CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Jack had spent a restless night wondering what implications would arise from him being seen with Luke. He was sure that, despite their being in New Mexico, his parents would hear about it soon enough. They knew he was bi. They didn’t like it, but they’d gotten used to him making his own choices. He wasn’t sure how they’d feel about him dating Luke. He probably needed to call them, but he would put it off for a little while. He considered texting Luke to see how he was doing, but he had to rush to get breakfast ready for his guests. If something came up, Luke would call him.
Once all the guests had been served, Jack double-checked which rooms needed to be cleaned first and responded to a few urgent emails. He had plenty of paperwork to take care of, but he was restless with the threat of exposure hanging over him. He considered calling Trish, confessing what had happened, and asking her to help stifle any rumors she heard. But she was Luke’s aunt, so it really wasn’t his place to tell her. He texted Brad instead. He was the only person other than Scott that Jack had talked to about Luke. Scott was trying to wrap his brain around Jack’s interest in Luke, but Brad—having come out to a mix of support and opposition at their recent high-school reunion—was behind him one hundred percent. That was what he needed that morning.
I need to talk to you. ASAP.
I’m working at Central Sandwich. Come join me?
Be there in ten.
He parked in the lot by the railroad tracks and headed toward the shop. He was almost there when someone hollered to him.
“Lawrence, what the fuck, man?”
It was Troy Anderson, one of the last people Jack wanted to see.
“What’s up, Troy?” Jack was afraid he knew, but he worked to keep his expression neutral.
“I heard you had Luke Sumner out to your cabin.”
“Where’d you hear that?” Jack focused on his phone so Troy couldn’t see his expression.
“From Craig and Ned.”
Ah, yes. Those were their names.
“They said you kissed him so hard, they thought you might fuck him right there in your damn driveway.”
A woman walking by with two young children glared at Troy.
“For God’s sake, keep your voice down,” Jack said.
“So were they drunk or what?”
“Probably.” Jack hoped he’d managed to keep his tone light.
“That’s what I said. I told them you weren’t no fag.”
“Look, I gotta go. I’m meeting someone.”
“So Luke wasn’t really there?”
Shit, what was he supposed to say? A lie would surely come back to bite him in the ass. “I don’t know what they saw.”
He kept walking, but Troy followed him. “They said they were sure it was him.”
“Look, I’ve got to go.”
Troy stared at him. “Oh my God.”
“Goodbye, Troy.”
He picked up his pace.
“I can’t believe it.”
“Troy, stay out of this.”
“You’re telling me—”
Jack whirled to face him. “They misunderstood what they saw. And I don’t need you getting involved.”
“So you’re not gay?” Troy wrinkled his nose like he was suggesting Jack might have a horrid, contagious disease.
Jack walked away because if he didn’t, he was going to punch Troy like Pax had a few months ago at Jack and Brad’s twentieth reunion. Troy deserved it now as much as he had then.
Troy must’ve given up, because he didn’t follow Jack into the sandwich shop. Jack could barely think clearly enough to place his order.
“I’m in trouble,” he said when he slid into the seat across from Brad.
Brad’s eyes widened when he saw Jack, making Jack wonder if he looked as bad as he felt.
“Shit, why didn’t you say things were this bad? I would’ve come to the inn.”
“You were working, and until Troy confronted me outside, I didn’t actually know how bad things were.”
“Oh no. Does this have to do with you and Luke?”
Jack nodded. “Craig and Ned—they’re a year younger than us—”
“I know who they are.”
“They saw me and Luke leaving my cabin.” Jack kept his voice low. The shop was nearly empty, so it was unlikely anyone would hear, not that it really mattered. Rumors about him and Luke were likely all over town by now.
“Are you sure they didn’t just assume he’d come out there to fish?”
If only. “No, they told Troy they saw me kissing him.”
Brad raised his brows. “Did they?”
Jack sighed. “Yeah, probably.”
