FIC: Choices (2/2)
A Luke/Reid fic in which Luke and someone else both want Reid. (As the World Turns, PG-13)
Title: Choices
Author: sleeper6
Characters: Luke/Reid, past Reid/OC
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 3080
Summary: Luke realizes he wants Reid, but does someone else want him too?
Disclaimer: All belongs to As the World Turns, not me.
Author's notes: Birthday fic request for my awesome friend, freakandwack, who gave me the prompt; takes place after the May 31st episode; AU. Hope you enjoy it!
“How was your date?”
Reid almost slammed the locker door onto his hand. He whirled around to see a red-faced Luke.
“What the hell are you doing, Luke? You can’t be in here.”
Luke didn’t move. “Oh, relax, I’ve been in here before and you never said anything.”
Reid walked towards Luke as he ushered him out. “Well, I’m saying something now. Out, Mr. Snyder.”
Once in the corridor, Reid fixed his coat and looked at Luke, who was glaring at him.
“So how was it?”
“That’s none of your business.”
“I just saw him leave. Did you two drive over from his place or yours?”
“We were just eating breakfast, Luke” Reid said with a laugh.
“After spending the night together?” asked Luke, his voice and face a mixture of anger and sadness with just the lightest hint of hope.
Yes, Reid wanted to reply. Yes, we spent the night together. I was with a man who likes me, who chooses me, who wants to be alone with me. But Reid’s brain rarely let him lie and this time was no exception. He and James had left the restaurant and parted ways in the parking lot. James had tried to kiss him before getting into his car, but Reid had turned away. He and James shared a history, a significant history, but what James now clearly wanted in the present, Reid had long ago left in the past. Still, he wasn’t ready to tell Luke the truth and give him the upper hand.
“Don’t you have to go to work or something? Do you ever work, Luke?” Reid asked.
Luke glanced at his watch. “I have a very important meeting today, for your information.”
“Well, then, maybe you should get to it,” Reid said, walking down the corridor to see his first patient of the day.
Luke followed. “Noah came to the party after all. He kissed me and I kissed him.”
Reid smirked slightly. He knew Luke was lying-Luke Snyder had the world’s worst poker face-but he still felt the slight tug in his chest that always surfaced when that guy’s name was mentioned. He kept walking. “Good for you. Be sure and tell me where to send you your wedding gift.”
Luke grabbed Reid’s arm to stop him. “Reid, wait.”
Reid sighed. “What, Luke?”
“Noah wasn’t there. He was at my house earlier but he didn’t kiss me. I made that part up,” Luke said, a red tint on his cheeks.
Reid stared at Luke. “Why?”
Luke shrugged. “I don’t-I-are-are you going to see that guy later again?”
Reid wasn’t in the mood to discuss anything with Luke-not Noah or James or what he still felt for Luke. “Maybe,” he said and walked away.
Luke scratched his head as he stared at the computer screen in his office. He needed to know who the mystery man was who’d suddenly appeared, threatening to steal Reid away from him.
Luke sighed. Okay, he thought, the guy isn’t taking Reid from me since Reid isn’t mine. He could’ve been, though, if only I hadn’t been so weak and scared.
Luke knew, by the way he felt in every inch of his body that he wanted Reid. Not curiously or hesitantly or maybe. No, he was sure, absolutely and positively, that he wanted to be with Reid, alone and in every way. Seeing and talking to Noah again-the normal Noah, who was just as angry and distant as blind Noah-made Luke realize how much he didn’t want to be with Noah ever again.
Now, Luke had to find out Mr. Mystery’s identity, get him away from Reid, and then do whatever it’d take to convince Reid that he was Luke’s one and only choice.
“Mr. Snyder, your appointment is here,” Luke’s assistant’s voice broke through his thoughts.
He pressed the intercom button. “Send him in.”
Luke straightened his tie and stood as the tall black-haired man that he’d seen with Reid-the mystery man himself-walked in.
He approached Luke’s desk and extended his hand. “Hello. James Nokes. Nice to meet you, Mr. Snyder.”
“Mr. Nokes? From Dallas?”
“Yes.”
