FIC - It's still just love... (4/?)
Title: It's still just love… (4/?)
Author: wheelie47
Rating: NC17 for whole story but not every chapter.
Pairing: Luke and Noah.
Word count: 3,242
Disclaimer: Don’t own characters, am not associated in any way with ATWT, Van and Jake. No ffence intended.
Summary: Noah Mayer is struggling to make ends meet; trying to keep his garden centre open and desperate to hold onto his research grant from the Institute of Agronomic Research. And he never seems to have time… no time for a life and definitely no time for a boyfriend.
Luciano Grimaldi hates everything about his life and he is so far in the closet where his parents concerned, that he even has a girlfriend, Maddie, to prove it…
AN: This is an AU story based on a French film called “Juste une question d’amour”.
Many thanks to hollyoaks1021 for the wonderful artwork. Thanks Sally
They sat in the cheap green plastic hospital waiting room chairs, each lost in their own thoughts. Even Matteo had stopped his grumbling over what was taking so long; had ceased his incessant back and forth pacing to sit next to them and was staring silently at nothing.
Each time footsteps came their way, their heads turned in unison hoping some doctor or nurse was approaching with positive news… any news. And, as foot falls were heard echoing down the corridor, this time was no exception.
Luke, Lilly and Matteo all looked up into the face of a tall auburn-haired man as he stopped in front of them. A face that only one of them recognised.
“Luke? What are you doing here? Is everything OK?” the man asked, obviously concerned.
Luke was momentarily lost for words; he hadn’t seen this guy since Marc’s funeral and, in truth, he hadn’t expected to see him again. He'd met Carl, Marc's substance abuse counsellor, on several occasions when he and Maddie had driven his cousin to see him. The guy had seemed deeply and genuinely upset when he'd heard of Marc's death... feeling perhaps that he’d failed the troubled man in some way. But maybe the counselling just wasn't enough to help Marc... maybe the scar of rejection... of denial of his very existence ran too deep.
“Hey, Carl.” Luke eventually found his voice, aware that both his mom and Matteo were now staring at him. “It's my dad; there's been a car crash. We're waiting to hear the results of a scan.”
“Wow … a car crash? I'm really sorry to hear that. Look, I'm just on my way to meet with a client but I’ll see if I can find somebody to come and talk to you, if you want.” Carl offered.
“Thanks, but it shouldn't be much longer now. Don't trouble yourself.” Luke knew how busy the man was and didn't want to keep him from seeing his next client. He was also feeling more than a little uncomfortable with the man who used to be his cousin’s counsellor being just feet away from his uncle Matteo.
“Well… if you sure. I hope your dad will be OK. Take good care of yourself, Luke,” Carl said with a kindly smile before turning and carrying on his way.
Luke could feel the intensity of the stare on the side of his face increase as he watched the counsellor walk away. He clenched his jaw and turned, ready to pre-empt the obvious question. “That was Carl; Marc's counsellor. He tried to help Marc right up till the end.”
The awkward silence was palpable, finally broken by Matteo as he stared long and hard into his nephew’s face. “Luciano, Marc didn't die because of us.”
A flash of anger burned intensely inside of Luke. “Maybe… maybe not. But you could have come to see him at least once!” He stared defiantly at his uncle's face before the visual stand-off got the better of him and he directed his gaze down at his shoes, although his jaw muscles still clenched and unclenched almost subconsciously.
Lily risked a sideward glance at her brother-in-law, gauging his reaction to Luke's outburst before she turned in the plastic chair to face her son. “When you're like Marc, it's best to keep quiet.” Lily tried to defuse the situation. “If we hadn't known then no one would have rejected him… no one would've been hurt.” She looked at Luke with imploring eyes that begged him not to take this any further. Now was not the time or the place.
“He wasn't a monster, mom. He just wanted what we all do… to love someone and be loved back. That's all.” Luke couldn't understand why his mother was defending Matteo. He'd always thought that if he did finally have the courage to come out to his parents, that it would be to his mom first and she would help him convince his father that Luke was still his son… was still who he'd always been. But now he wasn't so sure.
