CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Jack had been on Luke’s mind almost constantly that day, probably because in less than a week he’d be in Ames Bridge for Cal and Beck’s wedding. In four months, he’d only talked to Jack twice, the second time just on the phone. Even though the day had passed quickly between work and school, he felt like the time he’d had with Jack was years ago, and he missed him desperately.
“Hey, you with me?”
Luke turned to see Yoshi holding out a broom. It was closing time, and Luke had agreed to clean the seating area while Yoshi started the dishwasher.
“Sorry, I, uh…”
“Based on that smile, I’d guess you were thinking about your man? You going to see him while you’re home?”
Luke sighed. “I’m not supposed to. We agreed not to talk until the end of next semester.”
“Yeah, but look what happened at Christmas.”
In a moment of drunken weakness, Luke had confessed what he and Jack had done. He’d thought Yoshi was too drunk to remember; he’d been wrong.
“That…” Who was he kidding? “That was awesome.”
“Right? How long were you two together before you moved up here?”
“Nine weeks and two days.”
“And you need six months apart?” Yoshi shook his head. “That’s messed up.”
Was it? “Maybe.”
“I guess I shouldn’t be interfering. If you think it’s right for you, then that’s fine. I just don’t know how you plan to go that long without a fuck.”
Luke groaned. “Neither do I.”
“Then why don’t you change the rules?”
Luke pondered his suggestion. He’d been trying to figure out how he’d get through the wedding without grabbing Jack and dragging him off down one of the riding trails. He’d been on his own for months. He’d made friends. He was making good grades. He’d dealt with all kinds of grown-up shit. But the one thing that hadn’t changed was wanting Jack, and when he got home, he was going to tell him that.
“You know what?”
“What?” Yoshi asked with a smirk.
“Changing the rules is exactly what I’m going to do.”
***
Two days before Cal and Beck’s wedding, Luke’s phone rang. It was his mother.
He answered with a tentative “hello.”
“What time are you leaving to come home?”
“I’m not sure.” He had no intention of promising a time because he was going straight to see Jack.
“Well, I hope you’ve decided to stay with us.”
“Mama, I told you I would stay with friends.”
She huffed. “Luke Sumner, I will not have you staying with that man.”
Luke bit back the ugly words he wanted to blurt out. “His name is Jack, and if I want to stay with him, then I will.”
“If you stay here, you can bring your laundry, and I can cook for you and—”
“Mama, I’ve done my own laundry for the last four months. I’m not going to ask you to do it now.”
She sighed. “I do hope you’ve been separating your colors and using bleach on your whites.”
Luke hated the smell of bleach, but if he told his mother he simply took all his dirty clothes, dumped them in the washer, and turned it on—without any ill effect so far—she might pass out. “I appreciate you wanting to make sure I’m taken care of, but I can handle it.”
“All right, but if you change your mind, you’re welcome anytime. You always will be.”
He dreaded what he had to say, but he needed to do it anyway. “Mama?”
“Yes, honey?”
“You know I decided to take some time on my own, and I haven’t been seeing Jack since I moved into my apartment.”
“Yes, I was so happy about that, but—”
“Mama, are you going to hear this or not?”
“Well, of course I am.”
She didn’t even get that she’d interrupted him. “Jack thought I needed time to see what living on my own was like and to meet more people my own age.”
“That’s very sensible of him. I don’t know what he was thinking going after someone as young as you. He’d always seemed like a decent man otherwise.”
Luke blew out a breath.
“I’m sorry. I just want you to be happy.”
“Jack makes me happy. That’s what I’ve figured out during our time apart. I like school. I’ve made some friends, and now I can make a dam-darn good cup of coffee.”
“I hope you watch your language while you’re working.”
“Yes, ma’am. I do. But I miss Jack.”
“Luke—”
“I love him, and I want him back in my life. I plan to tell him that when I get to town tomorrow. I know it’s not what you want, but—”
“You love him? You really love him?” His mother sounded shocked.
“I do. I’ve missed him every day. It’s been so hard not to call or even text him.”
“Oh, honey.”
He grabbed a Coke from the fridge, needing something to wet his throat. “I don’t want to disappoint you.”
“You… That’s exactly how I felt when your father was deployed right before we got married.”
“It…is?” His mom had never told him much about their lives before they were married.
“Yes. He tried to call every few weeks, but we only got to talk for a few minutes, and the connection was never reliable. Of course, we didn’t have texting or anything like that back then. If you really feel like that about Jack… Well, I still think it would be better for you to find someone closer to your age, but love… You just can’t fight it.”
Luke’s eyes stung with unshed tears. “No, you can’t.”
“I didn’t want your father to join the army. I tried to convince myself I didn’t want to date him anymore when he did, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop loving him.”
Luke had no idea his parents had come that close to splitting up. “I love you, Mama.”
“I love you too. Come see us after you talk to Jack, okay?”
“I will. Thank you for taking such good care of me.”
“I know I’m too much sometimes. I just get scared, but I’ll try to do better.”
“How about this: you promise to listen when I say I need some space, and I’ll promise to say it nicely and try harder to understand where you’re coming from.”
“Okay.” Her voice caught. “I can do that.”
“I wish I could hug you right now.”
“Me too, but at least I can hug you tomorrow.”
“Yes, you can.”