Page 5 of A Hard Fit (Falling Hard #2)

Going for a Ride

Finn gathered up his designs and made his way to the conference room for the ‘Get It Together, Luka’ meeting after lunch. He stopped by Luka’s office to make sure he wasn’t about to miss it again, and found Tawney doing the same thing. Fortunately, the office was empty.

“Looks like he made it this time,” Tawney said.

“We’ll see,” Finn replied. “Maybe he went for a wank first to calm his nerves.”

“Finn!”

“What? It helps! Hey, that reminds me, did I tell you the one about the three friends on a skiing trip who had to share a bed?” He and Tawney had an inappropriate joke exchange going on, and it was his turn.

She laughed. “Not yet!”

He relayed the joke on their way and finished with the punchline as they filed into the conference room. “‘Weird,’ the guy in the middle says. ‘I dreamed I was skiing all night!’”

Tawney rolled her eyes, snickering as they found seats. Finn was relieved that Luka was in fact already there, looking like his usual gorgeous self. He had changed into a light blue dress shirt that coordinated with the burgundy pants and sorted out his hair situation.

Thomas’ suit jacket was off and he had rolled up his sleeves to reveal rather prodigious forearms. Morgan was already there too, blabbing away about himself as usual, this time to Thomas. Finn didn’t know how Luka managed to spend so much time talking to Morgan without throttling him.

“Thanks for gathering again, everyone,” Ilona started, joining Thomas at the head of the table. “Luka?” She wasn’t one for preambles.

Luka took a breath as he spread out his designs.

Finn relaxed about ten seconds in. Luka was back, charming and confident…although maybe a little nervous because he was speaking rapidly and kept wiping his hands on his trousers. His ideas were fantastic, and Thomas had to be impressed, although every time Finn snuck a glance at him, his face was unreadable.

Thomas offered only a small nod when Luka was finished. Then it was Morgan’s turn. Not that Finn was a musical expert, but he really liked what Morgan had composed. It had an emotional depth that he did not expect Morgan to be capable of reaching. If he had to be an insufferable dick, at least he was good at his job.

“Did you need anything else, Thomas?” Ilona asked when they were finished sharing.

“I’d like to take another look at everything, if you don’t mind. I’ll find you if I have any questions.”

They stared at him. He stared back. “Does anyone have any questions for me?”

When no one said anything, Thomas nodded once. “I appreciate your hard work. We’ll meet again soon.”

“Thanks, everyone,” Ilona dismissed them.

Luka scrambled out of the conference room again. Finn followed him. He was still rattled, Finn supposed. Could probably use a distraction.

“Oh, I didn’t tell you, Rory was looking at the data again from the last batch of Sartini surveys? They noticed that the favorables, if you break them down by age, are actually a whole different story…” Finn chattered away until they got back to Luka’s office. “Anyway, Rory said they weren't too worried about it, so I figure it will be fine.”

“Mmhmm. Are we going to talk about it?” Luka asked, leaning back in his chair with a smile.

Finn scratched his head and leaned against the doorframe. “Talk about what?”

Luka’s grin widened. “You want me to say it?”

His heart skipped a beat. “Don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.”

“Your undying love for Rory.”

Finn’s stomach shrank into a lump of granite. His face flamed. “I don’t… I—what…” he stammered. Oh shit. How did Luka know?

“I’m sorry, what now?” Luka cupped a hand around his ear. “You don’t…?” He was thoroughly amused.

“Fuck off,” Finn mumbled, fighting off an embarrassed smile. He pushed himself off the frame and marched out, eyes on the ground. Luka chuckled behind him.

Okay. So. Luka knew he was losing his shit for Rory. That was fine. Luka was his best friend. Finn could survive some gentle teasing. The concern was that other people might notice too. He had to get the lost shit back together.

Finn rounded a corner and almost crashed full-on into Rory. His hand slid onto Rory’s waist to steady them, then he quickly yanked it away when he realized what he was doing.

“Sorry,” Finn stammered as Rory apologized too.

“No, my fault. I wasn’t paying attention. Are you okay?”

“Totally fine.” Not fine. “You?”

“Oh, I’m fine too.” Rory smoothed their hair and looked up at Finn. Today there was a cuff ring over the helix of their ear with Greek meander lines on it. “What did Luka say?”

Finn’s heart tried to escape up his throat. “What?”

“The other meeting? With Thomas… Did Luka recover okay?”

“Oh. Yeah. Yeah, it was fine. He did good.” Finn took a deep breath, trying to calm his thrashing heart.

“That’s good.”

“Yup.”

Another awkward pause.

“Well, I’ll see you tomorrow morning, I guess?” Rory said, eyelashes fluttering at Finn.

Finn’s brain raced. Rory’s eyes were so warm, pools of cedar brown he wanted to soak in. Tomorrow morning…?

“When we meet with Ilona about Thrill Island?” Rory supplied in the silence.

