FIC: Time on His Hands
A Luke/Reid fic in which Reid quits his job and doesn't know what to do with his time. (As the World Turns, PG-13)
Title: Time on His Hands
Author: sleeper6
Characters: Luke/Reid, Katie, Lily, various others
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Reid quits his job after Bob's ultimatum and now has to figure out what to do with his time.
Disclaimer: All belongs to As the World Turns, not me.
“Luke,” Lily Walsh whispered into the phone. “He’s here again.”
Luke Snyder shut his eyes and leaned his body against the door of his second-floor office. He held the phone to his ear, not quite sure what to tell his mother but very sure that he had to tell her something.
“Mom,” Luke replied quietly. “I’m in the middle of a conference call and I can’t-” Luke opened his eyes and sighed. “I’ll be right over. Just . . . keep him there, okay?”
Lily chuckled softly. “I don’t think he’s going anywhere, sweetie.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Luke shut his phone and put it in his jacket pocket before returning to his large oak desk. He pressed a button on the office phone. “I’m sorry but I have to end this call. A, uh, family emergency came up.”
Luke hung up and strode out of the office.
It began a few days before. Luke had returned to Java after the uncomfortable and very heated meeting with Mona Cross and Reid Oliver where Luke spoke glowingly about the way Dr. Bob Hughes effectively balanced his professional and personal lives. Luke was still upset by Reid’s indifferent attitude towards him, how Reid had casually dismissed their relationship, and the way he’d quickly reverted to the old Reid, the one that cared about no one and nothing but himself and his job.
Luke had gone to the meeting, knowing Reid would be there, with the faint hope that Reid would say something logical to Luke to explain why he’d chosen the neurology wing over him or, if Luke really hoped, Reid would take back his decision and tell Luke that he chose him instead.
But neither happened, so Luke, not knowing where to go to sit and pout, plopped down in a chair in a huff, causing Noah Mayer to look at him.
“Hey, thought you were in a meeting.”
“It’s over,” Luke replied, leaning back. “Thank God; I could not get out of there fast enough.”
“I guess Reid was there too, huh?” asked Noah, sitting in the chair opposite Luke when the subject of their conversation suddenly appeared before them.
“You’re in my seat, Mr. Mayer,” Reid said dryly.
Luke sat up straight. “Reid, what are you doing here?”
“Could I get a coffee, large, two sugars?” Reid asked Noah. “Or are you going to use your right to refuse a customer on me?”
Noah glanced at Luke before standing and walking to the counter. “I’ll get your order,” he muttered.
Reid smirked as sat across from Luke. He threw his beeper onto the table. “Won’t be needing that anymore.”
“What are you doing?” asked Luke, looking as confused as ever.
“Not using my beeper ever again . . . well at least not at Oakdale Memorial,” Reid said with an odd laugh.
“What?”
“I quit. I told Bob a few minutes ago that I choose you over the neuro wing,” Reid said, smiling crookedly at Luke. His right hand slowly inched up the table, stopping just a few centimeters away from Luke’s. “I choose you, Luke.”
“You quit your job for me? Reid, you didn’t have to do that.”
“Uh, yes, I did.”
“That’s-that’s, like, the most romantic thing anyone’s ever done for me,” Luke said, his smile brightening the entire coffee shop as his hand slightly grazed Reid’s.
Reid shrugged.
Luke returned to reality. “But what about the wing? It’s your dream.”
“Dreams change,” Reid said, his blue eyes staring intensely at Luke. “I told you I wasn’t letting you go.”
Luke swallowed, hoping his face wasn’t too red. “I don’t know what to say.”
“How about we go to my place so we can . . . talk?”
Luke stood, now firmly holding Reid’s hand. “Let’s go.”
“Wait!” Noah said as he saw the two men walk by. “Your coffee.”
“No, thanks,” Reid said as he pulled Luke out the door and winked at Noah. “I’ve got something better to keep me up all night now.”
They arrived at Katie’s within a few minutes.
Katie’s smile lit up the apartment upon seeing Reid and Luke grasping each other’s hands. She hugged Jacob, whom she carried in her arms.
“You guys made up, I’m so glad.”
Reid nodded. “Yup, I quit my job.”
Katie’s smile disappeared and her eyes widened. “What? You what?” She looked at Luke.
Luke nodded. “He quit.”
“Oh, well, um, I thought you would talk to Bob and see if you could compromise or something but, hey, as long as you two are okay with it, then that’s all that matters, right?” asked Katie.
Reid squeezed Luke’s hand and gazed at him. “This is all that matters.”
Luke tried not to grin too much.
Katie’s own smile returned. “Well, I’m going to meet Chris and take Jacob so you two stay here and enjoy each other.” She walked past the guys and whispered to Reid: “Doctor or not, the rent is still the same.”
