Page 32 of True Colors

They’re talking intently. Erin has her hand in the crook of his arm. They look like a couple.

Now, a lot of things make sense.

“They’re dating?” Finn muses.

“Looks like it.”

They spot us a second later, hard not to, since they’re coming into Pier 23.

Over eight hundred thousand people live in San Francisco, and they have to walk into the same restaurant as the one where I’m celebrating my best friend’s birthday?

The universe has a nasty sense of humor.

Luther’s stride falters, Erin’s doesn’t.

“Anouk!” she says a bit too brightly, like we’re friends. We are not. “Out enjoying the sunshine?”

Finn leans forward, resting his forearms on the table in a way that every firefighter learns during de-escalation training—casual but ready.

Luther’s eyes flick to Finn, then back to me. His voice is polite but cool, flickering with something I can’t read. “Good afternoon.”

“Hi,” I whisper, hating the way my pulse jumps. “Ah…this is Finn. My⁠—”

“Date,” Finn cuts me off.

“Oh,” Luther offers, his lips pursed.

Finn puts his arm around me as I take a sip of water. “She’s all mine,” he adds cheerfully, lying so fast I choke on my water.

“Finn,” I hiss, kicking him under the table.

He winks.

Luther’s jaw tightens.

Erin’s eyebrows lift as she looks between the three of us—curious. “Well, what a coincidence to see you⁠—"

Luther clears his throat, interrupting her. “We should go. We have a reservation.”

“Right,” Erin agrees, though she’s studying Finn like she’s calculating his net worth.

Firefighter here, lady, he ain’t got no stock portfolio.

Luther’s gaze returns to me. Just me. “Enjoy your lunch.” He sounds almost irritated.

These past couple of weeks, I thought he liked me at work because he was nice, but now…maybe he’s one of those people who likes to keep personal and professional separate?

Well, if that was the case, what on earth is he doing with Erin?

“Th-thank you,” I manage.

He nods once, sharply, then turns away. Erin follows.

Finn waits until they’re out of earshot and then grins. “Looks like your crush goes both ways.”

I slap his arm off of me. “What was that?”

“That was”—Finn tilts his head, giving me a pointed look—“me testing the waters.”