“Right! Right. Ilona. Yes. I will see you tomorrow.”

“Okay. Have a good day, Finn.”

Finn nodded and continued down the hall. A sigh burst from his lips that might have been more like a groan.

Shit. Is. Lost.

* * * *

Finn considered the white canvas.

Curves of blush first, easy and rolling.

Then a wedge of ruby red. And another, and another, along the curves, a trail of desire.

Cedar brown, pools of warmth and understanding.

Finally black.

Long, sweeping lines. Smooth, graceful, from the bottom left corner, swirling up into delicate silver swoops.

The painting came to life in his dream that night, more beautiful than anything he could capture on canvas, surrounding him, cradling him, whispering, “Finn…”

A fire built in his chest, from simmer to inferno, an intense longing that stole his breath, and traveled lower, heating his belly, then lower still, thickening—

He woke up with a jolt, sweaty and rock hard. “Fuck,” he moaned when he saw it was not even five yet. There was no more sleeping to be had.

A cold shower helped, and since he was up so early, he decided to bike to work and expend some of the jittery energy crawling through his limbs.

The light shifted from night to dawn as he left his house, an inky black to a deep ocean blue, then orange and red over the horizon. The ride helped, letting him pull in deep breaths of cool air, his cells burning through the oxygen instead of his brain burning through thoughts.

When he got to the office, muscles blissfully rubbery, he unclipped his helmet and scrubbed a hand through his sweaty hair, then wheeled his bike inside. He secured it in the storage locker in the lobby, then clicked over to the elevator in his clip-in biking shoes.

“Good morning, Finn.” It was Rory, waiting for the elevator.

Finn swallowed, hard. Oh my God. I’m in my spandex. I look like such a dork. “Oh, hi. Morning.” Not just spandex, but sweaty and red-faced.

“How was your ride?” Rory asked. They, of course, looked perfect in an asymmetrical top and fitted black jeans topped with a studded leather belt.

“Good. Good ride.”

Rory bobbed their head. “That’s good. Do you ride often?”

“Not as often as I’d like.”

Rory’s eyes flicked up and down Finn’s body.

Such. A. Dork . “I know the gear isn’t especially flattering,” Finn mumbled, resisting the urge to tug at his shorts.

“What? Not at all. I was thinking how”—Rory cleared their throat—“um, fit you look. I mean, you’re…in really good shape.”

“I—” Fit . Mouth dry, he fumbled for his water bottle. “Thanks,” he croaked.

The elevator dinged and Finn’s mind swirled as they flowed in.

“I haven’t been on a bike in years,” Rory mused, watching the numbers above the door.

“I could take you for a ride sometime?” Finn offered before he knew what he was saying.

Rory’s smile bounced off the mirrored walls and lit up the tiny space. “I would love to go for a ride with you.”

“Great.” Holy shit. He let his mouth keep talking, seemingly independent from his brain. “Maybe this weekend? While the weather is still nice.”

Rory nodded. “That sounds like fun. I’m free Sunday?”

“Okay.” This is fine. “Yeah, me too. Sunday works. Do you have a bike?”

“I think so, if my parents still have it in the garage. Or I can borrow one from my brother, I’m sure.”

The elevator dinged and they spilled out into the Breakpoint lobby. Finn’s heart pounded. “Awesome. Do you know Lupine Park? It’s not far from you. We could meet there.”

“Perfect.” Rory stopped, holding onto the strap of their bag and so beautiful it hurt.

“Well, I’ve got to go shower…” Finn said, pointing down the hall in the other direction from Rory’s office.

“Right. I’ll see you in Ilona’s office at nine.”

“You bet.” He turned to head to the bathroom that had a shower and had a quick scrub—more cold water—then stopped by the kitchen to grab a coffee to go with his protein bar.

Luka and Thomas were there, sitting at a table with coffee and a few files, and Luka was so focused on Thomas that he didn’t even notice Finn come in.

He was smiling at something Thomas said—a smile that could melt the remaining polar ice caps. Then he replied, leaning forward and tapping Thomas’ forearm to make a point. Finn studied the way they were sitting, shoulders and hips facing each other, knees tipped together, posture open, eyes bright.

Well damn. Finn grinned as he filled his mug. Looked like he wasn’t the only one losing their shit at work. He tucked that note away for when a time came along to pull it out.

* * * *

As Finn pulled into the parking lot, Rory was waiting, bike propped against a bench. Lupine Park was a linear path dotted with purple flowers that ran along the river from the south end of the city to the harbor. It was busy with people wheeling and walking, enjoying the September sunshine.

Rory looked absolutely adorable in black shorts and a gray T-shirt. They stood smiling when they saw Finn gliding up on his bike.

“Are you surprised that I own running shoes?” they asked once Finn was within earshot.

Finn grinned as he came to a stop. “A little bit, to be honest.” He had his mountain bike today, not a scrap of spandex to be seen, just regular shorts and a T-shirt.