As soon as the door shut, Reid pulled Luke to the couch. He grabbed Luke’s face in both his hands and kissed him.
“Whoa, Reid, wait. I think we should talk about this,” Luke said.
“Later, Luke. We’ve got all the time in the world now,” Reid said, leaning in for another kiss.
Luke laughed. “You've got all the time in the world.”
“Yes, I do,” Reid said, shutting Luke up with his lips.
After a half-hour of kissing on the couch, after Reid tried to unbuckle Luke’s belt and after Luke batted his hand away, Luke held Reid’s face inches away from his. “So, what are you going to do about your job?”
Reid shifted his weight on top of Luke. “What job?” He grinned and began kissing Luke’s jaw.
Luke pushed Reid back. “Reid, I know you love what you do.”
“Did.”
“You’re still a doctor.”
“And your boyfriend.”
Luke perked up. “Boyfriend?”
Reid smiled. “Yeah, and he’s really rich.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning I think I could like being a kept man,” Reid said with a smirk.
Luke slapped the side of Reid’s face. “But you’ll miss it, Reid, I know you.”
Reid sighed and got off Luke. He sat back on the couch. “Maybe not. After all, this means that we get to spend more time with each other.”
Luke sat up as well. “We do spend time together.”
“No, not really. If you think about it, unless you’re lazing about-”
“I don’t ‘laze about,’” protested Luke.
“Okay, okay, unless you’re hanging around the hospital, we don’t see each other enough. And then I only tend to call you late at night when you’re asleep and you almost always call me very early when I’m asleep so I definitely think more time could be good for us,” Reid explained. He rubbed his eyes. “Besides, if I’m really desperate, I’ll drive on over to Bay City and work at the hospital there.”
“Oh, they’re hiring?” Luke asked.
“They will if I show up.”
Luke laughed.
“Want to eat in?”
“Sure.”
They ate and spent the next few hours talking more than they had since they’d met. At some point, Reid made a list of all the things he wanted to do-with Luke-now that he had “all the time in the world, just like you, Luke.” Luke punched him softly.
“We should exercise together, wake up at six every morning and-”
“Exercise-seriously, Reid, that’s what you’re thinking of doing with your free time?”
“Not with all of my free time, but I miss jogging and-”
“Didn’t you say you did yoga?” asked Luke.
“It’s not working for me anymore,” Reid replied. He pointed to his body. “And this requires maintenance. You’ve seen how I eat.”
“There’s a gym-”
“Nope, no gym,” Reid said quickly, shaking his head. “The guys there . . . bad memories.”
Luke laughed.
“I could get into swimming. You don’t have a pool at your house, do you?”
“I have a pond.”
“Come again.”
Luke shifted his legs on the couch. “Well, my family has it-the Snyder Pond out by the farm.”
Reid looked curiously at Luke. “Is it clean? No dead fish in it? Or dead bodies?”
Luke narrowed his eyes.
“This is Oakdale.”
“No dead bodies or fish, as far as I know,” said Luke.
Reid shrugged. “Okay, we’ll go swimming.”
Luke grinned. He’d imagined inviting Reid for a swim but was afraid that Reid would either refuse to “swim in a swamp” or try to drown Luke for dragging him into the swamp.
“Tomorrow okay?” Reid asked hopefully, getting up from the couch and heading to his bedroom.
Luke followed him. “Uh, I-I can’t. How about this weekend?”
“That’s five days away,” Reid said.
“I know but I have stuff to do all this week, so . . .”
Reid waved his hand. “Fine.” He walked into his bedroom and fluffed the two pillows on the bed.
Luke stood beside him and placed a hand on his back. “I’ll check my schedule; maybe we can go tomorrow.”
Reid smiled. He pointed to the bed. “So what do you like-right or left?”
“Huh?”
“Which side do you sleep on?”
Luke quickly shook his head. “Uh, Reid, I-I’m not sleeping over. I need to go home. I have things to do.”
“What things? Do you need help?” asked Reid.
“No, you stay here and get some sleep---some uninterrupted sleep, finally,” Luke said with a smile as he gently pushed Reid down onto the bed. “And I’ll call you tomorrow so we can go for that swim, okay?”
Reid nodded.
“Besides,” continued Luke. “I thought we’d wait on doing that.”
“Luke, we’ll only be sleeping in the same bed, nothing else,” said Reid. He scratched his cheek and looked down at the floor. “I just want to be with you tonight.”
“Reid . . .”
Reid looked up at him. “I thought after everything that happened that you’d know how I feel about you and-”
“Right.”
“What?”
Luke began unbuttoning his shirt. “I sleep on the right.”
Reid smiled and stood from the bed. He pulled the covers back and got in. “Good, because I sleep on the left and that’s something I won’t give up, not even for you.”
Luke laughed as he joined Reid. They faced each other.
