Page 69 of A Hard Fit

Finn smiled down at them, admiring the flakes twinkling in Rory’s hair. “You cannot tell him it was me.”

“My lips are sealed. So, who else do you have to shop for?”

“Not many. You, Luka, something for your parents—”

Rory interrupted, waving a hand. “Oh, you don’t need to get anything for my parents.”

“I don’t?”

“Nah.”

“But…I can’t walk in empty-handed on Christmas!”

“You can, I swear!”

“What are you getting them?”

“Um, the four of us kids are going in to send them to Camarillo for a wine-tasting weekend in the summer.”

“Mmhmm. And everyone else in your family will show up with a gift, right?”

“Er…yes.”

Finn threw Rory a wry look.

Rory chuckled. “Okay, fine. I’ll help you pick something out for them.”

“Thank you. So.” Finn continued with his list. “Something for your parents, and I always send something to Cali and Bryson.”

“You do?”

“Yeah, why?”

“No reason. That’s kind of you.”

Finn shrugged. “Not their fault their mom sucks.”

“True.” Rory squeezed his arm. “And you don’t need to get me anything, for real. I’ve already got you.”

“That’s true, Iama gift…” Finn mused.

Rory laughed and swatted at Finn’s shoulder as they came to a stop in front of a men’s clothing store. “All right, let’s look in here, unless your head is too big to fit through the doorway.”

* * * *

Over the course of their outing, Finn picked out a sweater for Luka, a wine and cheese gift basket for Lainey and Jonathan and Lego sets for Cali and Bryson. He also carefully noted the items that Rory ‘oohed’ and ‘ahhed’ over as they shopped.

The next day at lunch, Finn took the kids’ gifts to the post office and popped back into the men’s clothing store where Rory had admired a wallet. As much as he hated to admit it, Thomas had made a good suggestion. Wallets were practical, but he could splurge on a really nice one, and Rory would think about him every time they used it. However, Finn also ordered an extra something special online for Rory too, the kind of gift that would arrive in discreet packaging and spice up their holiday.

The day before the office party, Finn stopped in at Luka’s office to give him his present.

“You shouldn’t have!” Luka exclaimed when Finn handed him the elaborately wrapped box. He held it up, admiring it from all angles. “Your wrapping, Finn, I swear… Should I open it now?”

Finn loved to wrap presents. He went a little over the top, maybe, with foil paper, cloth ribbons and fancy bows. Half of his bedroom closet was crammed with gift-wrapping supplies. “Fuck yes.”

Luka carefully picked at the tape on one end.

“Don’t be precious about it, Moreno.” Finn reached forward and ripped a chunk of paper off.

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