Page 42 of Yours to Keep
I laugh and continue to my office, throwing over my shoulder, “Expected.”
* * *
Later, I find Finn and Eli in the lunchroom sharing coffee. I pause outside the door. I shouldn’t listen, but I listen anyway. My pulse slows. I shouldn’t care this much, but I do.
“Okay, important information, Eli.”
“Shit, I’m concerned already.”
Finn points at him. “You should be.”
I hear Eli’s chuckle, and then he asks, “What’s up with Deck?”
Finn leans forward and lowers his voice.
“He started this place with CJ. They served in the military together. I still don’t know exactly what they did, but both of them are scary as hell when they want to be.”
He paused.
“Deck looks gruff, but underneath it all he’s basically a giant teddy bear.” Finn shakes his head. “Nah, He’s deadly.”
I watch as Finn rests his chin on his hand and his eyes soften, and his little smile appears. I catch the look and something in me shifts. Deck isn’t subtle, but this is.
“Umm, okay. He doesn’t really seem that scary.” Eli states.
Finn sighs dreamily, “Oh, my sweet, sweet child. Nah, he isn’t scary. He is deadly. Big difference. I would want him or CJ in my corner if things go tits up, Eli. He is just so… ,” Finn puts his head in his hand, “… Deck,” he sighs.
Eli smiles, “So, is he married, partner?”
Finn snorts, “No. No partner that I know of. CJ and Deck are openly gay, not that it should matter. People should be who they want to be. People shouldn’t put us in a box, or be told you can’t be gay.” He says with a tinge of anger.
Okay, where did that come from?
“He’s a bear,” Finn says quietly, “And I wish I was his Twink. But he doesn’t see me like that.”
He frowns and continues, “Eli, I have been completely friend-zoned by that lumberjack, and I hate it. Friend zones can fuck off.”
Eli smiles and pats Finn’s hand. “Maybe one day he will come round.” Finn nods and sips his coffee.
Well. There it is. Finn has a crush on Deck, and judging by the look Deck gave him earlier, I can’t help but think that the feeling goes both ways.
I leave them to their conversation.
* * *
An hour later, I find Deck showing Eli his scar photos on his phone.
Why? Fuck knows.
Sometimes even Deck doesn’t understand Deck. The man looks delighted.
“Wanna see this one?”
“No.”
“Bullet.”
“I’m not sure if that’s something to be proud of, Deck.”