“Good night, Luke.”
“Good night, Reid.”
That was Monday, the end of the first day of Reid’s new life.
The following morning, Luke’s phone alarm rang loudly in the room. Luke sat up and shut if off. As he made to stand, Reid’s hand caught his arm.
“Where are you going?”
Luke turned to face Reid. “Home. I have to shower and dress for work. I actually have to be there today for a foundation meeting.”
“Seriously?”
Luke stood. “Yes, seriously, Reid.”
Reid rubbed his sleepy eyes. “I thought we could go get breakfast and then maybe come back here so you can continue with your too-good-to-be-true stories of Oakdale’s past. We left off on Good Dad being kidnapped by some crazies in the woods, right?”
“Tonight, Reid,” promised Luke as he put on his shoes.
“So what am I supposed to do until then?”
“You can do all those things you told me you wanted to do last night, remember?”
“But most of them involve you,” Reid said.
“So do the things that you don’t need me for,” Luke said with a sigh. “I really have to go, Reid.”
“Wait.” Reid stood and thrust his beeper into Luke’s hand. “This way I can contact you whenever I need you.”
“You could just call me on my phone,” Luke said, pocketing the beeper.
“I know but this could be our thing, just for me and you.”
“And Katie.”
“Damn, I’ll get the number back from her,” Reid said. “Do you think we could meet for lunch?”
Luke nodded. “Yeah, a late lunch, though, say around one or two?”
Reid kissed Luke. “Have a good day at work.”
“And you have a good day . . . here,” Luke replied.
After Luke left, Reid did those things that he didn’t need Luke for.
He showered, jerking himself off in the shower as he remembered the feel of Luke’s body next to him throughout the night.
He ate breakfast, a large one that he enjoyed thoroughly as he no longer had to rush off on an emergency or surgery.
He sat on the couch and watched TV. Midway through a game show (it was either that or a talk show with women talking about women), Reid sauntered into the kitchen for a snack and ended up having his second breakfast of the day.
He was willing to give the TV another try before he remembered his and Luke’s lunch date so he got ready for that instead.
Luke was in the middle of a discussion when the beeper in his pants went off. The two men in his office flinched at the loud beeping. Luke, his face instantly reddening, fished the beeper and saw Reid’s number. He smiled lightly before dropping it into his desk drawer.
“Everything okay, Mr. Snyder?”
Luke straightened in his chair. “Yes, what were you saying?”
But before the man could continue, more beeping emanated from Luke’s desk. Luke frantically pulled the beeper out and stood. “I’ll be right back.”
Shutting the door behind him, Luke saw Reid sitting on the couch in the lobby. Reid’s face broke into a smile upon seeing Luke, and he immediately stood and walked over to him.
“Ready to go?”
“Reid, it’s eleven-fifteen. I told you we’d meet at one. I’m in the middle of the meeting right now,” Luke explained as softly as he could. He recalled Reid’s expression last night when Luke declined to go swimming and then when he’d initially refused to join Reid in bed. He didn’t want to see that again, and he especially didn’t want to be the cause of it.
“I’ll wait. I don’t have a whole lot else to do,” Reid responded with a crooked grin.
“Why don’t you go home and I’ll call you when I’m done?”
“Do you not want me to be here, Luke?”
Luke touched Reid’s arm. “Of course I do; I just don’t want you to be bored.”
“I won’t. Do you have something to eat in there?” Reid asked, gesturing towards Luke’s office.
“Uh, no.” Luke pointed to the mint jar on his assistant’s desk. “But you’re welcome to have some of those.” As Reid opened his first mint, Luke leaned close to his assistant. “Don’t let him eat all of them.” He then faced Reid. “And you, no more beeping me, okay?
Reid nodded and gave him a thumbs-up sign as his mouth chewed on two of the mints.
That evening, Luke arrived home close to ten. He didn’t work too much throughout the week, but on those few days that he did, Luke worked himself to the bone. At that moment, he wanted nothing more than a quick shower and sleep.
“Luke!” Lily said upon standing from the couch in the living room.
“Hey, honey, how was work?” Reid said with a smirk as he stood behind Lily.
Luke paused; he certainly had not expected to see Reid there. “Reid, what are you doing here?”
“Dr. Oli-Reid came by to see you, but you weren’t here so he stuck around and we all got to know him a little better,” Lily said with a smile.
“We?”
“Me and the kids. Reid had dinner with us, taught Ethan and Natalie how to play chess-”
An odd little laugh escaped from Reid’s lips.
“And he explained how the brain works, which was absolutely fascinating to them. I had to force Ethan and Natalie upstairs a little while ago because they refused to leave Reid’s side.”
Luke stared at Reid.
Lily turned to Reid. “Well, I’m heading upstairs, too.” She extended her hand. “It was a pleasure, Reid. I hope to see you around here more often.”
