Page 51 of A Hard Fit

“Neil took the good car, of course, that asshole. Doesn’t care that I have to get the kids around, too. And my car is a piece of shit, needs to go in the shop, so I can’t drive them to Oakport, but I could put them on a bus Wednesday and that way they—”

“You want to send themhere? Tome?”The kids hadn’t seen him for years now. He’d basically be a stranger to them.Who sends their kids on a bus to a person they don’t even know?

Rory’s brow pinched in concern.

“They need to get away from the chaos, Finn. They need a break. And I just need a few goddamn days to figure some shit out. I’ve been trying to pick up extra shifts, but we have a court date the Tuesday after and I’m drowning in all the legal BS.”

Finn’s jaw dropped. So she wanted a babysitter. “You…are unbelievable.”

She paused. “I thought you’d be happy to see your niece and nephew.”

Now Finn’s jaw clenched into a hard line, rage gathering in his chest. “Don’t you dare make this about guilting me, Liz.”

Her voice climbed. “I’m not trying to guilt you, Finn, for Christ’s sake, I—” She stopped. The distance between them yawned. “You know what? Forget it. I knew this was a bad idea. Happy Thanksgiving.” She hung up.

Finn put his phone down, limbs shaking.Once again, his fault.

Rory grasped Finn’s hands between theirs. “I’m sorry.”

Finn shook his head, thoughts a blur. “Don’t be sorry.”

“I’m proud of you for trying.” Rory climbed into Finn’s lap.

Finn wrapped them in his arms and held on tight, burying his nose in their neck. “She wanted me to have them here for Thanksgiving.”

“I heard.” Rory stroked his hair.

“I mean…I haven’t even seen them since I moved here! It’s absurd. They’rekids… I doubt Bryson would even remember me at all. And she’s going to put them on a bus to stay here? What the hell is wrong with her?”

“I know, babe,” Rory murmured. “It’s okay.” Finn’s scalp tingled under their fingers. “Just breathe.”

He inhaled deeply, centering himself in the weight and warmth and scent in his lap. Rory was an anchor and a lighthouse all at once, holding him down, lighting his way. His heart gradually calmed, and his next words came on an exhale. “I love you.”

There was no chance to hold them back, but he didn’t care.

Rory leaned away to meet Finn’s eyes. Theirs were wet, same as his. Rory brushed a tear off of Finn’s cheek. “I love you, too, Finn.”

Another tear fell. Finn stood and carried Rory into his bedroom.

Chapter Twelve

Thankful

Finn forced himself out of bed at five a.m. the next day. He had gotten way too used to lazy mornings snuggled under the blankets with Rory, and his workout schedule had suffered accordingly. It took a herculean effort to leave the warm, slumbering form next to him, but it was time to get back on track. He went for a run and did some lifting in his garage. When he got out of the shower almost two hours later, his hair dripped over pleasantly fatigued muscles.

Rory had his oatmeal waiting. Finn could not remember the last time someone had made him breakfast. He gave Rory a kiss and dug in.

“What should we make for Thanksgiving dinner?” Rory asked when they were finishing up.

Finn swallowed his last bite, admiring the subtle purple marks on Rory’s neck that his lips and teeth had left the night before. “Whatever you want, love.”

“You want to do a turkey?”

“Sure.”

“Okay.” Rory stood to take their plate to the dishwasher. “And what do you like with turkey?”

“Anything is fine.”

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