Page 8 of A Hard Fit

Finn sat at his desk.Did Rory ask me out to lunch?

No, they were just being polite,he decided, clicking open his latest project.

Oops, wrong file.He clicked open another one.

But still, now I have to eat lunch with Rory…alone…and…talk to them?

Finn got up again and marched back down the hall to Luka’s office. Luka was hunched over his laptop, staring at a score, the mass of music notes an incomprehensible jumble to Finn.

Finn rapped on the doorframe. “You want to go for lunch?”

“When do Inotwant to go for lunch?” Luka asked, without looking up. He clicked the mouse a couple times much harder than necessary.

“Perfect. I’m meeting Rory in the foyer at twelve. We’re going to Montagu’s.”

“Wait.” Luka spun around. “You’re having lunch with Rory?”

“And you.”

“Did Rory ask you to lunch?”

“It wasn’t like that. They asked for a good lunch place.”

“And?”Luka waved his hand looking for more information.

“And then asked if I wanted to come.”

“So…theydidask you to lunch.”

Finn shook his head. “They were just being polite.”

“I don’t have to c—”

“Luka. Please, come for lunch.”

“Fine, but if you want me to bail, give me a sign, like—” Luka gave an exaggerated scratch of his nose.

“A sign? Okay, this is not a sitcom. And this is not a date! I’m just going for lunch with my colleagues.”

“Hmm. If you say so.”

* * * *

Finn rolled into the foyer two minutes early, and Rory was there waiting.

They smiled up at Finn. They looked so cute today, in a black blazer over a star-speckled T-shirt and shiny boots.

“I invited Luka along,” Finn said. “I hope that’s okay. He never has a lunch. That guy can’t cook to save his life.”

“Of course.”

Again, the silence stretched between them. Finn put his hands in his pockets, then took them out again. “I’m sure he’ll be here in a sec. Luka’s never late.”

“Right.” Rory bobbed their head.

“So…” Finn searched for something to say. “Settling in okay? Everyone being nice? Have you met Morgan yet?”

Rory’s forehead scrunched. “I think so, I—”

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