Third Time's the Charm

by K. Evan Coles

  Chapter Five

  “So this guy doesn’t know about Ella?” Gillian asked as Luke closed his laptop.

  “I mentioned having a niece the other night when we met,” Luke replied. He looked up as she leaned against the side of his desk. “But not that she’s ten, lives with me and I’m effectively her single dad while Pete’s away.”

  Four days had passed since Luke had met Finn under the awning on Tremont Street. They’d exchanged messages over the weekend and settled on Tuesday to meet for coffee, but now, with Gillian asking questions while Simon looked on from his own chair, Luke felt nervous.

  “We didn’t have time to get deep into family stuff,” he said. “We talked about what we do for a living, where he’s thinking he’ll live—that sort of thing. I don’t even know if Finn’s seeing anyone.”

  “You were obviously stupefied by the man’s good looks,” Simon said. He cast a glance at Gillian. “He’s gorgeous, Gilly. I did a double-take when I realized he was talking to Luke, of all people.”

  “Gee, thanks,” Luke muttered. His insides tightened a little more with nerves.

  “That came out wrong,” Simon replied quickly. He frowned at the way Luke rubbed his palms against his trousers. “What’s the matter?”

  Luke grimaced. “Nothing. You’re right, though. Finn’s not the kind of guy I’d buy coffee. I mean, I couldn’t bring myself to talk to him the first time I laid eyes on him and we were in a fucking coffee shop.”

  “Whoa, Pickle, slow down.” Simon scooted his chair close and rested his hands over Luke’s to stop his restless motions. “I never said you shouldn’t buy the man coffee. And what do you mean, the first time you laid eyes on him? Wasn’t the thing with the umbrella the first time?”

  “No.” Luke told his friends about spotting Finn in line at Starbucks and couldn’t hold back a smile at the pride that crossed Simon’s face.

  “You and that hot man were eye-fucking right under my nose and I never even noticed,” Simon said. “What is wrong with me?

  “So many things,” Gillian replied. Simon gave her the finger.

  Luke scoffed. “Dude, we were barely flirting. You’ve also missed the point of the story.”

  “No, I haven’t,” Simon said. “You didn’t do anything the first time you ran into Finn, and neither did he. But you got a chance for a do-over, so I don’t understand why you’re complaining.”

  “I’m not complaining. I’m coming to grips with the knowledge that Finn is both really good-looking and has his shit together while I am a big mess in comparison.”

  Simon frowned. “You are not a mess. I mean, maybe a little, but it’s part of your charm.”

  Luke pulled his hands free and fought the urge to put his head down on his desk. “You’re not helping.”

  “I’m joking,” Simon protested gently. “You own a business and provide love and a home to a juvenile human, and you’re one hundred times more organized than I am before you even eat breakfast every day. You’re the opposite of a big mess. Besides, Finn said yes when you asked him, right?”

  “Yeah, but that’s because he had no idea I know more about Ariana Grande than the city’s social scene.”

  “What is an Ariana Grande?” Simon asked before his eyes widened. “Oh! She’s a singer, right? Like a sort of baby Christina Aguilera?”

  “I love that you both know this,” Gillian said with a laugh. “Welcome to my world!”

  “And that’s my point.” Luke shrugged helplessly. “Finn is a trauma surgeon, and all his friends are probably doctors, too. I imagine he meets people who attend symphony galas, not bake Cap’n Crunch cookies. I eat yogurt from tubes, for crying out loud, and even my friends give me crap for that.”

  “That’s because the yogurt in those tubes is revolting,” Simon countered, his tone stern. “You’re being a wee bit hard on yourself, don’t you think? Who says your doctor will even care that your social calendar slants toward kid things, anyway? No doubt he has trouble finding time to eat, never mind hobnob with society types.”

  Gillian nodded. “Simon’s right. The doctors I’ve met work way more than they socialize.”

  Luke licked his lips. He appreciated his friends trying to talk him down, but their words couldn’t dispel the knots in his belly.

  Simon searched his face for a long moment. “You really like the guy, huh?”

  “I don’t even know him.” Luke uttered a feeble laugh. “I’d like to, though. Finn offered me his umbrella in a rainstorm, for God’s sake. I can’t remember the last time I saw someone do something so chivalrous in real life, and he hooked me good.”

