Page 55 of A Hard Fit

“Hey, you’re here.” Finn brushed Rory’s bangs back. “It is perfect.”

Before he knew it, Rory gripped him in a tight hug, where they remained until they heard a car pull up out front. Finn disentangled himself and went to peek out of the window in the front door. Luka climbed out of a cab with great care, an apple pie in his hands and a bag of rolls tucked under his arm. Another cab pulled up right behind, discharging Thomas’ thick frame. Thomas held a pumpkin pie in one splayed hand and a small potted plant with the other.

Finn watched them flirting awkwardly as they made their way up the walkway and flung open the door before they could knock. “Happy Thanksgiving!” he cried, taking the rolls from Luka. “Get in here, you two. Help me convince Rory the gravy isn’t too thin.”

“This is for you.” Thomas handed the pot to Finn. “I noticed you don’t have any plants.”

Finn eyed it. “Yeah, I always kill them. But”—he brightened up—“it might have more of a chance now that Rory is around. Thanks, Wolf.”

Finn bustled them into the kitchen where they deposited the food they had brought. Rory was still stirring gravy.

“Luka, Thomas,” they said warmly, giving each of them a hug. “Thank you for coming.”

“Thank you for having us,” Luka replied. “Wow, this all looks amazing. Especially the gravy.”

Rory swatted Finn with a mustard dish towel. “You told them.”

“No, I… Yeah, I may have mentioned something. But the gravy is perfect, love.”

Then the dining room caught Luka’s attention through the doorway. “Just the four of us?” Luka asked.

“Yup,” Finn confirmed. “I asked Ilona, but Aleandro and Penelope had already invited her to Camarillo. Everyone else had plans.”Cozy little double-date, Finn thought with glee, enjoying the way Luka’s cheeks flushed.

“Dinner is almost ready!” Rory announced, turning off the burner. “Why don’t you two have a seat? Finn will get you a drink.”

“Aleandro dropped off a whole case!” Finn said. “Is the Chéreau okay?” They made their way into the dining room.

“Sounds great.” Luka pulled a chair out and sat. “The table is beautiful.”

“That’s all Rory,” Finn said. “For a numbers guru, they fold a mean napkin.”

Rory followed them in, dropping off a dish of potatoes. “Thanks, hon.”

Finn slid his arm around Rory’s waist and planted a kiss on their cheek, so proud of his partner and their seemingly endless list of talents.

Once every remaining inch of the table was covered with food, Finn and Rory settled across from Thomas and Luka. There was turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, corn and Brussels sprouts, plus a vat of gravy that was, okay, maybe a touch on the thin side, but would meet their needs just fine. They dove in and loaded their plates, their easy chatter accented by the clink of spoons on china and the glug of pouring wine.

Thomas told stories about some of the other Breakpoint branches he’d worked at, and Finn shared one from their office. As the evening went on, the sparks between Luka and Thomas were almost visible, the tension rolling off them in waves. Finn could barely stand it anymore.

“Speaking of sleeping around,” Finn said at the end of his story, helping himself to another slice of turkey, “you seeing anyone these days, Luka?”

Luka’s cheeks glowed pink in the candlelight. “Nope.”

“I don’t want to be that person,” Rory piped up, “but, you know what? My cousin Dimitri just broke up with his boyfriend. I think you’d like him.”

Rory!Finn wanted to facepalm. They had missed the point. But it was sort of fun watching Luka squirm.

“Uh…” Luka’s throat bobbed. “No, thanks. I’m good.”

“He’s cute, too!” Rory added. “I promise. He grew up in Paris, has an accent and everything. He also has like four dogs, but who doesn’t like dogs, right?”

“No, it’s just—Thanks, but I…” Luka floundered.

“You have your eye on someone else?” Finn finished helpfully.

Luka glared so hard at him. Finn grinned back.

“No,” Luka said with gritted teeth. “I’m just not…interested in dating anyone right now.”

---