Page 106 of A Hard Fit

“Not really,” Cali said, eyes still closed. “Just tired.”

Suddenly Bryson had a hot dog in his hands. “This is my dinner!”

Finn stifled a laugh. “Where did that come from?”

“Griffin,” Bryson said happily. He got to work demolishing it.

Finn made a mental note to make sure Bryson got some extra fruit with his breakfast in the morning. “What do you feel like eating, love?” he asked Rory.

Rory’s head tipped into Finn’s other shoulder. “Thai, please.”

Finn ordered their usuals from their favorite place—lemongrass stir-fry for Rory, panang curry for him. The train slowed at the next station, passengers jostling on their way off, then a few got on. A small blond man bumped Rory’s shoulder on his way by.

“Morgan?” Finn said when he recognized the face.

Morgan stopped, expression flat. “Finn. Rory.”

He didn’t look good—dark circles under his eyes, hair unkempt.

“Are you— How are you?” Finn asked.

A humorless smile pulled at the corner of Morgan’s mouth. “So great. Obviously.”

Finn couldn’t think of a single thing to say.

Thank God Rory was there. “It’s nice to see you, Morgan,” they said, as graceful as ever.

Morgan’s gaze flicked over their held hands. “Sure… You two did it right, you know. I wish that I had…” He looked away, hurt flashing over his face. “Anyway.” The humorless half-smile was back. “I’ll see you ’round, I guess.” He saluted and pushed his way through the crowded train.

Finn wanted to turn and watch him go, but Cali was still snuggled up against him. Instead, he cast his gaze over at Rory. Rory was smiling at him, something extra in their eyes. Something…searching. And all he wanted was to give Rory everything they were looking for.

They drove home from the train station, and by the time they pulled into the driveway, both kids were asleep in the back. Finn carried Bryson in and Rory helped Cali through the door. The kids woke up enough to get into pajamas and brush their teeth, then they both gave Finn and Rory sleepy hugs and were fast asleep again the moment they were tucked into bed.

Finn eased the pocket door to the dining room closed while Rory opened their delivery bag. They pulled out two containers then frowned. “This is only rice and my stir-fry.” Rory looked in the bag again and shook some napkins and cutlery onto the counter. “Shoot, they forgot your curry.” Before Finn could even reply, Rory pulled a plate out of the cupboard and began scooping out half the rice. “At least the portions are big! Are you good with—”

The words burst from Finn’s lips, clear and sure. “Will you marry me?”

Rory froze, staring at Finn, spoon mid-air. “W—What?”

Finn’s heartbeat echoed in his ears. He strode across the room, took the spoon from Rory and set it on the plate, then took Rory’s hands in his. “Will you marry me, Rory Barrett?”

Rory’s eyes filled with tears. “Oh, Finn.” They threw their arms around him and held tight. “Yes. Yes, I will.”

Finn was crying, but so was Rory, so they just held each other and cried together.

“I’m sorry, I don’t have a ring,” Finn said with a sniffle. “I wasn’t exactly planning to do this, but…today…I know that I want to be with you forever.”

“I love you so much,” Rory said, fingers creeping into Finn’s curls. “So much.”

Finn took Rory’s chin in his fingers and tilted their mouth up to his. Every thought or feeling he’d ever had about Rory flooded his senses when their lips touched, and it was the most right he’d ever felt.

They kissed and cried and held each other…until Finn’s stomach growled.

Rory chuckled, dabbing the corner of their eye. “Let’s eat, yeah?”

Finn didn’t want to let go, but it rumbled again. “Yeah.”

Rory finished distributing half of the stir-fry onto the plate while Finn collected drinks, then they retreated into the living room with their meal.

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