  Gillian laughed. “I can’t fault you for that. The whole story is ridiculously swoony and a thing I can see a man doing for you, too.” She leaned in and smoothed Luke’s hair back from his face. “You don’t see yourself clearly, Luke, and never have. Not only are you gorgeous, you’re a grown-up. For the most part, anyway. That’s not always an easy combination to find in this city.”

  Simon reached up and ran his hands over Luke’s shoulders, his touch gentle. “Relax, Pickle. From what you’ve said, the doc gave off all the right signals the other night. He’s interested in you.”

  Luke drew in a breath. “You’re right,” he said on the exhale. “We’re just having coffee and even I can handle that.”

  Simon smiled. “Good boy. Now get your ass in gear or you’ll be late.” He and Gillian laughed as Luke shot upright in his chair.

  “Where are you meeting him?” Gillian asked. “At the Starbucks around the corner?”

  “Uh, no—I asked him to meet me somewhere else.” Luke grabbed his wallet and bag from his desk. “I don’t think you guys would crash my coffee thing on purpose, but I didn’t want to tempt fate. Especially as we still don’t have a working coffeemaker,” he added with a laugh.

  * * * *

  Luke and Finn met outside the Roasted Bean, which was conveniently located one block from the building where Finn was staying. They shared a smile, and Luke fought not to stare as he got a gander at the doctor.

  Finn’s dark blue scrubs flattered his golden complexion and highlighted the lines of his shoulders and narrow waist. They also made his legs appear miles long. Luke nearly reached up to touch the name embroidered in white thread on Finn’s left breast pocket before he caught himself.

  “Nice scrubs, Doc.”

  “I just threw these on,” Finn joked, but he checked Luke out with an appreciative gaze. “I feel underdressed next to you.”

  “You shouldn’t.” Luke smoothed his tie against his chest with one hand. “I had to change before I left the house this morning. Almond milk may have fewer calories than cow’s but it makes just as big a mess when it spills.”

  “Yikes.” Finn grinned. “Hey, are you still in the mood for coffee? I was up working all night and now I’m awake again, my body needs some fuel.”

  “I’m always in the mood for coffee,” Luke said. He led the way to the shop’s door and Finn rubbed his hands together, his expression eager.

  They chatted while they waited in line, and it struck Luke again how easily their conversation flowed. There were none of the little snags or pauses he’d expect between two almost strangers, and his stomach sank to think that might change the moment Finn knew about Ella.

  Luke racked his brain as they placed their orders, trying to decide how to broach the topic. He continued dithering after he’d paid and they’d carried their cups to an empty table and sat. Then a face Luke knew emerged from the patrons around them and forced the issue without even trying.

  “Hiya, Luke!”

  Luke smiled at the girl who stood beside his chair while his insides twisted. “Hi, Sofia—fancy running into you here!”

  “We’re going to the Frog Pond,” Sofia said as her mom, Bev, emerged from the crowd too. Sofia and Bev wore pink sundresses that set off their deep brown skin, and Bev carried a beach bag Luke recognized from past afternoons they’d spent at the wading pool in Boston Common.


  “Looks like you guys are geared up for the whole afternoon,” Luke said.

  Sofia nodded. “Yeah, my dad went to find some spots in the shade.”

  Bev stepped up behind her daughter. “Hey, Luke. Where’s your sidekick today?”

  “Ella’s at swimming class,” Luke replied. “After that, she and Melissa are going to the Museum of Science and we’ll meet up for dinner in a couple hours.”

  “You guys should come here,” Sofia told him. “I had a brown sugar lemonade that was so good.”

  “I’ll remember that,” Luke replied with a chuckle. He forced himself to focus on Finn, whose expression had gone blank. “Finn, these are my friends, Sofia and Bev. Sofia goes to school with my niece, Ella.”

  Finn gave them a small wave. “Hello there.”

  “Finn is from Chicago,” Luke told Sofia. “He just moved to town and he’s been living out of boxes.” Hiding behind the kid was a shitty move, but it gave him some time to delay having to explain himself. Luke badly wanted that reprieve, however brief.

  Sofia turned her big brown eyes on Finn. “You don’t have a place to live?” Her solemn manner cracked his and he smiled.