Reid shook her hand. “Thank you, Ms., uh, Lily.”
“Good night, sweetie,” Lily said, patting Luke’s arm and walking off.
Reid walked closer to Luke and playfully tapped his arm. “Want to play some chess?”
Luke’s mouth dropped open as he stared Reid. “Reid, I’m, I’m beat. I just want to sleep.”
Reid glanced around the room before looking at Luke again. “I don’t have anything to do.”
Luke grabbed Reid’s arm and slowly pulled him to the front door. “How about you also go to sleep, at your place?”
“All right, all right, I can take a hint.”
Luke patted Reid’s back. “I’m sorry, Reid, I’m just really tired.”
Reid smiled. “Nah, it’s fine. I get it. Breakfast tomorrow?”
Luke wrinkled his forehead. “Are you sure you want to get up that early? You have time now to sleep in and not worry about being late-you should take advantage of that.”
“If you don’t want to have breakfast with me, just tell me,” Reid said, low and timid.
“No, no, it’s not that. I do,” Luke said quickly. He really did hate hearing that particular tone in Reid’s voice. “I’ll meet you in the morning. Al’s?”
Reid smiled and nodded before leaning in and kissing Luke gently. “Good night, Luke.”
“Good night, Reid.”
Luke sighed and leaned against the door. That was only the second day of Reid’s new life, and Luke wasn’t sure if he liked it.
The next day, Reid arrived at Al’s sporting a scruffy face and a wrinkled, plaid shirt with his signature black jeans. His hair was fluffier, which Luke noticed happened when Reid didn’t brush it much. He kissed Luke on the cheek and sat across from him in the booth.
“Did you already order?”
Luke stared at him. “New look?”
Reid looked at Luke over his menu. “What are you talking about?”
“I’ve never seen you so casual.”
Reid shrugged. “Got nowhere to go. Certainly got no one to impress since, you know, I already gave up my job for him.” His returned to the menu.
Luke chuckled and softly kicked Reid under the table. Reid kicked him back. And just like that, as they talked about things over a hearty breakfast without any interruptions from the hospital, Luke was feeling better about Reid’s decision.
Until later that afternoon.
Luke was sitting in his office when his phone rang.
“Hey, Katie.”
“Luke,” Katie’s voice was not so bubbly. “You have got to get him out of there.”
“Who? What are you talking about?”
“Reid! He’s been calling me all morning asking me where I keep the bagels and the sponges and the vacuum. I was in the middle of a live segment when he called to ask if I could stop by the store to get popcorn-popcorn, Luke! I’m about to go over and pop something of his if he doesn’t quit it.”
Luke sighed. “I’m sorry, Katie, he just doesn’t know what to do.”
“Well, you better help him find something because I can’t have him bothering me all day,” Katie said. "Yesterday, in just one afternoon, he managed to eat all the groceries that I barely bought this past weekend. I’m gonna have to hike up the rent.”
“I’ll talk to him, and I’m sorry again,” Luke said quickly. He did not enjoy Katie not being Katie.
“Fine,” huffed Katie before hanging up.
Luke confronted Reid that evening after work. He walked in to Katie’s to find Reid, his face definitely scruffier, sitting on the couch with his bare feet on the coffee table and munching on a bag of chips. The TV played a medical drama that Luke vaguely recognized.
“Hey, you,” greeted Reid. He held up the bag.
Luke loosened his tie and sat down next to Reid, waving the bag away. “Reid, you have to get out of here.”
Reid sat up straight. “Go where? Can we go swimming?”
“No,” Luke said, “I mean that you have to go outside and do something.”
Reid sat back. “I already told you I only want to do things with-”
“Yes, I know that but I can’t be here all the time. You should explore Oakdale-”
Reid laughed.
“Okay, how about going to the bookstore and finding something to read? Or go to the mall or go get an ice cream or go the movies, something.”
Reid munched on his chips as he stared at the TV screen.
“You’re bored, I can tell,” Luke said.
Reid shut the TV off and looked at Luke. “Can you stay over tonight?”
“Will you go out tomorrow-by yourself-if I do?”
“Fine,” Reid said.
Luke smiled. It was only the third day of Reid’s new life, and it wasn’t that bad.
In the morning, as they stirred in bed, having only slept, Luke reminded Reid about their deal. After making out for a bit, he also asked Reid to shave, which Reid begrudgingly agreed to.
While Luke went to work, Reid showered and shaved as Luke had asked.
His first stop was Al’s, where he ran into Henry Coleman.
“Hey, Hank, where you’ve been? You haven’t stopped by in a while.”
“Yeah, and now that you’re there full-time, you’ll be seeing less and less of me,” Henry shot back.
“Aww, that’s so sweet,” Reid said with his biggest grin.
Henry narrowed his eyes at him and walked away.