“What the hell were you—”
Jack held up a hand. “I know it was stupid, but we’re so isolated out there. My neighbor—he must be Craig’s granddad, based on his name—is rarely there, and I’ve never seen Craig or any of his friends out there before.”
“Shit,” was all Brad had to say.
Jack dropped his head into his hands. “What am I going to do?”
“Come out so you control how this gets presented?”
“Too late. Half the damn town probably knows by now.”
“Still, I think it would be better to just own it. Although Craig’s not the most reliable informant, so maybe people won’t believe him.”
“It’s a fairly far-fetched story to make up.”
“True, and…”
He could tell from Brad’s hesitation he wouldn’t like what came next. “And what?”
“Cindy, Pax’s assistant at the gallery, was asking the other day if y’all were together.”
“Fuck, what did you tell her?”
“I just shrugged it off.”
“When we saw Craig and Ned watching us, I asked Luke if he wanted to just tell people, but he wasn’t ready to confront his mom since we weren’t sure what they’d seen.”
Brad grimaced. “Does Trish know?”
“I think so, but we haven’t talked about it openly.”
“Talk to her. See what she thinks you should do.”
Was that really the right thing? “But Luke—”
“I respect that he doesn’t want people to know, but now that they do, you need Trish on your side.”
“All right. Thanks.”
“You know Pax and I have your back. And I think I can speak for Cal and Beck too.”
Jack nodded. If he didn’t have them, the storm that was coming his way might break him.
“Even Scott’s been great,” Brad said. “And you know his mom will stand by you.”
“You really think Miss Irene’s okay with me sleeping with a man she probably thinks of as a kid?”
Brad narrowed his eyes. “Do you see him as a kid?”
“Hell, no. But plenty of people do. They’ll think I’ve taken advantage of him and turned him gay.” And if any hint of what they did together got out, if someone saw the marks he’d put on Luke, he’d lose the inn for sure.
Brad laid a hand on his arm. “Jack?”
He took a deep breath. “I’ll be okay. I’m going to go see Trish.”
“Okay, but call me if you need anything.”
Jack nodded. “I will.”
***
Jack used the side door to enter Trish’s. Lulu Johnson glanced up from her table, and her mouth dropped open. She whirled around and started talking animatedly to the other women at her table. Perfect.
He settled at the end of the bar, and after a few moments Trish stepped out from the kitchen. Her mouth tightened when she saw him.
“I was hoping I could talk to you somewhere private.”
She exhaled loudly. “Come on into the break room.” She lifted the cut-through panel in the counter, and Jack hurried through.
When she’d shooed one of the waitresses out and shut the door, she pinned Jack with a cold stare. “Start talking.”
“You were right when you implied that Luke and I were seeing each other.”
Trish rolled her eyes. “Of course I was right.”
“I care about him, and I’ve tried to take good care of him.”
“I told you he doesn’t need taking care of. He just needs someone who values him for the man he is.”
“I do,” Jack insisted.
“Are you sure?”
Had he just been protecting Luke too? Fuck. “Maybe I’ve not shown how I feel in the right way.”
Trish smiled, softening her stance. “You care enough to consider your actions. That’s good enough for me. Tell me what happened to get those biddies out there gossiping.”
If things weren’t so serious, Jack would’ve laughed at Trish condemning someone for gossip.
“Luke was with me at my cabin. There’s never been anyone around when he’s been out there, but Craig and Ned saw us leaving, and apparently they told everyone they know.”
“Has Luke told his parents?”
“When I realized they’d seen us, I asked him if he wanted to, but he said no. He’s as worried about how old I am as he is about coming out.”
Trish nodded. “That is a lot for his parents to take in at once.”
“They’re going to hate me, aren’t they?”
“I won’t lie to you. Susanna will think you’ve corrupted her precious boy, but I’ll set her straight.”
“You will?” Jack hadn’t expected that.
“Yes, but Luke really needs to talk to her. She and the rest of his family are going to find out soon, if they haven’t already.”