“You'll understand when you have children of your own and…” Lily's words petered out at the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps.
“Mrs. Grimaldi…” the white-coated doctor began, a smile forming on his lips, “… good news. Your husband has regained consciousness and the results of the scan shows there's no serious damage; just cuts and bruises and mild concussion. He's been very lucky.”…
…
As Luke stood uncertainly on the threshold of his father's hospital room, a myriad of different and confusing emotions assaulted him. He knew that he should hate his father for his part in what had happened with Marc and the way he treated him ... and a part of him did. A part of him wished he never had to see his father or his uncle again. But a part of him, a big part of him, also felt guilty for even feeling like this. He had never wished that any harm would come to his father. Mads was right; carrying around so much hate and anger would eventually tear him apart.
As he looked down at his father and saw him lying pale and drawn in his hospital bed; cuts and abrasions covering his face and a large white bloodied dressing across his forehead, he felt a wave of relief flood his body that his father was alive.
It was this overwhelming sense of relief that sent Luke stumbling toward the bed and made him collapse into his father's arms.
“Hey, I'm OK. I'm very much alive, Luciano. You're not getting rid of me just yet,” Damian tried to joke but the chuckle died in his throat. He couldn't remember the last time that they had hugged each other like this. He was surprised at how good it felt to see and to feel how concerned his son was for him.
“You scared us,” Luke murmured into his father's shoulder, not trusting his voice to say any more.
“You worry too much. Just like your mother.” Damian replied and he held his son a little tighter before reaching out and stroking a reassuring palm down his wife's arm. He didn’t want to admit to himself or to them just how much his near death experience had frightened him… had made him grateful that he could hold his son and touch his wife again.
Luke sniffed loudly and closed his eyes against the building tears and shut out the confusing emotions. He found himself desperately wondering if his life would always be this complicated or whether he would ever find the courage to stand up and be proud of who he was…
…
Noah eased back in his chair and stretched his long legs out onto the edge of the table. He closed his eyes and tried to relax his body, taking a much needed break for just a minute or two out of his busy day.
Luke had called yesterday to say that his father was going to be OK but had concussion and was likely to be kept in overnight. Noah wasn't expecting Luke to come in today so he’d started the day early but now found himself in need of escape from the hot sun in the cool of the lab.
“Asleep on the job, Noah?” The sudden voice in the relative quiet of the room startled Noah and in a split second he found himself jerking upright in the chair with such a force that he tumbled into a heap of arms and long legs on the floor.
He looked up and straight into hazel eyes watching him intently with a mixture of concern and amusement. “Shit, Noah! Are you alright? I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“Jesus, Luke. Are you trying to give me a heart attack?!” he tried to sound annoyed but he couldn’t help but chuckle at himself. He must have looked quite a sight lying there on the floor.
He scrambled to his feet, dusting himself down. “I’m good; nothing broken. But how’s your dad? I wasn’t expecting you to be in today.”
“He's doing alright; they released him from the hospital this morning and told him to rest. Mom’s got everything under control so I thought I'd come to work. But if you don't want me here I can…”
“No… no, it’s fine,” Noah said quickly. “I'm glad he's alright.”
He watched closely as Luke brushed an errant strand of blonde hair back behind his left ear in what Noah had come to recognise as a nervous gesture in the younger man. So, his family and his father in particular was something that Luke really didn't want to talk much about? That feeling was something Noah could relate to; he and his father were hardly on the best of terms before he passed away.
What was that phrase? A riddle, wrapped up in a mystery, inside an enigma? It should have been written for Luke; it suited him perfectly. And Noah found himself more and more intrigued by this handsome blonde everyday…
…
“Simply, the idea is to select the genes which will allow the plants to better resist pollutants,” Noah explained as he locked the slide containing a plant sample into position on the microscope before looking through the eyepieces to bring it into focus.
“If you find it, you'll make a fortune?” Luke asked from his position sitting beside Noah, turning in his swivel chair to face him.
“Hardly!” Noah murmured as he concentrated on the slide. “I work alongside other researchers and for the institute.”
