Collision chapter 40
"Arrested?" Reid asked incredulously. "For what?"
Luke continued to tell Reid the story he just learned from Mike. As it turned out, Kevin was suspected of tax fraud. When he was investigated , it was found out that Kevin not only owed the government money, but a lot of other people as well.
"But he must bring home a decent paycheck-Where does all of that go?" Reid asked, sitting down next to Luke at the table.
"Well, it turns out Kevin likes to gamble. A lot." Luke explained. "But apparently, he's not very good at it. He owes some really shady people money. God, it's just so unreal. I mean, we were never really friends, but we did get along. How did I or anybody else not notice this?"
"People who are addicted can be extremely careful and resourceful in hiding it.” Reid said.
“Yeah, maybe. He must be really addicted, because he does make a lot of money, as you said.” Luke sighed. “It’s just… I feel like I should have noticed. I mean, we are on the national team together.”
“What’s going to happen now? Does he have to go to prison?” Reid asked.
“I don’t know. God, I hope not. I have no idea how much money is involved, Mike just told me the headlines, so to speak. I’ll probably learn more details once I get back to Barcelona.”
Luke suddenly realised something. Before the accident on the field, Kevin had wanted to talk to him. After it happened, he never said anything about it again.
“Do you think that’s what he wanted to talk to me about?” He asked Reid.
Reid frowned. “You mean before the accident?” Luke nodded.
“I don’t know. Could be.” Reid shrugged. “Do you really want to know? Maybe it’s best to stay out of it and not get involved.”
Luke smacked him on the arm. “Don’t be like that. He’s my teammate and if he trusted me enough to talk to me about it, maybe he’ll let me help him now.” He stood up and made his way back to the bedroom. “I’m going to try and call him.”
When he returned a few minutes later, Reid asked, “Any luck?”
“No, I got his voicemail.” Reid rolled his eyes. That would make sense when someone was arrested, right?
Luke hesitated. “Do you think I should call his parents? See if they know anything?”
“Maybe you should let it rest for a few days. There’s nothing you can do right now. Besides, Mr Jackson could very well be out on bail today or tomorrow.” He walked towards Luke, rested his hands on his hips and leaned in to kiss Luke briefly.
“Listen, I have to go into work, but I shouldn’t be long. So dinner tonight?” He cocked his head. “Are you cooking again?”
Luke shook his head laughing. “No, but I am willing to order something. Just text me when you leave the hospital okay?”
“Okay.” Reid kissed Luke again before heading towards the bathroom to take a quick shower.
Luke sat down again, leaning his head on his hand. Could it be that Kevin’s gambling problem was what he wanted to talk about? Was he going to ask Luke for money?
Luke knew he couldn’t rest until he knew the whole story and he wanted to hear it from Kevin himself.
He decided to send Kevin’s mother a text that he had heard about what happened and if there was any way he could get in contact with Kevin.
He sighed and stared into nothing, thinking about his interactions with Kevin before the accident. He tried to find something that could have been a clue; something that hinted at the situation that Kevin was in. But he came up with nothing. The only thing Luke had noticed about Kevin was he seemed to zero in on that part of Luke that he kept secret until now, but that had nothing to do with what was happening now.
He hoped Kevin’s mother would answer him soon, because he really wanted to talk to Kevin and see if he could help him out. The fact that he was leaving for Barcelona the very next day wasn’t helping. But he couldn’t postpone it any longer, the new season started next week and he had to be there. He already stayed at Reid’s much longer than he had planned beforehand, which meant that he didn’t even have time to visit his family before he flew back. He told his father the news a few days ago and he wasn’t happy about it, but understood Luke’s need to stay with Reid as long as possible. His mother still hadn’t contacted him and when Luke asked his father about it, he didn’t really get an answer. Lily hadn’t talked to Holden about it, in fact, she hadn’t mentioned Luke since he left. It hurt Luke to learn this about his own mother who seemed to cut him out of her life because of his sexual orientation.
Reid had been very understanding and sweet when Luke told him about it, tears threatening to fall from his eyes. He simply held Luke, he didn’t tell him that everything was going to be okay, because Reid never made a promise which he wasn’t certain he could keep.
Saying goodbye to Reid would be the most difficult thing he ever had to do. Luke already decided that he wanted to say goodbye at Reid’s apartment and not at the airport. He didn’t want any emotional scenes in public; he didn’t want to draw any more attention to himself than necessary. As always he was using his grandmother’s jet to fly to Barcelona. He had gotten so used to flying in a private plane that if Lucinda ever thought of selling her plane, Luke knew he would buy one himself. He had more than enough money for it even if he only used it a couple of times a year.
Maybe he should buy one anyway, Luke pondered, to make it easier for Reid to come visit him as long as he wasn’t able to move to Barcelona. It frustrated them both that until now there wasn’t a hospital able to offer Reid the position he wanted and needed. It left them with an uncertain future, not knowing when they would be able to see each other again.
So tonight was going to be their last night together and Luke was determined to make it count. When he still didn’t hear from Kevin’s mother by two o’clock, he decided to push the whole Kevin-situation out of his mind and focus on his last night with Reid.