Luke’s brain speedily stored the information. “From Resource Center Dallas?”
“I am whom you were expecting, aren’t I?” James asked, a hint of confusion on his face.
Luke grinned. “Yes, you are.” He motioned to the chair in front of his desk. “Please, have a seat, Mr. Nokes.”
James sat. “You can call me James.”
“And you can call me Luke.”
Luke stared at the man and couldn’t stop grinning. He couldn’t believe his luck, that the man he was most interested in at the moment (besides Reid, of course) had walked into his office as easily as this.
“Shall we get started?” James asked, opening his black briefcase.
“Sure,” Luke said.
Luke had invited James from Resource Center Dallas, which operated one of the largest LGBT community centers in the country, to Oakdale to talk about its services, which Luke’s foundation could hopefully offer locally. The fact that the organization was in Dallas was purely coincidental.
They spent the morning discussing the center in Dallas and the foundation in Oakdale and how each could help the other.
Luke was impressed with James, who knew more about gay rights than any person he’d ever talked to. Listening to him and looking at the way he talked made Luke see what Reid probably saw in him. Though James and Reid weren’t exactly similar (but then again, no one is like Reid, Luke thought), James was interesting and easy to talk to, not to mention very attractive.
James’s phone buzzed with a new message. He checked it and smiled as he read it. He looked at Luke. “Luke, as much as I could talk non-stop about all this with you, I think we both need to reenergize a bit. What time are we breaking for lunch?”
Luke immediately knew who the message was from. “Oh, uh, I thought we could work through lunch.”
James chuckled. “You’re kidding.”
Luke forced a laugh. “Yeah, um, do you want to order in? I know a great place that delivers.”
“I was going to go try a restaurant I read about.”
“Which one? I’m sure I know it. I can go with you.”
James looked at his watch and back up at Luke. “I was going to meet someone for lunch.”
“Oh. You know people here?”
James smiled, his eyes shining. “One person, actually. We knew each other in Dallas a long time ago, lost touch and we finally ran into each other again yesterday. He’s working here now.”
Luke had suspected that James and Reid had a past; this confirmed it. “So you’re really from Dallas?”
“I’m from Providence. I went to school in Boston-BU-and then went to live in Dallas so now I am from there.”
Luke nodded.
“Why?” asked James, looking curiously at Luke.
“Just wondering,” Luke said, looking down at his watch. “Well, yeah, if you want to go now, that’s fine. We’ll meet back here in half an hour.”
“What?”
Luke laughed. “I’m joking, James. An hour and a half?”
James laughed too. “That’s more like it.” He stood and checked his wallet. “I need to make sure I have enough money. This guy eats more than a horse.” He waved as he walked out. “See you later.”
Luke grabbed his own wallet out of his desk and followed James.
“So you do like it here.”
Reid shrugged as he ate a mouthful of pasta. “It grows on you.”
James nodded thoughtfully. “I guess. The people seem nice. This guy I met today, Luke Snyder, is very sweet and-”
Reid stopped chewing. “Luke Snyder?”
“Yeah, you know him?”
“Uh, he’s a donor to my hospital wing.”
“He’s a nice guy, a bit nosy, though.”
Reid smiled. “Inquisitive.”
James laughed. “And a bit too interested if you know what I mean.”
Reid stopped smiling. “No, what do you mean?”
“Some of the questions were getting personal.”
“That’s just the way he is; he wants to be your friend,” Reid shot back.
“I hope that’s all. He almost didn’t let me come here.”
“Did he know you were meeting me?”
“He knew I was meeting someone.”
Reid laughed.
James leaned towards Reid. “What? Reid, what is it?”
“Excuse me, gentlemen,” the waiter interrupted as he set two glasses of red wine on their table. “These drinks are from the man over there. Enjoy.”
“Oh, wow,” James said as he looked over at the table in the corner. Luke waved at him.
Reid wiped his mouth with his napkin.
“You see,” James whispered, “I knew I wasn’t imagining things.”
Reid bit back a grin.
Luke sauntered over to their table and stood with his hands in his pockets, looking at James but glancing at Reid out of the corner of his eyes.