“So why do it? Do plants mean that much to you?” Luke joked.
Noah pulled back from the microscope and looked at the blonde-haired man, an eyebrow raised questioningly. He was unsure whether Luke was being his usual flippant self or just making fun of him. “Without plants we wouldn't survive, Luke. You think it's stupid to spend my time trying to save them? Do you think I'm wasting my time here?”
“No… no, not if you like it,” Luke couldn't tear his eyes away from the crystal blue stare.
“Yeah? What about you, Luke?” A ghost of a smile played across Noah's lips and he found himself getting lost in those hazel eyes staring back at him. “What do you like?” Woah! Just what exactly was going on here?! Where did that come from?!
Luke's eyes momentarily clouded over in confusion. Wait! Was this handsome dark-haired hunk flirting with him?!
Just as he was getting his brain together to formulate a reply the door to the laboratory swung open. “Are you two still working? Have you seen the time? You have to stop; it's getting late!” Charlene hurried in, looking questioningly between the two of them.
She bustled them both out of the door and stood watching while her son turned the key in the lock. “You're eating with me.” She turned to face Luke. “Otherwise I know he'll go hungry. When he starts working he loses track of time and never knows when to stop!”
“Mom!” Noah said in exasperation and gave Luke a helpless shrug. “Is your mom as tyrannical as mine?!”
Charlene shook her head despairingly and lightly slapped her son’s shoulder with the back of a hand. “Huh? Wanting the best for your children makes us tyrants?!”
Luke smiled and chuckled at the banter between son and mother; they obviously cared very deeply for each other. A cloud of unhappiness passed across his features as he couldn't help but fervently wish that he had the same relationship with his mom.
They turned and headed toward the main house and the front gate. “Why don’t you stay and eat with us, Luke? You’ve been here a week and I haven’t ask you yet.”
“What about his girlfriend?” Noah asked his mom but stared pointedly at Luke as they walked.
“She can come too.”
Girlfriend?! Luke thought to himself. Ah! Noah must’ve have seen Luke kiss Maddie’s cheek in the car and just assumed. Well… it was kinda what the two of them were aiming to make people… certain people… believe. But somehow Luke didn’t want the handsome dark-haired hunk to think he had a girlfriend!
“She not… we’re not….” Luke tried to explain but failed miserably because… really … how could he make somebody else understand the mess that was his life?
Noah paused mid-stride and tilted his head to one side to stare at the younger man.
Luke sighed. “I can stay but Maddie can’t come. She’s staying late at college then I’m meeting her at work later.”
“Work?” Noah asked. Luke had never mentioned anything about work. So Luke wasn’t the spoilt rich brat he’d mistaken him for?
“Yeah. We both work part-time at the book store in Old Town and Fridays are it’s late night opening.” Luke explained.
“That can't pay much.”
“Enough to live on… barely,” Luke mumbled the last word.
“Your parents can't help out?” Charlene asked over the young man's shoulder, a sudden concern for him sparking in her chest.
Luke smiled briefly over his shoulder at her. “Why would they?” He didn’t want to get into an explanation of why his father would only pay for the college course… it could lead to other more awkward questions. “I’d rather stay independent.”
“Oh, I see. Well… it’s settled then. Luke, you’re staying to dinner. We’ll have it early… it’s almost ready now. And then Noah can give you a lift into work,” she said matter-of-factly as she linked arms with both of the men and guided them up the steps. She smiled happily to herself; resolved to setting her mind to helping this young man…
…
Noah and his mom were setting the table outside on the patio while Luke had gone inside to clean up ready to eat.
“He reminds me of you, you know. Not letting his parents help him.” she looked sadly up at her son. She wished that he’d had a better relationship with Winston before he passed away.
Noah moved to the edge of the table to set a plate down. “It's not the same situation, Mom.” He really didn’t want to get into a discussion about his dad.
“Really? Know his situation, do you?” she paused and looked at him with a mother’s intuition. There was something going on here that her son wasn’t telling her.
Before Noah could reply, Luke re-emerged from the house and took his place at the table.