  “Not of my own, nope,” Finn replied. “I’ve been staying with friends, but I found an apartment a couple of days ago.”

  Sofia fingered the blue beads decorating the ends of her braids. “My dad says moving sucks,” she said, then grinned at the adults’ laughter.

  “It really does,” Finn replied. “But it’ll be nice to have space to put my stuff again.”

  Bev put a hand on the top of her daughter’s head. “Speaking of your dad, he’s saving our spots and we should get going before he thinks we forgot about him. Maybe we can set up a playdate with Ella this weekend if Luke says it’s okay?” She aimed a questioning look Luke’s way.

  “Definitely okay,” Luke replied. “How about I call you tomorrow?”

  “Sounds good. Enjoy your coffee, guys.” Bev flashed a smile at Finn, who nodded goodbye.

  A heavy silence followed, and Luke’s heart fell a little further with every second that passed. He’d expected Finn to be annoyed with him for not saying anything about Ella. Maybe Finn was staying quiet because he didn’t care. Or maybe he’d already checked out and was just finishing his breakfast before he shook Luke’s hand and walked away, never to be heard from again.

  Ugh.

  So much for not fucking up a simple thing like coffee.

  Chapter Six

  “Ella’s ten.”

  Finn looked up at Luke’s abrupt statement and immediately noticed his somber demeanor. It didn’t sit right on his expressive face.

  “She’s my brother’s daughter,” he said. “Pete’s a helicopter pilot in the Marine Corps. He’s been stationed at Quantico in Virginia for a while now. He moved Ella up here to live with me when she turned six. He stays with us whenever he can, but he was deployed overseas in the spring. He’s been on base in Norway since then.”

  Finn nodded. The last several minutes had thrown his entire state of mind for a loop. “And Ella’s mom?”

  “She left them.” Luke ran his fingers over his lips, clearly considering his words before he spoke again. “My family liked Carly. We were happy when she and Pete got married. But something happened to her after she had Ella. With Carly, I mean. She pulled away from all of us. She told Pete being a mother wasn’t what she expected. That she got tired of his shipping out and leaving her behind and she didn’t want to do it anymore. They were in couples’ therapy but one day she dropped Ella at school and didn’t come back. Only Pete has seen her since, and not very often.”

  Luke paused for a beat. “Pete was on his own in Virginia after Carly,” he said at last, “but here he’s got me and our mom and dad to help.”

  The barista called Luke’s name then, and both of them glanced toward the counter. Finn pushed back his chair.

  “I’ll get it,” he said quietly. He went to the counter, still processing the information that had been thrown at him.

  Finn had been more than surprised to learn Luke had a child in his life—he’d felt deceived. He’d sat silent while Luke smiled at his friends and talked about swimming lessons and play dates, and a numbness crept over him at the possibility Luke was married—maybe to the blond from the coffee shop—and had a child. That maybe he planned to cheat on his family with Finn, for fuck’s sake, because Finn had been so starry-eyed he’d somehow missed the fact that he’d been flirting with a married man. He hadn’t seen a ring on Luke’s finger, but he hadn’t even checked, had he?

  Of course, it turned out Luke didn’t have a husband or wife—he didn’t even have a daughter called Ella, but a niece instead. Thank God, Finn thought as he picked up the tray of food. He didn’t need that kind of guilt on his conscience. He knew how much it hurt to be cheated on. His last boyfriend, Adam, had taught him that lesson repeatedly.

  Finn set the tray down and handed Luke a plate of macaroons. Just because Luke wasn’t married didn’t mean Finn liked the way this had all gone down. From the sounds of it, Luke was practically a parent, and that was no small detail. When had he planned to mention it?

  Finn tucked into his sandwich and mulled over what to say. He’d assumed Luke would defend his decision to stay quiet about his niece or perhaps talk more about her, but Luke sat silent. Maybe he wasn’t saying anything because he didn’t care what Finn thought.

  No, Finn thought. That doesn’t add up either. If Luke’s tight expression and body language were anything to go by, he wasn’t happy about how this get-together had turned out, either. He appeared dejected as he and pushed the untouched plate of cookies away.

