Page 60 of A Hard Fit

I think that’s a ‘Rich People’ bingo.Jesus.

Hadir had already cleared out, but a mouth-watering meal waited—roasted chicken with peppers and zucchini, sauteed mushrooms and a spinach and quinoa salad.

They were just beginning to serve themselves when there was a banging noise from down the hall. Finn jumped but no one else seemed alarmed.

“Griffin?” Lainey called. Her spoon paused over the mushrooms. “Is that you?”

There was more banging, then, “Mom?” someone called.

“In here, dear!” Lainey called. “It seems Griffin is back,” she said to the table, tone unreadable.

Finn steeled himself. The younger brother.

“Goddamn skateboard,” Griffin muttered as he stalked into the kitchen. “Bailey’s shit is everywhere in the mudroom. Could barely find room for my snowboard. Oh, hey,” he said, stopping abruptly at the sight of the elaborate dinner. “Sorry to interrupt.” Griffin looked a lot like Rory, but a little taller, more angular. Where Rory was delicate, Griffin was sharp. And he didn’t seem the tiniest bit sorry.

“Nonsense.” Lainey stood and went to kiss the interloper. “You’re not interrupting.”

“You kind of are,” Rory mumbled.

Griffin flipped a middle finger at Rory behind Lainey’s back, then noticed Finn.

“Griffin, this is my partner, Finn,” Rory said. “Finn, this is my brother, Griffin.”

“Nice to meet you,” Finn said, half standing and offering a hand to shake.

“You too,” Griffin said, ignoring the proffered hand and wandering over to rummage through the fridge.

“I thought you were getting home tomorrow, Griffin?” Lainey called.

Sorry, Rory mouthed at Finn.

Finn shook his head.It’s fine.

Griffin emerged from the fridge with a bottle of lager in hand. “I thought so too but Tristan had to come home a day early for some fucking reason, something about his kid’s gymnastics meet being changed.” He popped the top off and took a long swig.

“Language, please,” Lainey said.

“I’ve been up since five, Mom. Give me a break.” Another gulp. “Actually, do you guys mind if I crash here tonight?”

“Well, as I imagine your cab is long gone…” Jonathan said dryly, almost under his breath.

Rory snickered.

“Have you eaten, dear?” Lainey asked, giving her husband and other child a healthy dose of side eye.

“I had a few bites of some dry-ass roast on the plane…” Griffin looked pointedly at their spread.

“Get a plate and join us, won’t you?” Lainey patted the empty chair next to her. The table easily fit four chairs on each side.

“Mom…” Rory hissed while Griffin retrieved a plate from the cupboard.

She gave Rory a ‘well, what do you want me to do?’ shrug.

Griffin squinted at Finn as he sat. “Sorry, who are you?”

“This is my partner, Finn,” Rory repeated. “He’s just meeting Mom and Dad for the first time.”

“And I’ve crashed the party, haven’t I?” Griffin dug into the chicken, chuckling. “So how did you two meet?”

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