Once they had settled down to eat, Charlene turned to face Luke. “I’m glad you came back, Luke. Thank you, you’re being a great help to Noah… to both of us.”
Luke nodded and smiled widely at Noah’s mom; he was really beginning to like this woman.
He turned to face Noah across the table. “But, I don’t understand. If the nursery is such hard work, why not sell it? he asked as he absentmindedly scratched his chest through the thin material of his grey T-shirt.
Noah found himself lost for words; momentarily unable to reply as he sat transfixed by a tantalizing glimpse of chest hair just visible; exposed by the movement of Luke’s fingers.
Charlene jumped into the conversation, replying for her son. “Because when Noah has decided something, Luke, nothing can change his mind.”
Noah finally found his voice. “I bought it using the money my father left me when he died. Even though he was gone, I wanted to prove to him… to myself that I could do it. Selling it now would be like admitting I was wrong,” Noah sighed; it looked like they were going to have this conversation after all.
Luke looked at the dark-haired man curiously and with new appreciation; it seemed like he wasn't the only one who had a difficult relationship with their father.
“But at what cost, honey? Look what it's doing to you. You don't have a life.” Charlene’s words broke Luke's concentration and he turned to look at her.
“I go out. I hang around with Max.” Noah almost sounded like a petulant five-year-old and Luke's interest was piqued again. Max? Noah had never mentioned anybody called Max before. Who was this faceless man and what kind of relationship did he have with the handsome garden centre owner? Luke felt an unexplainable spark of jealousy flare inside him.
“Max! That's only when he twists your arm and you can't refuse.” Charlene huffed in exasperation. As proud as she was of her son; she hated that he didn’t have time for a life… wished he could find someone to share life’s experiences with.
“Even so, I don't want to sell the garden centre. We didn't always understand each other but I wanted to do something to make him proud of me.” He looked over at his mom, a silent understanding seeming to pass between them.
Charlene sighed as she got up to start clearing away. “We always understand people better after they've gone,” she shook her head sadly.
Luke knew that he was missing something. There was something going on here that he couldn't quite understand and he found himself suddenly wanting to know more.
But, not now. Now, he had to get to work; he’d already been late twice this month. He tried to look surreptitiously at his watch but Noah caught him out. “Are we boring you, Luke?” he joked.
“No,” he chuckled, slightly embarrassed. “It's just that I have to get to work.”
“Come on then. I believe I promised you a ride.” Noah smirked at Luke as he stood and pulled his keys out of his jeans pocket.
“Thank you for the food, Mrs. Mayer.” Luke waved goodbye.
“You're very welcome, sweetheart. And its Charlene,” she called after him as he left…
…
“There you go. Just in time,” Noah smiled over at Luke as he pulled his truck into the parking lot at the back of Old Town.
Luke checked his watch and reached for the door handle, sliding across the seat.
“Thanks for the ride. I appreciate it. So… I guess I'll see you Monday.”
“Sure. Unless you want to work the weekend?” Noah asked.
Luke shook his head and smiled. “Sorry, I work at the bookstore most weekends. The pay’s better!” he joked.
Noah couldn't help but chuckle at that.
In the dimness of the truck Noah spotted Luke's phone lying there on the front seat. “Wait, Luke! Your phone.” He picked it up and held it out to the younger man.
The handsome brunette’s voice stopped Luke just as he was about to open the door and he swivelled in the seat to face Noah.
“Ah man, thanks. I'd be lost without that!” he exclaimed with an embarrassed chuckle as he reached out to grab the phone.
As Luke's fingers curled around his phone they also curled around Noah's hand.
Noah froze in shock as he felt it… felt that undeniable and instantly recognisable spark like a surge of electricity that radiated out from Luke’s touch; up his arm and spreading over his body, making his nerve-ends tingle. And the longer the blonde’s fingers touched his, the stronger it became.
Judging by Luke’s reaction, the younger man felt it too. He pulled out of the grip, yanking his phone with him. “I’ve got to…” And then he was gone, slamming the door behind him.
