Page 15 of A Hard Fit

Finn’s phone buzzed, and he had it out of his pocket before Rory’s invitation could sink in. “Dinner?” he said. Dinner withRory?

He glanced at his screen as he processed. It was a text. From Henry.

Hey Finn, I’m running a little behind, but I should only be a couple minutes late. Excited for mini-golf! See you soon!

Henry?Finn frowned, then it clicked into place.

Henry!

Fuck.

Chapter Four

The Big Bad Wolf

“Fuck,” Finn muttered.

Rory’s eyebrows pinched together. “Everything okay?”

“Yes. No. I mean…shit. I have to go.” He held up his phone, as if Rory didn’t know how texts worked. “I forgot I have a date. Henry.”

“Oh.” Understanding dawned on Rory’s face. “Oh, right. You mentioned. Mini-golf.”

“Yeah.”

Rory stood, crumpling up the empty cotton candy bag. “Then you’d better get going.”

“I’m sorry, I—”

“It’s okay.” The setting sun streamed around Rory’s head like a halo. “I’ll see you at work tomorrow.”

Finn stood too, self-consciously straightening his wrinkled shorts. Rory still looked immaculate, sleek and cool in all black. “Were you going to catch the train back now, or…?”

“Nah.” They tossed the bag into a trash can. “I think I’ll go visit my parents instead. They’re not far.”

“Okay.” The day slipped from Finn’s fingers.

A breeze teased at Rory’s bangs, blowing the long strands aside. “We can schedule something to go over our notes, get some proposals together for Ilona. I’ll send you a calendar invite.”

“Sounds good,” Finn said, even though it was not good.

“Bye, Finn.”

Then Rory was only a flash of black in the brightly colored summer crowd, then gone.

* * * *

Finn’s date with Henry was…fine. Henry was cute and perfectly likable. Henry kissed him by the windmill, and offered to do quite a lot more behind the windmill, but Finn said no, thank you.

All he could think about was Rory. After he got home, he rinsed the summer salt away in the shower, then stared at his phone. He wanted to text Rory, to say thanks for the day, and suggest maybe they grab that dinner another time soon, but…no. It was nearly eleven, not the time to be texting about work. Plus, what if it didn’t really count as work? He didn’t want to make Rory feel uncomfortable. Best to wait. He checked his Breakpoint email though, in case Rory had already sent the calendar invite. But they hadn’t.

And still no invite when he got up the next morning. Or after his workout, either.

“That’s good,” Finn said to himself. “Rory has healthy work-life boundaries. I’m sure they’ll send it once they get to work.”

No invite when he checked his email in the elevator. Or when he got to his office. Still nothing by lunchtime. On his way to the staff kitchen, he turned left instead of right and happened to wander by Rory’s office.

He rapped on the frame and popped his head in.

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