*
The next morning, Reid woke with Luke draped over him, their legs tangled together. He felt warm puffs of air graze his chest every few seconds.
He tightened the arm he had around Luke’s shoulder a bit, already knowing he was going to miss these quiet moments in the morning.
They didn’t get much sleep last night. When Reid got home, Luke had food waiting for him and they ate together, sharing stories, kisses and touches.
When they finished dessert, Reid had lead Luke to his bed and proceeded to make love to him for hours, leaving him a sobbing, writhing mess, begging for release.
When they snuggled up to each other after, they couldn’t stop touching, kissing softly but intensely, not wanting the night to end.
But of course, as everything else, this night also came to an end and Reid knew they had to get up soon if Luke was going to make it to the airport on time.
He tried to dislodge his limbs from Luke’s without waking him and slid off the bed to make some coffee. He stared out of the window, the sound of the coffeemaker filling the kitchen. He honestly didn’t know how he was going to get through the days without Luke here. Reid had gotten so used to him being here, being with him every day, that he just knew the days and nights ahead of him would feel empty and cold.
It made him even more determined to try and get a position at a hospital in Barcelona, even though up till now his attempts were unsuccessful.
Two warm strong arms around his waist shook him out of his thoughts.
“Morning.” Luke murmured with his lips against Reid’s neck.
Reid placed his hands over Luke’s on his stomach and leaned back, his body moulding into Luke’s.
“I made coffee.” He said, unmoving.
Luke hummed, but didn’t move either. They just stood there, enjoying each other’s warmth and presence. After a few minutes Luke stood up straight and turned Reid around.
“Come on, I want to take a shower with you.” He grabbed Reid’s hand and pulled him towards the bathroom.
They took a long shower together, savouring each other, touching, kissing, bringing each other to climax with urgent strokes, making memories that were meant to help them last through the time they were forced to spend apart.
*
Hours later Luke stared out of the window of the private plane, his mind filled with images of Reid and their desperate goodbye. The hardest part was that neither of them knew when they were going to see each other again. It felt as an indefinite goodbye, maybe even a farewell, even though that wasn’t what either of them wanted.
Luke remembered Reid’s promises that he would do everything in his power to try and get a job in Barcelona and his mumbled “I love you so much,” had a sadness to it that struck Luke to the core. He remembered his own clinging to Reid, not wanting to let him go and the last touch of their hands when Luke finally turned around and walked out the door.
Now, sitting in the luxurious plane, staring at the clouds beneath him, he wiped at his eyes, trying to stop the tears that kept threatening to escape his eyes.
“When, Reid? When will I see you again?” He whispered, letting his head fall against the window.
The beeping of his phone startled him and he reached for it immediately, hoping it was a message from Reid.
But it turned out to be Kevin’s mother, informing him that Kevin had been released on bail and due to a special deal, would be able to leave the country to join the team in Barcelona.
That meant Luke would see him soon. He hesitated for a moment, but then quickly wrote a text to Kevin, telling him he heard about what happened and that if he wanted to talk about it, he could come to Luke’s tomorrow before the whole circus around the season-start began.
The rest of the flight went by without any disturbances and when Luke got off the plane in Barcelona, he breathed in the warm air and he actually felt happy to be back in the city where he lived for years now.
It didn’t take him long to get to his house and when he stepped in, he let his bags fall on the living room floor and went immediately outside on the balcony.
He took in the amazing view and smiled. It felt good to be back. The only thing that could make it better, was if Reid was here with him.
Luke took out his phone and he texted Reid that he had landed safely and was back in his house. He didn’t expect an answer right away. There was a time difference between them now and Reid could very well be in surgery.
Luke yawned, the flight and saying goodbye to Reid caught up with him. He went inside, made his way to the kitchen and rummaged around the cabinets in search of food. The fridge was fully stocked by his housekeeper, but nothing looked appealing. He finally settled on some soup, heated it quickly and ate it standing at the kitchen counter.
He carried his bags to his bedroom, only got out what he needed right now, resisting the urge to fall into bed immediately. After he peed and brushed his teeth, he undressed himself and crawled into bed in his boxers, too tired to care about sleep pants or a t-shirt.
*
Luke woke in the middle of the night, startled and unfamiliar with his surroundings. He let himself fall back onto the pillows, remembering where he was and why he felt cold.
He missed Reid’s warmth, his arms around him and his breath against his shoulder.
Luke rubbed his eyes and got out of bed. He was wide awake now, his body thought it was morning already. After taking a quick shower, he grabbed his phone from the night stand and went to the kitchen to make some sort of breakfast, even though it wasn’t even morning yet.
He scanned through his messages, happy to find one from Reid, (Good. Now get some rest. Love you) and one from Kevin (Thanks. I’ll be at your place around 10 okay?).
Luke frowned. That was short, even for Kevin. Then he shrugged it off, he’d probably hear all about Kevin’s troubles in the morning.
After eating a small breakfast, Luke worked out in his built-in gym, running 5 miles and lifting weights. After about an hour he decided to give his muscles some rest and went for another shower.
By now the sun was coming up and Luke really didn’t know what to do with his time until Kevin would meet him.
But it turned out his body knew better what Luke needed, because as soon as he fell down on the couch, he fell asleep.
*