After that, Reid bought a news magazine at the bookstore and sat at Java while trying to ignore Noah’s death stares. Finally, after a good ten minutes of hearing Noah’s muttered mumbling, which Reid knew for certain was about him, Reid put the magazine away and deliberately spilled his coffee on the table.
“Hey, Mr. Barista, sir, do you think you can stop wiping that counter for a bit and come clean up this mess? Please?”
Noah walked over.
“You know, Noah, I can’t tell you how glad I am that I fixed your eyes so that you could shoot death rays at me like you’ve been doing since I walked in here this morning,” Reid said.
“I wasn’t staring at you.”
Reid stood, bored and tired. “Yeah, whatever, I gotta go.” He pointed to the table. “And you missed a spot.”
Reid wanted to visit Luke at work, but he’d been instructed by Luke not to bother him there. So, he got in his car in search of something else to do and somewhere else to go.
“Reid, hello,” Lily greeted him at the door. “Luke’s-”
“Not here, I know,” Reid finished, his hands in his pockets as he rocked back on his feet.
“Do you want to come in?”
“Yeah, sure,” Reid said, walking in and looking around. “Where are the, uh, little people?”
Lily laughed. “They’re upstairs, just got home from school. They’ll be so happy that you’re here; haven’t stopped raving about you.”
Reid plopped down on the couch. “Who can blame them, right?”
Lily liked Reid, she really did. But after three hours of feeding him, listening to him describe-in graphic detail-a complicated brain operation, and watching him unsuccessfully explain to Natalie that the queen cannot jump over other chess pieces, Lily was a little exhausted about having a doctor in the house. She silently went into the kitchen and dialed her son’s number.
After ending the conference call, Luke rushed home. He wasn’t sure what to do about Reid anymore. Luke was still flattered by what Reid had done in giving up the most important thing in his life for Luke, and Luke wanted to spend as much time with Reid as he could. But that did not mean he could be with him every second of every day. Maybe if he didn’t have a job or other responsibilities, Luke would be okay with that. But he did have a job-two, in fact. And he had other things to attend to that didn’t involve Reid.
But the relationship was brand-new, and Luke knew that all they had to do was set some boundaries-rules, even-and they’d be okay.
That, and find Reid a job. Soon.
Luke’s thoughts were interrupted by a second call from his mother, who notified him that Reid had left their house a few minutes ago.
“Mom, I asked you to keep him there. Where’d he go?”
“I don’t know but he said he’d call you later.”
“All right, thanks,” Luke said, hanging up and dialing Reid’s number.
“Yes?” Emma Snyder stared at the stranger at her door.
Reid extended his right hand. “Hello, Dr. Reid Oliver. I heard there’s pie here.”
“Who are you?”
“Maybe you know me by just Reid. I’m, um, your grandson’s, um, Luke’s boyfriend,” Reid said, still not used to that label though he liked it very, very much.
“Oh, Noah’s doctor.”
“Ex-doctor.”
Emma smiled. “Come in, come in. The truth is I haven’t seen Luke in a while, but Holden’s told me about you.”
Reid glanced around the cozy kitchen. “They must be good things or you wouldn’t be letting in a complete stranger into your house.”
Emma led him to the table and motioned for him to sit. “Wonderful things, actually.”
“Wonderful,” Reid replied, smiling widely at Emma. “Now, where’s the pie?”
“Hey.”
Reid turned and smiled as Luke approached. “Hi. How’d you know I was here?”
“My dad called,” answered Luke, walking to Reid and stopping beside him.
They both stared at the moon’s reflection on the water’s surface.
“So this is the famous Snyder Swamp-I mean, Snyder Pond.”
Luke bumped his shoulder into Reid’s. “My dad and grandmother really like you, by the way.”
“It’s been nice meeting your family outside of a police station,” Reid said. “Look, I’m sorry for just showing up here. I know you’ve never invited me to the farm, but I didn’t know where else to go.”
“It’s okay.”
“But I didn’t bother you, just like I said I wouldn’t.”
“It’s okay, Reid. And you’re not a bother-you never will be.”
Reid stared at Luke. “So how come you’ve been treating me like I am?”
There was the voice again. Luke shook his head. “It’s not like that, Reid. I like having you around. I like having you in my life, period. But-”
“But I’m around way too much,” interrupted Reid.
“You just have to prioritize, Reid,” Luke said softly, touching Reid’s hand.
Reid moved back. “You don’t get it, Luke!” Luke flinched but Reid continued. “Work was everything, the only thing. And I don’t have that anymore. I don’t know what to do if I’m not in a hospital or in the OR, I really don’t.”
Luke stared at him.
“But I don’t regret it,” Reid said, his voice softening. “Not if I have you. You’re everything, Luke.”