“Oh shit!” Noah muttered as he watched Luke go …
Chapter 5
Back to fic master list
Author: wheelie47
Rating: NC17 for whole story but not every chapter.
Pairing: Luke and Noah.
Word count: 3,242
Disclaimer: Don’t own characters, am not associated in any way with ATWT, Van and Jake. No ffence intended.
Summary: Noah Mayer is struggling to make ends meet; trying to keep his garden centre open and desperate to hold onto his research grant from the Institute of Agronomic Research. And he never seems to have time… no time for a life and definitely no time for a boyfriend.
Luciano Grimaldi hates everything about his life and he is so far in the closet where his parents concerned, that he even has a girlfriend, Maddie, to prove it…
AN: This is an AU story based on a French film called “Juste une question d’amour”.
Many thanks to hollyoaks1021 for the wonderful artwork. Thanks Sally
They sat in the cheap green plastic hospital waiting room chairs, each lost in their own thoughts. Even Matteo had stopped his grumbling over what was taking so long; had ceased his incessant back and forth pacing to sit next to them and was staring silently at nothing.
Each time footsteps came their way, their heads turned in unison hoping some doctor or nurse was approaching with positive news… any news. And, as foot falls were heard echoing down the corridor, this time was no exception.
Luke, Lilly and Matteo all looked up into the face of a tall auburn-haired man as he stopped in front of them. A face that only one of them recognised.
“Luke? What are you doing here? Is everything OK?” the man asked, obviously concerned.
Luke was momentarily lost for words; he hadn’t seen this guy since Marc’s funeral and, in truth, he hadn’t expected to see him again. He'd met Carl, Marc's substance abuse counsellor, on several occasions when he and Maddie had driven his cousin to see him. The guy had seemed deeply and genuinely upset when he'd heard of Marc's death... feeling perhaps that he’d failed the troubled man in some way. But maybe the counselling just wasn't enough to help Marc... maybe the scar of rejection... of denial of his very existence ran too deep.
“Hey, Carl.” Luke eventually found his voice, aware that both his mom and Matteo were now staring at him. “It's my dad; there's been a car crash. We're waiting to hear the results of a scan.”
“Wow … a car crash? I'm really sorry to hear that. Look, I'm just on my way to meet with a client but I’ll see if I can find somebody to come and talk to you, if you want.” Carl offered.
“Thanks, but it shouldn't be much longer now. Don't trouble yourself.” Luke knew how busy the man was and didn't want to keep him from seeing his next client. He was also feeling more than a little uncomfortable with the man who used to be his cousin’s counsellor being just feet away from his uncle Matteo.
“Well… if you sure. I hope your dad will be OK. Take good care of yourself, Luke,” Carl said with a kindly smile before turning and carrying on his way.
Luke could feel the intensity of the stare on the side of his face increase as he watched the counsellor walk away. He clenched his jaw and turned, ready to pre-empt the obvious question. “That was Carl; Marc's counsellor. He tried to help Marc right up till the end.”
The awkward silence was palpable, finally broken by Matteo as he stared long and hard into his nephew’s face. “Luciano, Marc didn't die because of us.”
A flash of anger burned intensely inside of Luke. “Maybe… maybe not. But you could have come to see him at least once!” He stared defiantly at his uncle's face before the visual stand-off got the better of him and he directed his gaze down at his shoes, although his jaw muscles still clenched and unclenched almost subconsciously.
Lily risked a sideward glance at her brother-in-law, gauging his reaction to Luke's outburst before she turned in the plastic chair to face her son. “When you're like Marc, it's best to keep quiet.” Lily tried to defuse the situation. “If we hadn't known then no one would have rejected him… no one would've been hurt.” She looked at Luke with imploring eyes that begged him not to take this any further. Now was not the time or the place.
“He wasn't a monster, mom. He just wanted what we all do… to love someone and be loved back. That's all.” Luke couldn't understand why his mother was defending Matteo. He'd always thought that if he did finally have the courage to come out to his parents, that it would be to his mom first and she would help him convince his father that Luke was still his son… was still who he'd always been. But now he wasn't so sure.