“Hey, James, I didn’t know you were talking about this restaurant. I come here all the time. The food’s great, isn’t it?”
James smiled nervously. “Yes, yes, it is. Um, Luke, you know Reid.”
Luke turned to Reid and nodded in acknowledgement. “Dr. Oliver.”
Reid mirrored Luke. “Mr. Snyder.”
Luke turned back to James. “I hope you like the wine. I didn’t know whether to get you the red or the white. I’m so bad at making decisions sometimes and I usually choose the wrong one at first but then I come to my senses and pick the right one in the end, when it really counts,” Luke said in a rush. He quickly glanced at Reid, who was looking at him with a huge smirk on his face. “Well, enjoy the rest of your meal, and I’ll see you in a while, James.”
Luke turned and began walking away.
James stood.
“Where are you going?” asked Reid.
“I have to stop this,” James hissed.
James grabbed Luke’s elbow and turned him around.
“Luke, wait.”
“Yes?” asked Luke, stealing another glance at Reid over James’s shoulder.
“Did you follow me here?” James asked.
“No,” Luke said defensively. “Oakdale’s a small town; sometimes, you run into people you know all the time. Isn’t that how you and Dr. Oliver found each other at long last?”
James stared at Luke, and Luke stared back.
“If you girls are done gossiping and sharing secrets, then I’m going to take off,” Reid said behind them.
The men turned to look at him.
“I’ll call you later, Reid,” James said.
“Okay,” Reid replied, looking at Luke.
Back in the office, Luke and James pored over budgets and proposals and grants. Finally, Luke stopped and looked at James.
“So how long did you and Reid know each other in Dallas?”
James slowly put the document he was reading aside and looked at Luke. “Luke, I really don’t think we should talk about our personal lives. I’m not comfortable with it and-”
“Relax,” interrupted Luke. “I’m not interested in you, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
James looked at him suspiciously.
“I’m just curious to know a little about Reid.”
“Why?”
“Ever since he came to town, he hasn’t exactly been the friendliest guy.”
“Yeah, he’s never been all that friendly,” James said with a small smile.
“I guess not,” Luke said, smiling too. “But we’ve been working together for a while now and I realize I don’t know a whole lot about him.”
James stared at Luke before asking, “What do you want to know?”
“Were you two serious?” asked Luke.
James leaned back in his chair. “We met in Boston. I was working with a youth group and he was doing his residency at Massachusetts General. He was just as cold and distant then as he is now. Honestly, I still don’t know why he decided to give me a chance-we’re not exactly similar-but I’ll always be grateful that he did. It sure isn’t easy breaking through his walls but I did for a good while-five years to be exact.”
Luke listened.
“He got a job in Dallas, so I went with him.”
“Did he ask you to?”
“Reid never asks. He expects you to make your own decision, no matter how it affects him. But since he is human, contrary to popular belief, he’d like that decision to be a good one for you and for him.”
Luke nodded. “So why did you end things?”
James looked down at his hands. “He realized he loved his job more than me, and he couldn’t have us both.”
“Oh.”
“He was always honest about it so I appreciated that,” James said before clearing his throat. “Now, can we get back to discussing the health services you’d like to offer?”
“Sure.”
“I imagined you living with someone else but I didn’t think it’d be a woman,” James said, grinning at Reid as he sipped his beer.
He and Reid were sitting in the living room of Katie’s apartment that evening. They hadn’t discussed the awkward lunch yet.
Reid drank from his bottle and smiled. “She’s a nice girl.”
“You look content,” James remarked.
Reid shrugged. “I have my job.”
“You could have it all, you know, a job and a life,” James said. “You’re not a rookie anymore who needs to impress everyone.”
Reid said nothing. James scooted closer to him until their legs were touching. He leaned his face forward but Reid moved back.
“What are you doing, James?”
“Do you ever think about me?” whispered James.
Reid looked directly at him. “No.”
James sat back.
“I’m sorry.”
“No, don’t be. It’s been a long time. Of course you’d get over me. I got over you too. But then I saw you and . . .”
