Page 93 of A Hard Fit

“We’re in good shape,” Rory said lightly, going back to flipping the quesadillas. “It’s all going to be great.”

Finn’s stomach flipped, too.

* * * *

The next morning at work, Finn was walking back from the washroom when Morgan stalked by. He carried a box with a lamp poking out of it, his face bleak. Finn paused, eyebrow raised, waiting for Morgan to offer a quip or explanation of some sort, but he breezed by like Finn wasn’t even there. As soon as the petite blond disappeared around the corner, Finn turned on his heel toward Luka’s office.

He poked his head in. “Did I just see Morgan carrying a box of his shit?”

“Um. You sure did.” Luka exchanged a look with Thomas. “Do you want to grab a drink after work? It’s a long fucking story.”

* * * *

“Sorry”—Finn placed his hands flat on the table as if attempting to anchor himself to reality—“you were secretly datingMorganlast year?” His head was spinning and it had nothing to do with the pint sitting in front of him.

“Oh my God, I know.” Luka buried his face in his hands. “I can hardly believe it myself, and I was there.”

“I mean…Morgan?” Finn said, voice climbing into his upper register.

“He…he could be really charming, okay? And…” Luka blushed.

Finn held up a hand. “So help me God, do not say ‘good in bed,’ or I’ll have to bleach my ears.”

Luka covered his face again. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled.

“Fuck!” Finn shook his head and took a sip. “How long did it last?”

“Four months. And then one night, the restaurant messed up and they only sent Morgan’s food. He just sat there, eating his pad Thai, without even offering to share it with me, and it was like…what the fuck am I doing?”

Finn had to laugh. “So that’s what did it for you. You got hungry.”

Luka tried to glare at him but a chuckle escaped. “I guess so. I really love Thai.”

“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me!”

“I know, I’m sorry. I wanted to, so many times, but we had to keep it a secret until we told HR, and Morgan didn’t want to.”

“Wait, so…how did this lead to Morgan getting firednow?”

Luka took a sheepish sip of his Bloody Mary. “He blackmailed me.”

“Hewhat!” Finn looked around for their server. “I’m going to need a stronger drink.”

Once Luka laid out the sordid details for him, Finn leaned back in his chair, mind blown. “Okay…I’m getting the reluctance with Thomas now.”

“Thank you,” Luka said, with an emphatic gesture. “I don’t need any more relationship drama with coworkers.”

“Cheers to that.” Finn drained his whiskey.

* * * *

It wasn’t officially spring yet, but it felt like it. The snow was gone, and the gray dirt that had piled up along the curbs had been swept away that morning, wet trails still visible on the asphalt. Small green daffodil shoots poked up here and there from damp gardens, and the birds announced the approaching equinox with great joy. Finn had taken the day off, although Rory had gone to work so Cali and Bryson could get comfortable and settled with Finn first. He spent the morning tidying up the yard, and was now freshly showered and pacing, waiting for his family to arrive.

My family.

It felt weird to say.

Then there they were, pulling up in a rusty, nondescript Honda. Before it had even come to a complete stop, a round, redheaded boy tumbled out of the back door and charged up the walkway. Bryson, obviously, even though he looked like an actual child and not the toddler entrenched in Finn’s memory. Finn opened the door before the kid could knock, and Bryson streaked right into the house.

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