Page 86 of A Hard Fit

“Of course I’m right. Have I ever steered you wrong?”

“Well, there was the time—”

“Besides that time!” Luka huffed before Finn could finish his sentence.

Finn grinned. “Thanks, Luka.”

“You are welcome, as always.”

“So how are things going with Thomas?” Finn had to ask.

“Still no ‘things,’ because as I keep telling you—”

“Yeah, yeah, he’s your boss. But…?”

Luka couldn’t fight the smile that took over his face. “We’re getting to be pretty good friends. We text and stuff… He actually… He’s convinced me to sign up for an open mic night.”

“No shit! That’s amazing! Good for you.”

“I don’t know if I can actually get up there though… What if I throw up? What if they throw…muffins at me?”

“Muffins?”

“Oh, it’s a coffee shop.”

“No one’s going to throw muffins at you.”

Luka’s eyes widened. “You don’t think they’ll throwcoffeeat me, do you?”

Finn snickered. “No, drama queen. I don’t think so.”

* * * *

The Breakpoint staff went to the Bitter Exchange after work the next night, and Rory and Finn ended up at a table with Luka and Thomas. The electricity between them made the hairs on Finn’s arm stand up.

Thomas, looking so handsome as always in his exquisitely tailored suit, never took his eyes off Luka, and Luka’s face radiated such beauty when he smiled at Thomas that Finn could barely look at them. The two of them hooking up had to be only a matter of time.

So, when the news came at the end of January that Thomas’ last day in their office would be March first, Finn’s stomach dropped. “Shit.” He showed the email to Rory in the seat next to him on the train.

Rory gasped. “Oh no. Oh…Luka will be devastated.”

“Hehasto say something,” Finn said. “He can’t let Thomas just leave. They’re clearly into each other. He must know that Thomas feels the same.”

“I don’t think he does though,” Rory said. “Sometimes it’s not obvious when you’re in it, remember?” They winked at Finn.

“Should I talk to him?” Finn asked.

“Maybe.” Rory took Finn’s arm and tipped their head onto Finn’s shoulder. “Let’s see how he handles it.”

* * * *

He didn’t handle it well. Luka moped around the office, head down, sparkle gone from his eyes. His clothes were even more subdued, all blues and grays, not a pink or yellow to be seen. Finn had to step in.

“Are we going to talk about it?” he asked in early February when he found Luka alone in his office. He closed the door behind him.

Luka sighed and pushed back from his desk. “Talk about what?”

Finn shook his head. “Gonna make me say it?”

---