Reid patted James’s shoulder. “James, it wouldn’t work anyway. You’re in Dallas doing something you love and I’m here doing what I love and we’re both stubborn and we wouldn’t give up that part of our lives for each other.”
James smiled faintly. “No, I guess not. I did once, though.”
“Yeah, but you were young and foolish and in love,” Reid said softly.
“I was. And so were you.”
Reid nodded. “I was.”
James looked down at his bottle. “Is there, um, someone else?” He looked back up at Reid.
Reid sipped from the beer bottle. “I hope so.”
James nodded. “Well, you better do something about it.”
Reid shook his head. “He doesn’t know what he wants.”
“No, he does. I can tell.”
Reid looked gratefully at James. “I didn’t deserve you.”
James smiled wider. “Don’t say that. You did. You deserve to be just as happy and deliriously sappy as the rest of us.”
“Oh, great,” muttered Reid, grinning and sipping his beer.
Luke walked into Memorial Hospital the following morning, determined to confront Reid once and for all. The talk with James had given him hope, and even if James was clearly interested in Reid, Luke wasn’t going to give Reid that easily to him without a fight.
He stopped as soon as he saw Reid with James outside the locker room. Luke stood and watched as James cupped Reid’s face in his hands and gently kissed him. Luke’s hands balled into fists. He waited until James left before walking into the locker room behind Reid.
“Luke, get out of here. I’ve already told you!”
Luke walked to Reid and pushed him against the locker. “You’re going to listen to me, Reid.”
“More indecisiveness?” asked Reid sarcastically.
“Do you love him?”
“What?”
“Are you in love with James Nokes?”
“I also already told you that that’s none of your business.”
“But it is,” said Luke.
“Why?” demanded Reid.
Luke opened his mouth.
“Why, Luke?”
Luke briefly glanced down at his feet before looking directly into Reid’s blue eyes. “Because I want you.”
Reid swallowed.
“I like you a lot and I want to be with you and I don’t want you to be with him.”
‘What about Noah?” Reid asked. He wanted Luke to be honest, to spit everything out at once.
“I was scared. And an idiot.” Luke shook his head. “But I know I don’t want to be with him.”
Reid said nothing as he stared into Luke’s eyes.
“Are you and James getting back together?”
“Why would you think that?”
“Because he said you found each other again after all this time. It’s fate, isn’t it? Don’t you believe in that?” asked Luke cautiously.
“You don’t know what I believe in. You’ve never even asked me about things like that,” Reid replied.
“Do you believe in fate?”
“No.”
“Oh.”
“Luke, do you only want me now because somebody else did?” Reid asked.
“No. As soon as I went to Katie’s that day and right before you kicked me out, I knew I’d made the wrong choice. I should’ve told Noah about us like you wanted me to at Yo’s, and I shouldn’t have let you leave.”
“I’m nobody’s second choice,” Reid declared.
“Me neither,” Luke replied. “But that’s all I’ll ever be with Noah and I think-and hope-that it could be different with you.”
“I don’t do confusion either.”
“I know.”
“I know what I want,” Reid stated.
“What’s that?” Luke whispered, leaning closer to Reid.
“What I wanted the second or third time I laid eyes on you.”
Luke swallowed.
“All of you, Luke. Do you think you could do that?”
“You mean have what you had with James?” asked Luke quietly.
Reid nodded slowly. “That, but I also have a ridiculous notion that we can have more. If you want.”
Luke’s heart thumped faster. He knew Reid and James had been in love, James had told him so. So that meant that Reid wanted that with Luke too, that and more.
“What-what about James? I saw you kiss him.”
“I kissed him good-bye. He’s leaving today,” Reid said.
“Will you miss him?”
“No.”
Luke chuckled. “You’re too honest sometimes.”
“Is that a problem?”
“No, not at all.”
“Good. Now kiss me.”
Luke glanced around them. “Right here?”
“Right now,” Reid said, grabbing Luke’s shoulders and pulling him forward, their lips crashing together.
When they parted, Luke cupped Reid’s face in his hands. “I want to be alone with you, Reid, and I want you as much as you want me. I want all of you.”
Reid smiled. “You’ve made the right choice, Luke.” He touched Luke’s cheek. “So have I.”