“I don’t want Luke to face this alone. Should I go out there?”
She shook her head. “Sit here. I’ll give Susanna a call. I can find out if she already knows.”
Trish stepped out of the room to make her call. When she came back, the look on her face told Jack that things were bad.
“What did she say?”
“I didn’t get to talk to her. My niece informed me they’d heard about ‘the disgraceful shit Luke had gotten himself into’ and that Susanna has gone to talk to him.”
“Oh my God.”
“I called her cell three times, but she didn’t pick up,” Trish said.
“Will he be okay?”
“My sister will try to put a guilt trip on him. She’ll probably bad-mouth you, but she and Dan are good people, just overprotective.”
Jack sighed. “I get why, but they’ve got to let him grow up.”
“Do you know he wants to go to school? I think that would be the best thing for him.”
“Me too, and I encouraged him.”
Trish patted his arm. “You’re a good man, Jack. Just be sure you know what you’re doing.”
“I almost refused to go out with him when he asked, but he’s…persuasive.”
She rolled her eyes. “Why do you think he always runs the farm stand?”
“He told me that was because they won’t let him do much of the physical labor.”
“That might be part of it, but he’s the best sales—” Trish’s phone buzzed. She yanked it from her apron and looked at the screen. “It’s Susanna.”
Jack could hear Susanna’s agitated voice, but he couldn’t make out the words. All he got was Trish’s side of the conversation. “No, I haven’t seen him…Yes, I heard that…I’m really not surprised…I understand, but Luke is all grown up…Do you need me to come out there…All right. I’ll let you know if I see him or hear anything.”
Trish huffed as she ended the call. “If she’d been more understanding, maybe he wouldn’t have run off.”
“What happened?” Jack thought he’d pieced it together from what he heard, but he wanted to be sure.
“Susanna went over to his apartment, got him out of bed, and lit into him. Their conversation didn’t go well—as if it could have—and he took off.”
“Shit.”
“She was hoping he’d come here. Do you have any idea where he’d go?”
Jack pulled out his phone even though he was sure he hadn’t missed a call. “No. He should’ve called me.”
“I doubt he’s thinking straight right now.”
Jack’s pulse thumped against his chest. “Maybe after what his mother said, he’s pissed at me, or—”
Trish shook her head. “If he’d listened to whatever nonsense she told him, he wouldn’t have run.”
“Maybe not, but…”
“Lucy might know where he’d go. I’ll call her.”
Jack paced the small room while Trish waited for someone at the bakery to answer. Finally she had Lucy on the line.
“Yes, she called me too. Have you got any idea where he might go to be on his own…Wait. Explain that to Jack. He’s the one who’ll be going to find him…Of course you did. Now here he is.”
As Trish handed over the phone, she whispered, “Lucy suspected y’all were a couple.”
Jack rolled his eyes. This damn town. “Lucy?”
“Hey, Jack, I’ve got an idea where Luke might be. There’s a place in the woods near the bridge where we used to go sometime back in high school. I don’t think our parents ever knew about it. It’s not easy to find, but I think I can explain it to you.”
Jack grabbed some paper and a pen from one of the shelves and made notes as she talked.
“You think you got it?”
“I do. Thank you, and if you have any other ideas, call me or Trish.”
“Aunt Susanna will kill me if she knows I talked to you.”
“I won’t say a thing. Thank you for trusting me.”
“He’s been happier the last few weeks than I’ve ever seen him except maybe the week he moved out of the farmhouse. You must be good for him.”
“I thought so too, but now…”
“Don’t let Aunt Susanna get to you. She’s nuts when it comes to Luke, but eventually she’ll adjust if she sees that he’s truly okay.”
“Thanks.”
“Go after him.”
Jack hung up and looked at Trish. “I’ll let you know when I find him. You can tell his family, but I won’t push him to go back to them.”