“You'll understand when you have children of your own and…” Lily's words petered out at the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps.
“Mrs. Grimaldi…” the white-coated doctor began, a smile forming on his lips, “… good news. Your husband has regained consciousness and the results of the scan shows there's no serious damage; just cuts and bruises and mild concussion. He's been very lucky.”…
…
As Luke stood uncertainly on the threshold of his father's hospital room, a myriad of different and confusing emotions assaulted him. He knew that he should hate his father for his part in what had happened with Marc and the way he treated him ... and a part of him did. A part of him wished he never had to see his father or his uncle again. But a part of him, a big part of him, also felt guilty for even feeling like this. He had never wished that any harm would come to his father. Mads was right; carrying around so much hate and anger would eventually tear him apart.
As he looked down at his father and saw him lying pale and drawn in his hospital bed; cuts and abrasions covering his face and a large white bloodied dressing across his forehead, he felt a wave of relief flood his body that his father was alive.
It was this overwhelming sense of relief that sent Luke stumbling toward the bed and made him collapse into his father's arms.
“Hey, I'm OK. I'm very much alive, Luciano. You're not getting rid of me just yet,” Damian tried to joke but the chuckle died in his throat. He couldn't remember the last time that they had hugged each other like this. He was surprised at how good it felt to see and to feel how concerned his son was for him.
“You scared us,” Luke murmured into his father's shoulder, not trusting his voice to say any more.
“You worry too much. Just like your mother.” Damian replied and he held his son a little tighter before reaching out and stroking a reassuring palm down his wife's arm. He didn’t want to admit to himself or to them just how much his near death experience had frightened him… had made him grateful that he could hold his son and touch his wife again.
Luke sniffed loudly and closed his eyes against the building tears and shut out the confusing emotions. He found himself desperately wondering if his life would always be this complicated or whether he would ever find the courage to stand up and be proud of who he was…
…
Noah eased back in his chair and stretched his long legs out onto the edge of the table. He closed his eyes and tried to relax his body, taking a much needed break for just a minute or two out of his busy day.
Luke had called yesterday to say that his father was going to be OK but had concussion and was likely to be kept in overnight. Noah wasn't expecting Luke to come in today so he’d started the day early but now found himself in need of escape from the hot sun in the cool of the lab.
“Asleep on the job, Noah?” The sudden voice in the relative quiet of the room startled Noah and in a split second he found himself jerking upright in the chair with such a force that he tumbled into a heap of arms and long legs on the floor.
He looked up and straight into hazel eyes watching him intently with a mixture of concern and amusement. “Shit, Noah! Are you alright? I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“Jesus, Luke. Are you trying to give me a heart attack?!” he tried to sound annoyed but he couldn’t help but chuckle at himself. He must have looked quite a sight lying there on the floor.
He scrambled to his feet, dusting himself down. “I’m good; nothing broken. But how’s your dad? I wasn’t expecting you to be in today.”
“He's doing alright; they released him from the hospital this morning and told him to rest. Mom’s got everything under control so I thought I'd come to work. But if you don't want me here I can…”
“No… no, it’s fine,” Noah said quickly. “I'm glad he's alright.”
He watched closely as Luke brushed an errant strand of blonde hair back behind his left ear in what Noah had come to recognise as a nervous gesture in the younger man. So, his family and his father in particular was something that Luke really didn't want to talk much about? That feeling was something Noah could relate to; he and his father were hardly on the best of terms before he passed away.
What was that phrase? A riddle, wrapped up in a mystery, inside an enigma? It should have been written for Luke; it suited him perfectly. And Noah found himself more and more intrigued by this handsome blonde everyday…
…
“Simply, the idea is to select the genes which will allow the plants to better resist pollutants,” Noah explained as he locked the slide containing a plant sample into position on the microscope before looking through the eyepieces to bring it into focus.
“If you find it, you'll make a fortune?” Luke asked from his position sitting beside Noah, turning in his swivel chair to face him.
“Hardly!” Noah murmured as he concentrated on the slide. “I work alongside other researchers and for the institute.”