Reid then leaned in again and kissed Luke.
Title: Choices
Author: sleeper6
Characters: Luke/Reid, past Reid/OC
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 3080
Summary: Luke realizes he wants Reid, but does someone else want him too?
Disclaimer: All belongs to As the World Turns, not me.
Author's notes: Birthday fic request for my awesome friend, freakandwack, who gave me the prompt; takes place after the May 31st episode; AU. Hope you enjoy it!
“How was your date?”
Reid almost slammed the locker door onto his hand. He whirled around to see a red-faced Luke.
“What the hell are you doing, Luke? You can’t be in here.”
Luke didn’t move. “Oh, relax, I’ve been in here before and you never said anything.”
Reid walked towards Luke as he ushered him out. “Well, I’m saying something now. Out, Mr. Snyder.”
Once in the corridor, Reid fixed his coat and looked at Luke, who was glaring at him.
“So how was it?”
“That’s none of your business.”
“I just saw him leave. Did you two drive over from his place or yours?”
“We were just eating breakfast, Luke” Reid said with a laugh.
“After spending the night together?” asked Luke, his voice and face a mixture of anger and sadness with just the lightest hint of hope.
Yes, Reid wanted to reply. Yes, we spent the night together. I was with a man who likes me, who chooses me, who wants to be alone with me. But Reid’s brain rarely let him lie and this time was no exception. He and James had left the restaurant and parted ways in the parking lot. James had tried to kiss him before getting into his car, but Reid had turned away. He and James shared a history, a significant history, but what James now clearly wanted in the present, Reid had long ago left in the past. Still, he wasn’t ready to tell Luke the truth and give him the upper hand.
“Don’t you have to go to work or something? Do you ever work, Luke?” Reid asked.
Luke glanced at his watch. “I have a very important meeting today, for your information.”
“Well, then, maybe you should get to it,” Reid said, walking down the corridor to see his first patient of the day.
Luke followed. “Noah came to the party after all. He kissed me and I kissed him.”
Reid smirked slightly. He knew Luke was lying-Luke Snyder had the world’s worst poker face-but he still felt the slight tug in his chest that always surfaced when that guy’s name was mentioned. He kept walking. “Good for you. Be sure and tell me where to send you your wedding gift.”
Luke grabbed Reid’s arm to stop him. “Reid, wait.”
Reid sighed. “What, Luke?”
“Noah wasn’t there. He was at my house earlier but he didn’t kiss me. I made that part up,” Luke said, a red tint on his cheeks.
Reid stared at Luke. “Why?”
Luke shrugged. “I don’t-I-are-are you going to see that guy later again?”
Reid wasn’t in the mood to discuss anything with Luke-not Noah or James or what he still felt for Luke. “Maybe,” he said and walked away.
Luke scratched his head as he stared at the computer screen in his office. He needed to know who the mystery man was who’d suddenly appeared, threatening to steal Reid away from him.
Luke sighed. Okay, he thought, the guy isn’t taking Reid from me since Reid isn’t mine. He could’ve been, though, if only I hadn’t been so weak and scared.
Luke knew, by the way he felt in every inch of his body that he wanted Reid. Not curiously or hesitantly or maybe. No, he was sure, absolutely and positively, that he wanted to be with Reid, alone and in every way. Seeing and talking to Noah again-the normal Noah, who was just as angry and distant as blind Noah-made Luke realize how much he didn’t want to be with Noah ever again.
Now, Luke had to find out Mr. Mystery’s identity, get him away from Reid, and then do whatever it’d take to convince Reid that he was Luke’s one and only choice.
“Mr. Snyder, your appointment is here,” Luke’s assistant’s voice broke through his thoughts.
He pressed the intercom button. “Send him in.”
Luke straightened his tie and stood as the tall black-haired man that he’d seen with Reid-the mystery man himself-walked in.
He approached Luke’s desk and extended his hand. “Hello. James Nokes. Nice to meet you, Mr. Snyder.”
“Mr. Nokes? From Dallas?”
“Yes.”
Luke’s brain speedily stored the information. “From Resource Center Dallas?”