Luke smiled and took Reid’s hand in his. “I want to be that for you, Reid, but you and I both know that’s not healthy. Yes, we’re together, but that doesn’t mean we must be together every single second. And really, I’m all you’ve got in your life?”
Reid smiled faintly. “Well, food and Luke, or, Luke and food, that’s my life now.”
“You can put food first. After all, you can’t starve without me,” Luke teased.
“Don’t test me.”
“This is new to me too, you know. I’ve never had anyone want me so much,” Luke confessed.
Reid pulled Luke to him and nodded firmly. “I want you, Luke, I want you so much.”
Luke looked into Reid’s eyes. He wanted to believe him; he needed to be sure. “No regrets, really?”
“Never,” whispered Reid.
Luke pushed his lips onto Reid’s. Their fierce kissing led to groping and undressing and before they were fully aware of what they were doing, they were spread out on the grass by the pond, both men panting and gasping and moaning as they climaxed together.
“I was going to suggest a swim, but this is so much better,” Reid said with a chuckle.
Luke, lying on his back beside him, laughed.
“And now I definitely know what I want to do with all my free time,” Reid said.
Luke quickly turned to face Reid. “No way. As great as this was, we’re not going to do it anymore.”
“What?”
“I mean, yes, we’ll do it but not that much, I figure, since you’re going back to work.”
“I’m not begging Bob and Mona to hire me back.”
“You won’t but I will,” Luke said with a grin.
“But Luke-”
Luke placed his hand on Reid’s bare chest as he talked. “You miss it, Reid. That’s why you’ve been acting like you have. And yes, I know you want to be with me and like being with me and my family, but I know you love your job, and I don’t want to keep you from that.”
“I do miss it.”
“Good, then it’s settled. Tomorrow we get you your job back,” Luke said.
Reid glanced at his watch. “I still have a few hours left of unemployment. Do you think we could go for that swim like you promised? I know it’s not the weekend yet but . . .”
Luke stood and pulled Reid to his feet. “Well, you did give up your job for me. I guess I can give up a few hours of my time for you.”
Reid grinned as he followed a very naked Luke into the water. “It’s the least you can do.”
Luke smiled. It was the last day of Reid’s new life, but everything would still be okay once Reid got his old life back, especially now that Luke would be in it for good.
Title: Time on His Hands
Author: sleeper6
Characters: Luke/Reid, Katie, Lily, various others
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Reid quits his job after Bob's ultimatum and now has to figure out what to do with his time.
Disclaimer: All belongs to As the World Turns, not me.
“Luke,” Lily Walsh whispered into the phone. “He’s here again.”
Luke Snyder shut his eyes and leaned his body against the door of his second-floor office. He held the phone to his ear, not quite sure what to tell his mother but very sure that he had to tell her something.
“Mom,” Luke replied quietly. “I’m in the middle of a conference call and I can’t-” Luke opened his eyes and sighed. “I’ll be right over. Just . . . keep him there, okay?”
Lily chuckled softly. “I don’t think he’s going anywhere, sweetie.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Luke shut his phone and put it in his jacket pocket before returning to his large oak desk. He pressed a button on the office phone. “I’m sorry but I have to end this call. A, uh, family emergency came up.”
Luke hung up and strode out of the office.
It began a few days before. Luke had returned to Java after the uncomfortable and very heated meeting with Mona Cross and Reid Oliver where Luke spoke glowingly about the way Dr. Bob Hughes effectively balanced his professional and personal lives. Luke was still upset by Reid’s indifferent attitude towards him, how Reid had casually dismissed their relationship, and the way he’d quickly reverted to the old Reid, the one that cared about no one and nothing but himself and his job.
Luke had gone to the meeting, knowing Reid would be there, with the faint hope that Reid would say something logical to Luke to explain why he’d chosen the neurology wing over him or, if Luke really hoped, Reid would take back his decision and tell Luke that he chose him instead.
But neither happened, so Luke, not knowing where to go to sit and pout, plopped down in a chair in a huff, causing Noah Mayer to look at him.
“Hey, thought you were in a meeting.”
“It’s over,” Luke replied, leaning back. “Thank God; I could not get out of there fast enough.”
“I guess Reid was there too, huh?” asked Noah, sitting in the chair opposite Luke when the subject of their conversation suddenly appeared before them.
“You’re in my seat, Mr. Mayer,” Reid said dryly.
Luke sat up straight. “Reid, what are you doing here?”
“Could I get a coffee, large, two sugars?” Reid asked Noah. “Or are you going to use your right to refuse a customer on me?”
Noah glanced at Luke before standing and walking to the counter. “I’ll get your order,” he muttered.
Reid smirked as sat across from Luke. He threw his beeper onto the table. “Won’t be needing that anymore.”
“What are you doing?” asked Luke, looking as confused as ever.