“So why do it? Do plants mean that much to you?” Luke joked.
Noah pulled back from the microscope and looked at the blonde-haired man, an eyebrow raised questioningly. He was unsure whether Luke was being his usual flippant self or just making fun of him. “Without plants we wouldn't survive, Luke. You think it's stupid to spend my time trying to save them? Do you think I'm wasting my time here?”
“No… no, not if you like it,” Luke couldn't tear his eyes away from the crystal blue stare.
“Yeah? What about you, Luke?” A ghost of a smile played across Noah's lips and he found himself getting lost in those hazel eyes staring back at him. “What do you like?” Woah! Just what exactly was going on here?! Where did that come from?!
Luke's eyes momentarily clouded over in confusion. Wait! Was this handsome dark-haired hunk flirting with him?!
Just as he was getting his brain together to formulate a reply the door to the laboratory swung open. “Are you two still working? Have you seen the time? You have to stop; it's getting late!” Charlene hurried in, looking questioningly between the two of them.
She bustled them both out of the door and stood watching while her son turned the key in the lock. “You're eating with me.” She turned to face Luke. “Otherwise I know he'll go hungry. When he starts working he loses track of time and never knows when to stop!”
“Mom!” Noah said in exasperation and gave Luke a helpless shrug. “Is your mom as tyrannical as mine?!”
Charlene shook her head despairingly and lightly slapped her son’s shoulder with the back of a hand. “Huh? Wanting the best for your children makes us tyrants?!”
Luke smiled and chuckled at the banter between son and mother; they obviously cared very deeply for each other. A cloud of unhappiness passed across his features as he couldn't help but fervently wish that he had the same relationship with his mom.
They turned and headed toward the main house and the front gate. “Why don’t you stay and eat with us, Luke? You’ve been here a week and I haven’t ask you yet.”
“What about his girlfriend?” Noah asked his mom but stared pointedly at Luke as they walked.
“She can come too.”
Girlfriend?! Luke thought to himself. Ah! Noah must’ve have seen Luke kiss Maddie’s cheek in the car and just assumed. Well… it was kinda what the two of them were aiming to make people… certain people… believe. But somehow Luke didn’t want the handsome dark-haired hunk to think he had a girlfriend!
“She not… we’re not….” Luke tried to explain but failed miserably because… really … how could he make somebody else understand the mess that was his life?
Noah paused mid-stride and tilted his head to one side to stare at the younger man.
Luke sighed. “I can stay but Maddie can’t come. She’s staying late at college then I’m meeting her at work later.”
“Work?” Noah asked. Luke had never mentioned anything about work. So Luke wasn’t the spoilt rich brat he’d mistaken him for?
“Yeah. We both work part-time at the book store in Old Town and Fridays are it’s late night opening.” Luke explained.
“That can't pay much.”
“Enough to live on… barely,” Luke mumbled the last word.
“Your parents can't help out?” Charlene asked over the young man's shoulder, a sudden concern for him sparking in her chest.
Luke smiled briefly over his shoulder at her. “Why would they?” He didn’t want to get into an explanation of why his father would only pay for the college course… it could lead to other more awkward questions. “I’d rather stay independent.”
“Oh, I see. Well… it’s settled then. Luke, you’re staying to dinner. We’ll have it early… it’s almost ready now. And then Noah can give you a lift into work,” she said matter-of-factly as she linked arms with both of the men and guided them up the steps. She smiled happily to herself; resolved to setting her mind to helping this young man…
…
Noah and his mom were setting the table outside on the patio while Luke had gone inside to clean up ready to eat.
“He reminds me of you, you know. Not letting his parents help him.” she looked sadly up at her son. She wished that he’d had a better relationship with Winston before he passed away.
Noah moved to the edge of the table to set a plate down. “It's not the same situation, Mom.” He really didn’t want to get into a discussion about his dad.
“Really? Know his situation, do you?” she paused and looked at him with a mother’s intuition. There was something going on here that her son wasn’t telling her.
Before Noah could reply, Luke re-emerged from the house and took his place at the table.