“I am whom you were expecting, aren’t I?” James asked, a hint of confusion on his face.
Luke grinned. “Yes, you are.” He motioned to the chair in front of his desk. “Please, have a seat, Mr. Nokes.”
James sat. “You can call me James.”
“And you can call me Luke.”
Luke stared at the man and couldn’t stop grinning. He couldn’t believe his luck, that the man he was most interested in at the moment (besides Reid, of course) had walked into his office as easily as this.
“Shall we get started?” James asked, opening his black briefcase.
“Sure,” Luke said.
Luke had invited James from Resource Center Dallas, which operated one of the largest LGBT community centers in the country, to Oakdale to talk about its services, which Luke’s foundation could hopefully offer locally. The fact that the organization was in Dallas was purely coincidental.
They spent the morning discussing the center in Dallas and the foundation in Oakdale and how each could help the other.
Luke was impressed with James, who knew more about gay rights than any person he’d ever talked to. Listening to him and looking at the way he talked made Luke see what Reid probably saw in him. Though James and Reid weren’t exactly similar (but then again, no one is like Reid, Luke thought), James was interesting and easy to talk to, not to mention very attractive.
James’s phone buzzed with a new message. He checked it and smiled as he read it. He looked at Luke. “Luke, as much as I could talk non-stop about all this with you, I think we both need to reenergize a bit. What time are we breaking for lunch?”
Luke immediately knew who the message was from. “Oh, uh, I thought we could work through lunch.”
James chuckled. “You’re kidding.”
Luke forced a laugh. “Yeah, um, do you want to order in? I know a great place that delivers.”
“I was going to go try a restaurant I read about.”
“Which one? I’m sure I know it. I can go with you.”
James looked at his watch and back up at Luke. “I was going to meet someone for lunch.”
“Oh. You know people here?”
James smiled, his eyes shining. “One person, actually. We knew each other in Dallas a long time ago, lost touch and we finally ran into each other again yesterday. He’s working here now.”
Luke had suspected that James and Reid had a past; this confirmed it. “So you’re really from Dallas?”
“I’m from Providence. I went to school in Boston-BU-and then went to live in Dallas so now I am from there.”
Luke nodded.
“Why?” asked James, looking curiously at Luke.
“Just wondering,” Luke said, looking down at his watch. “Well, yeah, if you want to go now, that’s fine. We’ll meet back here in half an hour.”
“What?”
Luke laughed. “I’m joking, James. An hour and a half?”
James laughed too. “That’s more like it.” He stood and checked his wallet. “I need to make sure I have enough money. This guy eats more than a horse.” He waved as he walked out. “See you later.”
Luke grabbed his own wallet out of his desk and followed James.
“So you do like it here.”
Reid shrugged as he ate a mouthful of pasta. “It grows on you.”
James nodded thoughtfully. “I guess. The people seem nice. This guy I met today, Luke Snyder, is very sweet and-”
Reid stopped chewing. “Luke Snyder?”
“Yeah, you know him?”
“Uh, he’s a donor to my hospital wing.”
“He’s a nice guy, a bit nosy, though.”
Reid smiled. “Inquisitive.”
James laughed. “And a bit too interested if you know what I mean.”
Reid stopped smiling. “No, what do you mean?”
“Some of the questions were getting personal.”
“That’s just the way he is; he wants to be your friend,” Reid shot back.
“I hope that’s all. He almost didn’t let me come here.”
“Did he know you were meeting me?”
“He knew I was meeting someone.”
Reid laughed.
James leaned towards Reid. “What? Reid, what is it?”
“Excuse me, gentlemen,” the waiter interrupted as he set two glasses of red wine on their table. “These drinks are from the man over there. Enjoy.”
“Oh, wow,” James said as he looked over at the table in the corner. Luke waved at him.
Reid wiped his mouth with his napkin.
“You see,” James whispered, “I knew I wasn’t imagining things.”
Reid bit back a grin.
Luke sauntered over to their table and stood with his hands in his pockets, looking at James but glancing at Reid out of the corner of his eyes.
“Hey, James, I didn’t know you were talking about this restaurant. I come here all the time. The food’s great, isn’t it?”
