Page 90 of A Hard Fit

“Pardon the language…but why the fuck are you calling?”

“Yeah, uh… Sorry to bother you on Valentine’s Day.”

“Oh, yes, I’m in the middle of some big romantic plans—helping Cali with her math homework while I make chicken noodle soup for Bryson ’cause he’s got strep throat.”

“Sorry to hear that. I hope he feels better soon.”

“Yeah.” Her sigh whooshed over Finn like she was standing right next to him. “Same.”

“So.” Finn pushed his hair behind an ear. “The reason I’m calling…”

“Please. Tell me.”

“Well… I was thinking about—er, hoping, that is…”

“Finn. Just say it.”

“…Hoping that we could figure something out… Well, I’d like to see your kids.”

The two seconds of silence nearly killed him.

“Yeah. Yeah, that would be great.” The note of surprise in Liz’s voice was hard to ignore. “They would love that.”

“I could come visit? Or would you want to—”

“They would love to come to Oakport. They’ve never been.”

Now it was Finn’s turn to sigh in a whoosh, shoulders sagging in relief. They talked about a few possible weekends coming up and agreed to check their schedules and connect again tomorrow. Finn hung up and took a steadying breath. He had done it. It was happening. Then he looked around. Where the fuck was he? It took him a second but he’d ended up at a small park not too far from his house. He could take Cali and Bryson here to play. He smiled and turned around to head back.

When he got home, dinner had been cleaned up and the house was dark.

Finn crept to the bedroom. The bed was empty. “Rory?” he called toward the bathroom. Not there either. They weren’t anywhere. He went back to the kitchen and found a note on the table.Went home for the night. Let’s talk tomorrow. Rory.

Finn fell into a kitchen chair, chest hollow.Rory…left. Rory left?

He replayed their conversation—fight?—in his mind. All he said was he couldn’t go to dinner with Jackson, and Rory left. That was how important their family was to them.

Finn had known all along this was a losing battle. So why did it hurt so much when the inevitable happened?

* * * *

Alarm silenced, Finn rolled over and reached for Rory. Rory was not there. He listened for shower or breakfast noises for about eight seconds before he remembered.

Rory left.

He checked his phone. No texts from Rory.

There was one waiting from Luka, though.

Help, I think I just went on a date with Thomas.

You think?Finn replied.

Luka’s next message came right away.

I didn’t mean for it to be a date!

Okay, but…you asked him for a drink on Valentine’s Day.

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