“I think I’ve had them since high school,” Rory said, studying their Nikes.

“They’ll do,” Finn said.

“No spandex for you today, though?” Rory asked. “Glad I didn’t wear mine.” Their eyes twinkled.

Finn laughed. “Not today, I’m afraid.”

They took the path down to the ocean, sharing occasional snatches of conversation when they could ride side by side, until they reached the loop at the end and the blue-gray water of the harbor stretched before them, gulls wheeling, air cool with the salty breeze. They had taken off their helmets and found a bench to settle on when Finn’s phone buzzed. He had already missed it twice when they were riding, but he knew who it was. She’d been calling all weekend.

And Finn had been ignoring her all weekend—she refused to leave a voicemail or text—yet she couldn’t take the hint. Now here she was, ruining his day with Rory.

Pressure built in Finn’s throat as he stared at her name on the screen. “I’m sorry, it’s my sister…again. I’d better answer or she’ll only keep calling.”

“Of course,” Rory said.

Finn stood and took a few steps away. “What?” he snapped when he answered the call.

“Well, fucking hi to you, too.”

Finn watched a wave break on the shore, white and blue, then swallowed by the dark, pebbled sand. “What do you want, Liz?”

“Are you kidding me?” She laughed, as sharp and unforgiving as ever. “That’s how you answer the phone?”

“I do when it’s you.”

“Jesus. Could you be a bigger asshole, Finn?”

He bit back a curse and rubbed his forehead. “As I said, what do you want? I’m busy.”

Her sigh was long and deep, the weight of the world on her poor shoulders. “I talked to Mom.”

“And?” A little girl squealing in the ankle-deep surf drew Finn’s attention. Her mom gripped her hand tight.

“She asked how you were doing.”

“For fuck’s sake, Liz. Why are you calling?” Finn realized his voice was growing louder. Probably enough that Rory could hear.

“Oh, I don’t know, because you’re my brother and maybe you should give a fuck about either of us?”

All Finn could do was laugh. “Excuse me if I’m not into being manipulated and lied to every time I talk to you.”

“Lied to? If that’s what you think—”

Finn hung up. He took a deep breath, eyes on a wave, trying to find a calmness in the rhythm. He took another breath with the next swell, then went to join Rory on the bench again.

“Are you okay?” Rory said after a pause, lying a gentle hand on Finn’s arm.

“Yeah.” His voice cracked. “Fine.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

His curls bounced as he shook his head. “My sister…” Another breath, in and out. “Do you get along with your siblings?”

Rory answered without hesitation. “Yes. They’re my best friends. Even when my brother can sometimes be a bit…”

“That’s great.” Finn studied his shorts.

Rory moved their hand to Finn’s. “I’m sorry you don’t have that.”

Finn looked up and met Rory’s eyes. The compassion he saw nearly broke his heart with its tenderness. “Thank you. I’m glad that you do.”

Rory squeezed. They sat for a minute. Finn looked at Rory’s hand on his and thought about stroking it with his thumb, then Rory pulled it away and straightened.

“Are you hungry?” they asked.

“Starving.”

About halfway back, they found a trendy brewery, the type with vaulted ceilings, rustic beams and large, communal tables.

They each got a flight of beers to sample, then Finn ordered a pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw and Rory got fried chicken with a salad.

“Tell me about your sister and brothers,” Finn said when the server left.

“All right.” Rory straightened the label on one of their samplers while they thought. “The oldest is Jackson. He’s a VP at the company now. He’ll take over when my parents retire. Griffin is younger than me and he does sales. He’s…still trying to figure his life out. The youngest is Bailey. She just finished college, and she recently transitioned.”

“Good for her,” Finn said.

“Yeah. I’m really proud of her.”

“Have you always gotten along so well with them?”

“Yeah… I mean, we scrapped a bit as kids. You know, dumb stuff like fighting over the TV or the last of the good cereal.”

Finn nodded, the lump in his throat coming back. Rory’s childhood was absolutely nothing like his. They had dollar-store cereal that was nowhere near as good, but that was the least of it.

Rory told him more about their family, but didn’t pry into Finn’s at all. The food was delicious, and they rode slowly back to Finn’s truck after, stomachs full. Finn loaded his bike into the back, then turned to face Rory. “Are you sure you don’t want a ride?”

“No, it’s okay. I’m so close.”

Then Rory was hugging him. They fit so snuggly right under Finn’s chin. Finn wrapped Rory in his arms, buried his nose in Rory’s hair, closed his eyes and let himself sink into it.

It was a long hug.

Then they pulled away. “Thank you for another fun day, Finn.”

The electricity humming through his veins was interrupted by his phone buzzing in his pocket again. “Thank you .”

Rory looked like they had something else to say, but they put their helmet back on, climbed onto their bike, waved then peddled away.

Finn ignored his buzzing phone, insignificant next to his pounding heart.