the gym. The usual. You?”

“It was my niece’s birthday party on Saturday. It was pretty fun—cake, piñata, a clown making balloon animals. You know, that whole thing.”

Finn didn’t really know. A hollow spot in his chest gave a twinge. “Sounds fun.”

“Yeah, it was. My niece is a cutie. She just turned four. You want to see some pictures?”

“Sure.”

Finn leaned over to see Rory’s phone as they scrolled. A smiling newly four-year-old with curly brown hair with a streak of vanilla icing on her cheek. The same girl swinging at a cupcake piñata, this time with a streak of determination. Then in Rory’s arms, both in ridiculous balloon hats, laughing at each other, faces alight with joy. Finn breathed out, trying not to let the hollow spot get bigger. “What’s her name?”

“Minnie.”

“She is a cutie.”

“Yeah.” Rory smiled softly at their screen, then tucked their phone away. “Anyway, Sunday I sat around in my pajamas all day binging the first season ofGodstrike. Have you seen it?”

Finn shook his head. “Never heard of it.”

“Oh, youhaveto watch it.” Rory leaned forward, eyes shining. “It’s super cheesy but so fun. There’s these gods, right, like a Mount Olympus-type situation, waging war, messing with mortals, doing all the normal god stuff, but also most of them are queer and it’s like a soap opera, with all the drama and sleeping around and so on.” Rory laughed at the skeptical expression on Finn’s face and reached over to touch his arm. “Trust me! Give it a try, then we can talk about it after.”

Finn looked at Rory’s hand pressed to his bare skin, and noted the goosebumps rise as Rory pulled their hand away.Yup. Watching it.“Sure, I’ll check it out.”

“Yay! You’re going to love it.”

“If it’s shit, though, you owe me.”

Rory’s eyes crinkled. “Deal.”

The door clicked open and Ilona came back in, leading a man who could only be described as ‘large’—tall and thick, huge forearms, ample belly, wide nose, with a thick cul-de-sac of black hair and matching beard. Finn and Rory stood to greet him.

“Mr. Palamarou, this is Finn Owens and Rory Barrett.”

“Finn, Rory!” Markos pumped their arms like he was trying to put out a fire. “So great to meet you in person.”

“Likewise, Mr. Palamarou,” Finn said, glad when he got his hand back.

“Please, please, call me Markos. I don’t like titles.” He pulled out a chair and got himself comfortable, gaze darting around the room. “So sorry I’m late! I wish I had a better reason. Sometimes I lose track of time. I was fixing a leak—that damn boat ride, I tell you.”

“It’s no problem,” Ilona said smoothly. “Thank you so much for coming to meet us.”

“I can’t wait to see what you’ve come up with!” The big man clapped his hands together and rubbed them with anticipation. “Let’s have it!”

* * * *

The meeting could not have gone better. Markos loved the heist angle, and chortled at the redesigned ride names. “You want to keep the boat ride, do you?” he said with distaste.

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