James smiled nervously. “Yes, yes, it is. Um, Luke, you know Reid.”
Luke turned to Reid and nodded in acknowledgement. “Dr. Oliver.”
Reid mirrored Luke. “Mr. Snyder.”
Luke turned back to James. “I hope you like the wine. I didn’t know whether to get you the red or the white. I’m so bad at making decisions sometimes and I usually choose the wrong one at first but then I come to my senses and pick the right one in the end, when it really counts,” Luke said in a rush. He quickly glanced at Reid, who was looking at him with a huge smirk on his face. “Well, enjoy the rest of your meal, and I’ll see you in a while, James.”
Luke turned and began walking away.
James stood.
“Where are you going?” asked Reid.
“I have to stop this,” James hissed.
James grabbed Luke’s elbow and turned him around.
“Luke, wait.”
“Yes?” asked Luke, stealing another glance at Reid over James’s shoulder.
“Did you follow me here?” James asked.
“No,” Luke said defensively. “Oakdale’s a small town; sometimes, you run into people you know all the time. Isn’t that how you and Dr. Oliver found each other at long last?”
James stared at Luke, and Luke stared back.
“If you girls are done gossiping and sharing secrets, then I’m going to take off,” Reid said behind them.
The men turned to look at him.
“I’ll call you later, Reid,” James said.
“Okay,” Reid replied, looking at Luke.
Back in the office, Luke and James pored over budgets and proposals and grants. Finally, Luke stopped and looked at James.
“So how long did you and Reid know each other in Dallas?”
James slowly put the document he was reading aside and looked at Luke. “Luke, I really don’t think we should talk about our personal lives. I’m not comfortable with it and-”
“Relax,” interrupted Luke. “I’m not interested in you, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
James looked at him suspiciously.
“I’m just curious to know a little about Reid.”
“Why?”
“Ever since he came to town, he hasn’t exactly been the friendliest guy.”
“Yeah, he’s never been all that friendly,” James said with a small smile.
“I guess not,” Luke said, smiling too. “But we’ve been working together for a while now and I realize I don’t know a whole lot about him.”
James stared at Luke before asking, “What do you want to know?”
“Were you two serious?” asked Luke.
James leaned back in his chair. “We met in Boston. I was working with a youth group and he was doing his residency at Massachusetts General. He was just as cold and distant then as he is now. Honestly, I still don’t know why he decided to give me a chance-we’re not exactly similar-but I’ll always be grateful that he did. It sure isn’t easy breaking through his walls but I did for a good while-five years to be exact.”
Luke listened.
“He got a job in Dallas, so I went with him.”
“Did he ask you to?”
“Reid never asks. He expects you to make your own decision, no matter how it affects him. But since he is human, contrary to popular belief, he’d like that decision to be a good one for you and for him.”
Luke nodded. “So why did you end things?”
James looked down at his hands. “He realized he loved his job more than me, and he couldn’t have us both.”
“Oh.”
“He was always honest about it so I appreciated that,” James said before clearing his throat. “Now, can we get back to discussing the health services you’d like to offer?”
“Sure.”
“I imagined you living with someone else but I didn’t think it’d be a woman,” James said, grinning at Reid as he sipped his beer.
He and Reid were sitting in the living room of Katie’s apartment that evening. They hadn’t discussed the awkward lunch yet.
Reid drank from his bottle and smiled. “She’s a nice girl.”
“You look content,” James remarked.
Reid shrugged. “I have my job.”
“You could have it all, you know, a job and a life,” James said. “You’re not a rookie anymore who needs to impress everyone.”
Reid said nothing. James scooted closer to him until their legs were touching. He leaned his face forward but Reid moved back.
“What are you doing, James?”
“Do you ever think about me?” whispered James.
Reid looked directly at him. “No.”
James sat back.
“I’m sorry.”
“No, don’t be. It’s been a long time. Of course you’d get over me. I got over you too. But then I saw you and . . .”
Reid patted James’s shoulder. “James, it wouldn’t work anyway. You’re in Dallas doing something you love and I’m here doing what I love and we’re both stubborn and we wouldn’t give up that part of our lives for each other.”