“Not using my beeper ever again . . . well at least not at Oakdale Memorial,” Reid said with an odd laugh.
“What?”
“I quit. I told Bob a few minutes ago that I choose you over the neuro wing,” Reid said, smiling crookedly at Luke. His right hand slowly inched up the table, stopping just a few centimeters away from Luke’s. “I choose you, Luke.”
“You quit your job for me? Reid, you didn’t have to do that.”
“Uh, yes, I did.”
“That’s-that’s, like, the most romantic thing anyone’s ever done for me,” Luke said, his smile brightening the entire coffee shop as his hand slightly grazed Reid’s.
Reid shrugged.
Luke returned to reality. “But what about the wing? It’s your dream.”
“Dreams change,” Reid said, his blue eyes staring intensely at Luke. “I told you I wasn’t letting you go.”
Luke swallowed, hoping his face wasn’t too red. “I don’t know what to say.”
“How about we go to my place so we can . . . talk?”
Luke stood, now firmly holding Reid’s hand. “Let’s go.”
“Wait!” Noah said as he saw the two men walk by. “Your coffee.”
“No, thanks,” Reid said as he pulled Luke out the door and winked at Noah. “I’ve got something better to keep me up all night now.”
They arrived at Katie’s within a few minutes.
Katie’s smile lit up the apartment upon seeing Reid and Luke grasping each other’s hands. She hugged Jacob, whom she carried in her arms.
“You guys made up, I’m so glad.”
Reid nodded. “Yup, I quit my job.”
Katie’s smile disappeared and her eyes widened. “What? You what?” She looked at Luke.
Luke nodded. “He quit.”
“Oh, well, um, I thought you would talk to Bob and see if you could compromise or something but, hey, as long as you two are okay with it, then that’s all that matters, right?” asked Katie.
Reid squeezed Luke’s hand and gazed at him. “This is all that matters.”
Luke tried not to grin too much.
Katie’s own smile returned. “Well, I’m going to meet Chris and take Jacob so you two stay here and enjoy each other.” She walked past the guys and whispered to Reid: “Doctor or not, the rent is still the same.”
As soon as the door shut, Reid pulled Luke to the couch. He grabbed Luke’s face in both his hands and kissed him.
“Whoa, Reid, wait. I think we should talk about this,” Luke said.
“Later, Luke. We’ve got all the time in the world now,” Reid said, leaning in for another kiss.
Luke laughed. “You've got all the time in the world.”
“Yes, I do,” Reid said, shutting Luke up with his lips.
After a half-hour of kissing on the couch, after Reid tried to unbuckle Luke’s belt and after Luke batted his hand away, Luke held Reid’s face inches away from his. “So, what are you going to do about your job?”
Reid shifted his weight on top of Luke. “What job?” He grinned and began kissing Luke’s jaw.
Luke pushed Reid back. “Reid, I know you love what you do.”
“Did.”
“You’re still a doctor.”
“And your boyfriend.”
Luke perked up. “Boyfriend?”
Reid smiled. “Yeah, and he’s really rich.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning I think I could like being a kept man,” Reid said with a smirk.
Luke slapped the side of Reid’s face. “But you’ll miss it, Reid, I know you.”
Reid sighed and got off Luke. He sat back on the couch. “Maybe not. After all, this means that we get to spend more time with each other.”
Luke sat up as well. “We do spend time together.”
“No, not really. If you think about it, unless you’re lazing about-”
“I don’t ‘laze about,’” protested Luke.
“Okay, okay, unless you’re hanging around the hospital, we don’t see each other enough. And then I only tend to call you late at night when you’re asleep and you almost always call me very early when I’m asleep so I definitely think more time could be good for us,” Reid explained. He rubbed his eyes. “Besides, if I’m really desperate, I’ll drive on over to Bay City and work at the hospital there.”
“Oh, they’re hiring?” Luke asked.
“They will if I show up.”
Luke laughed.
“Want to eat in?”
“Sure.”
They ate and spent the next few hours talking more than they had since they’d met. At some point, Reid made a list of all the things he wanted to do-with Luke-now that he had “all the time in the world, just like you, Luke.” Luke punched him softly.
“We should exercise together, wake up at six every morning and-”
“Exercise-seriously, Reid, that’s what you’re thinking of doing with your free time?”
“Not with all of my free time, but I miss jogging and-”
“Didn’t you say you did yoga?” asked Luke.
“It’s not working for me anymore,” Reid replied. He pointed to his body. “And this requires maintenance. You’ve seen how I eat.”
“There’s a gym-”
“Nope, no gym,” Reid said quickly, shaking his head. “The guys there . . . bad memories.”
Luke laughed.
“I could get into swimming. You don’t have a pool at your house, do you?”
“I have a pond.”
“Come again.”
Luke shifted his legs on the couch. “Well, my family has it-the Snyder Pond out by the farm.”