Trish nodded. “I wouldn’t expect that. They need time to settle down anyway. I’ll go out there this evening.”
He hugged her. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. If Lucy’s wrong and he’s not there, we can gather some others to help.”
“Thanks.”
Please let Luke be okay, he prayed as he walked to his SUV. Why the hell hadn’t Luke called him? He shouldn’t have been driving when he was that upset. He shouldn’t be alone.
***
Jack found the clearing Lucy had described, but Luke wasn’t there. Once he was back in the parking area where the service was better, he checked his phone. Still no response from Luke. He called Trish, but she hadn’t heard anything. Shit, where was he?
Dear God, please let him be okay.
Jack’s pulse pounded in his ears as he walked back to his car. He checked his phone. What should he do now?
The phone rang as he was backing out of his parking spot. He stopped the car and grabbed it, praying it was Luke. It was Cal. Shit! They had a meeting scheduled that morning. Jack answered the call.
“Hello.”
“I’m at the inn.”
“I’m sorry.” They were supposed to be negotiating a special rate on trail rides for Jack’s guests. He’d forgotten everything once he’d heard that Luke had taken off. “It’s been a rough morning.”
“Yeah, Luke’s here in your office, and he needs you.”
“He’s there?” Why the hell hadn’t he called?
“Yes.”
“And he’s okay?”
Cal cleared his throat. “I wouldn’t say that exactly, but he’s not injured or anything.”
“I don’t know what you’ve heard or what he told you, but his mom found out the two of us have been seeing each other. They argued and he took off.”
“Without his phone,” Cal added.
Well, that explained it. But wait. “There’s a phone on my desk.”
“Nobody memorizes numbers anymore.” You fool. Cal didn’t have to say the words for Jack to hear them. “Without his phone he didn’t know how to call you, so he just came here.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m—”
“Flustered? Anybody would be,” Cal said. “If Beck ran off and I didn’t know where he was, I’d lose my mind.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Now come take care of your man.”
If Jack went to the inn, he wouldn’t be able to talk to Luke. And he’d get caught up in dealing with any problems that had arisen with guests or staff while he was gone.
“Can I ask you a huge favor?”
“Whatever you need,” Cal said.
“Would you drive Luke out to my cabin so we can have some privacy?”
“Absolutely. I’d planned to be here for a while anyway.”
“Thanks. I owe you. I’ll be out there as soon as I can.” Thank God for good people like Cal.
“You don’t owe me a thing. I’ll keep Luke safe for you.”
Jack put the car into reverse again and tried to think of the fastest route to the cabin. His need to see Luke, to hold him, felt like it might break him in two.
***
When Jack was about ten minutes from the cabin, Cal called again.
“Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, I just dropped Luke off. I offered to stay, but he insisted I head on home. If you think I should go back—”
“No, I’ll be there soon. Thanks again. For all of this.”
“I’m worried about him. His family, they’re—”
“Overprotective? Stifling?”
Cal snorted. “Also loving and concerned and have always been close.”
“I know, and I understand what a big deal this is for him.”
“It’s not exactly going to be a piece of cake for you either.”
Jack blew out a long breath. “No, it’s not.”
“Things are pretty serious between you two, aren’t they?”
“I guess so, but I don’t know how that happened.”
Cal chuckled. “You love him, and love isn’t something you can control.”
“I like him. I—”
“Bullshit.”
He was right. Jack was in love with Luke. He couldn’t deny it anymore. “Fine, I love him.”
“You’ve got a lot to work out, then. But Beck and I have got your back, and plenty of others do too.”
“If Trish sides with me and Luke, what will that do to Luke’s family?”
“They’ll work it out. Trish has always been opinionated and happy to voice exactly what she thinks. But her family loves her anyway, and most times, they come over to her way of thinking.”
“That’s what I thought.” He hoped it would prove true this time.
“Whatever you need. Just let us know.”
“I will, Cal. Thanks.” He ended the call as he turned onto his road.