Once they had settled down to eat, Charlene turned to face Luke. “I’m glad you came back, Luke. Thank you, you’re being a great help to Noah… to both of us.”
Luke nodded and smiled widely at Noah’s mom; he was really beginning to like this woman.
He turned to face Noah across the table. “But, I don’t understand. If the nursery is such hard work, why not sell it? he asked as he absentmindedly scratched his chest through the thin material of his grey T-shirt.
Noah found himself lost for words; momentarily unable to reply as he sat transfixed by a tantalizing glimpse of chest hair just visible; exposed by the movement of Luke’s fingers.
Charlene jumped into the conversation, replying for her son. “Because when Noah has decided something, Luke, nothing can change his mind.”
Noah finally found his voice. “I bought it using the money my father left me when he died. Even though he was gone, I wanted to prove to him… to myself that I could do it. Selling it now would be like admitting I was wrong,” Noah sighed; it looked like they were going to have this conversation after all.
Luke looked at the dark-haired man curiously and with new appreciation; it seemed like he wasn't the only one who had a difficult relationship with their father.
“But at what cost, honey? Look what it's doing to you. You don't have a life.” Charlene’s words broke Luke's concentration and he turned to look at her.
“I go out. I hang around with Max.” Noah almost sounded like a petulant five-year-old and Luke's interest was piqued again. Max? Noah had never mentioned anybody called Max before. Who was this faceless man and what kind of relationship did he have with the handsome garden centre owner? Luke felt an unexplainable spark of jealousy flare inside him.
“Max! That's only when he twists your arm and you can't refuse.” Charlene huffed in exasperation. As proud as she was of her son; she hated that he didn’t have time for a life… wished he could find someone to share life’s experiences with.
“Even so, I don't want to sell the garden centre. We didn't always understand each other but I wanted to do something to make him proud of me.” He looked over at his mom, a silent understanding seeming to pass between them.
Charlene sighed as she got up to start clearing away. “We always understand people better after they've gone,” she shook her head sadly.
Luke knew that he was missing something. There was something going on here that he couldn't quite understand and he found himself suddenly wanting to know more.
But, not now. Now, he had to get to work; he’d already been late twice this month. He tried to look surreptitiously at his watch but Noah caught him out. “Are we boring you, Luke?” he joked.
“No,” he chuckled, slightly embarrassed. “It's just that I have to get to work.”
“Come on then. I believe I promised you a ride.” Noah smirked at Luke as he stood and pulled his keys out of his jeans pocket.
“Thank you for the food, Mrs. Mayer.” Luke waved goodbye.
“You're very welcome, sweetheart. And its Charlene,” she called after him as he left…
…
“There you go. Just in time,” Noah smiled over at Luke as he pulled his truck into the parking lot at the back of Old Town.
Luke checked his watch and reached for the door handle, sliding across the seat.
“Thanks for the ride. I appreciate it. So… I guess I'll see you Monday.”
“Sure. Unless you want to work the weekend?” Noah asked.
Luke shook his head and smiled. “Sorry, I work at the bookstore most weekends. The pay’s better!” he joked.
Noah couldn't help but chuckle at that.
In the dimness of the truck Noah spotted Luke's phone lying there on the front seat. “Wait, Luke! Your phone.” He picked it up and held it out to the younger man.
The handsome brunette’s voice stopped Luke just as he was about to open the door and he swivelled in the seat to face Noah.
“Ah man, thanks. I'd be lost without that!” he exclaimed with an embarrassed chuckle as he reached out to grab the phone.
As Luke's fingers curled around his phone they also curled around Noah's hand.
Noah froze in shock as he felt it… felt that undeniable and instantly recognisable spark like a surge of electricity that radiated out from Luke’s touch; up his arm and spreading over his body, making his nerve-ends tingle. And the longer the blonde’s fingers touched his, the stronger it became.
Judging by Luke’s reaction, the younger man felt it too. He pulled out of the grip, yanking his phone with him. “I’ve got to…” And then he was gone, slamming the door behind him.
“Oh shit!” Noah muttered as he watched Luke go …
Chapter 5
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