James smiled faintly. “No, I guess not. I did once, though.”
“Yeah, but you were young and foolish and in love,” Reid said softly.
“I was. And so were you.”
Reid nodded. “I was.”
James looked down at his bottle. “Is there, um, someone else?” He looked back up at Reid.
Reid sipped from the beer bottle. “I hope so.”
James nodded. “Well, you better do something about it.”
Reid shook his head. “He doesn’t know what he wants.”
“No, he does. I can tell.”
Reid looked gratefully at James. “I didn’t deserve you.”
James smiled wider. “Don’t say that. You did. You deserve to be just as happy and deliriously sappy as the rest of us.”
“Oh, great,” muttered Reid, grinning and sipping his beer.
Luke walked into Memorial Hospital the following morning, determined to confront Reid once and for all. The talk with James had given him hope, and even if James was clearly interested in Reid, Luke wasn’t going to give Reid that easily to him without a fight.
He stopped as soon as he saw Reid with James outside the locker room. Luke stood and watched as James cupped Reid’s face in his hands and gently kissed him. Luke’s hands balled into fists. He waited until James left before walking into the locker room behind Reid.
“Luke, get out of here. I’ve already told you!”
Luke walked to Reid and pushed him against the locker. “You’re going to listen to me, Reid.”
“More indecisiveness?” asked Reid sarcastically.
“Do you love him?”
“What?”
“Are you in love with James Nokes?”
“I also already told you that that’s none of your business.”
“But it is,” said Luke.
“Why?” demanded Reid.
Luke opened his mouth.
“Why, Luke?”
Luke briefly glanced down at his feet before looking directly into Reid’s blue eyes. “Because I want you.”
Reid swallowed.
“I like you a lot and I want to be with you and I don’t want you to be with him.”
‘What about Noah?” Reid asked. He wanted Luke to be honest, to spit everything out at once.
“I was scared. And an idiot.” Luke shook his head. “But I know I don’t want to be with him.”
Reid said nothing as he stared into Luke’s eyes.
“Are you and James getting back together?”
“Why would you think that?”
“Because he said you found each other again after all this time. It’s fate, isn’t it? Don’t you believe in that?” asked Luke cautiously.
“You don’t know what I believe in. You’ve never even asked me about things like that,” Reid replied.
“Do you believe in fate?”
“No.”
“Oh.”
“Luke, do you only want me now because somebody else did?” Reid asked.
“No. As soon as I went to Katie’s that day and right before you kicked me out, I knew I’d made the wrong choice. I should’ve told Noah about us like you wanted me to at Yo’s, and I shouldn’t have let you leave.”
“I’m nobody’s second choice,” Reid declared.
“Me neither,” Luke replied. “But that’s all I’ll ever be with Noah and I think-and hope-that it could be different with you.”
“I don’t do confusion either.”
“I know.”
“I know what I want,” Reid stated.
“What’s that?” Luke whispered, leaning closer to Reid.
“What I wanted the second or third time I laid eyes on you.”
Luke swallowed.
“All of you, Luke. Do you think you could do that?”
“You mean have what you had with James?” asked Luke quietly.
Reid nodded slowly. “That, but I also have a ridiculous notion that we can have more. If you want.”
Luke’s heart thumped faster. He knew Reid and James had been in love, James had told him so. So that meant that Reid wanted that with Luke too, that and more.
“What-what about James? I saw you kiss him.”
“I kissed him good-bye. He’s leaving today,” Reid said.
“Will you miss him?”
“No.”
Luke chuckled. “You’re too honest sometimes.”
“Is that a problem?”
“No, not at all.”
“Good. Now kiss me.”
Luke glanced around them. “Right here?”
“Right now,” Reid said, grabbing Luke’s shoulders and pulling him forward, their lips crashing together.
When they parted, Luke cupped Reid’s face in his hands. “I want to be alone with you, Reid, and I want you as much as you want me. I want all of you.”
Reid smiled. “You’ve made the right choice, Luke.” He touched Luke’s cheek. “So have I.”
Reid then leaned in again and kissed Luke.