  Finn had finished his sandwich before Luke met his gaze again. “Something wrong with your food?” he asked.

  Luke gave him a weak smile. “Not as hungry as I thought, I guess.”

  Finn picked up his coffee and held Luke’s stare as he sipped. The unhappiness in Luke’s eyes troubled Finn almost as much as the idea that he’d lied by omission. And that didn’t sit well with him.

  “Luke, can I ask you something?” Finn set the cup back in the saucer.

  Luke seemed to steel himself before he answered. “Sure.”

  “Is there a reason you were keeping Ella a secret?”

  “I wasn’t.” Luke shook his head. “I never got a chance to tell you the other night and today I just couldn’t figure out how. I was trying to get there before Sofia walked up to say hi.”

  Finn cocked his head. “What stopped you in the first place?”

  “I wanted to avoid an awkward conversation like this.” Luke sighed. “Historically, the topic of Ella and my ad hoc parenting doesn’t get a lot of traction with new people I meet.”

  “I see.” Finn thought about that for a moment. “And you assumed I wouldn’t be interested in someone with a child? Or maybe that I don’t like children?”

  “No, not at all.”

  “For the record, neither is true.”

  “Honestly, I didn’t know what to think or even that you were interested in me.” Luke worried his bottom lip between his teeth. “I mean, I hoped so, especially after you agreed to have coffee with me, but I wasn’t counting on it.”

  The tight feeling in Finn’s chest loosened. Luke had no idea how attractive he was, that much was plain.

  “Here I thought I’d been so obvious,” Finn murmured. “I’m definitely interested, Luke. Heck, I’ve been trying to figure out if the guy you were with at Starbucks last week is your boyfriend.”

  “Oh.” Luke blinked twice before a grin transformed his whole face.

  “Why do you think I offered to share my umbrella with you in the first place?” Finn asked. “I was so relieved when you said you were gay I nearly walked into a parking meter.”

  Luke laughed. “God, what a mess. First, the guy from Starbucks isn’t my boyfriend—he’s my business partner. Second, I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to tell you about Ella myself. That’s not at all
what I wanted to happen.”

  “It’s okay,” Finn said. And it was. He wanted to fist-pump now that he knew Luke’s blond friend was just that—a friend. The fact Luke took care of his niece didn’t alter Finn’s interest in him either. If anything, Luke’s obvious love for his family impressed Finn and made him want to know even more about the man in front of him. Sure, he would have liked to have known about Ella before they’d sat down for coffee, but he believed Luke’s explanation that the timing had just been wrong.

  “Look, can we start over?” Luke asked. “This time, I won’t hesitate when it comes to awkward stuff. Like the fact I’m super excited for the third movie in the How To Train Your Dragon series.”

  A burst of warmth filled Finn’s chest. “I’d like that.” A sudden burst of inspiration swept through him. He stood and grabbed his bag, then held a hand out to Luke. “C’mon, I have an idea.”

  Luke stared at Finn’s hand for a second before he smiled and grasped Finn’s fingers. Finn pulled him to his feet and Luke flailed slightly, but he reached for his bag as Finn pulled him toward the door. Once outside, Finn marched them both up the block toward the gray and white awning where they’d first spoken.

  Luke was chuckling by the time Finn came to a stop. “What’s going on?”

  “We’re starting over.” Finn dropped Luke’s hand and turned so they faced each other again. “Now I say, ‘I’ve never made someone’s acquaintance under an awning in the middle of a sunny afternoon before. Especially after checking them out over coffee and a BLT with avocado. I’m Finn. I’m new to Boston, I have a calico cat named Daisy and I think kale is vastly overrated.’”

  Luke’s laughter filled the air. His eyes sparkled as he stuck out his hand.

  “I’m Luke,” he said. Finn took the hand and didn’t let go. “I checked you out, too, even though I didn’t eat my cookies. I run marathons, watch way too much Star Trek and take care of a ten-year-old niece who likes bad jokes and runs my life. Would you like to have lunch with me sometime?”

  “I would love it.” Finn bit his lip. “But you just bought me lunch, so how about I make the plans for next time?” He waited for Luke’s nod and smiled, then reluctantly dropped his hand. “Listen, I need to get going—my shift starts in a half-hour. Feel like walking with me a bit?”