Reid looked curiously at Luke. “Is it clean? No dead fish in it? Or dead bodies?”
Luke narrowed his eyes.
“This is Oakdale.”
“No dead bodies or fish, as far as I know,” said Luke.
Reid shrugged. “Okay, we’ll go swimming.”
Luke grinned. He’d imagined inviting Reid for a swim but was afraid that Reid would either refuse to “swim in a swamp” or try to drown Luke for dragging him into the swamp.
“Tomorrow okay?” Reid asked hopefully, getting up from the couch and heading to his bedroom.
Luke followed him. “Uh, I-I can’t. How about this weekend?”
“That’s five days away,” Reid said.
“I know but I have stuff to do all this week, so . . .”
Reid waved his hand. “Fine.” He walked into his bedroom and fluffed the two pillows on the bed.
Luke stood beside him and placed a hand on his back. “I’ll check my schedule; maybe we can go tomorrow.”
Reid smiled. He pointed to the bed. “So what do you like-right or left?”
“Huh?”
“Which side do you sleep on?”
Luke quickly shook his head. “Uh, Reid, I-I’m not sleeping over. I need to go home. I have things to do.”
“What things? Do you need help?” asked Reid.
“No, you stay here and get some sleep---some uninterrupted sleep, finally,” Luke said with a smile as he gently pushed Reid down onto the bed. “And I’ll call you tomorrow so we can go for that swim, okay?”
Reid nodded.
“Besides,” continued Luke. “I thought we’d wait on doing that.”
“Luke, we’ll only be sleeping in the same bed, nothing else,” said Reid. He scratched his cheek and looked down at the floor. “I just want to be with you tonight.”
“Reid . . .”
Reid looked up at him. “I thought after everything that happened that you’d know how I feel about you and-”
“Right.”
“What?”
Luke began unbuttoning his shirt. “I sleep on the right.”
Reid smiled and stood from the bed. He pulled the covers back and got in. “Good, because I sleep on the left and that’s something I won’t give up, not even for you.”
Luke laughed as he joined Reid. They faced each other.
“Good night, Luke.”
“Good night, Reid.”
That was Monday, the end of the first day of Reid’s new life.
The following morning, Luke’s phone alarm rang loudly in the room. Luke sat up and shut if off. As he made to stand, Reid’s hand caught his arm.
“Where are you going?”
Luke turned to face Reid. “Home. I have to shower and dress for work. I actually have to be there today for a foundation meeting.”
“Seriously?”
Luke stood. “Yes, seriously, Reid.”
Reid rubbed his sleepy eyes. “I thought we could go get breakfast and then maybe come back here so you can continue with your too-good-to-be-true stories of Oakdale’s past. We left off on Good Dad being kidnapped by some crazies in the woods, right?”
“Tonight, Reid,” promised Luke as he put on his shoes.
“So what am I supposed to do until then?”
“You can do all those things you told me you wanted to do last night, remember?”
“But most of them involve you,” Reid said.
“So do the things that you don’t need me for,” Luke said with a sigh. “I really have to go, Reid.”
“Wait.” Reid stood and thrust his beeper into Luke’s hand. “This way I can contact you whenever I need you.”
“You could just call me on my phone,” Luke said, pocketing the beeper.
“I know but this could be our thing, just for me and you.”
“And Katie.”
“Damn, I’ll get the number back from her,” Reid said. “Do you think we could meet for lunch?”
Luke nodded. “Yeah, a late lunch, though, say around one or two?”
Reid kissed Luke. “Have a good day at work.”
“And you have a good day . . . here,” Luke replied.
After Luke left, Reid did those things that he didn’t need Luke for.
He showered, jerking himself off in the shower as he remembered the feel of Luke’s body next to him throughout the night.
He ate breakfast, a large one that he enjoyed thoroughly as he no longer had to rush off on an emergency or surgery.
He sat on the couch and watched TV. Midway through a game show (it was either that or a talk show with women talking about women), Reid sauntered into the kitchen for a snack and ended up having his second breakfast of the day.
He was willing to give the TV another try before he remembered his and Luke’s lunch date so he got ready for that instead.
Luke was in the middle of a discussion when the beeper in his pants went off. The two men in his office flinched at the loud beeping. Luke, his face instantly reddening, fished the beeper and saw Reid’s number. He smiled lightly before dropping it into his desk drawer.
“Everything okay, Mr. Snyder?”
Luke straightened in his chair. “Yes, what were you saying?”
But before the man could continue, more beeping emanated from Luke’s desk. Luke frantically pulled the beeper out and stood. “I’ll be right back.”
Shutting the door behind him, Luke saw Reid sitting on the couch in the lobby. Reid’s face broke into a smile upon seeing Luke, and he immediately stood and walked over to him.
“Ready to go?”
“Reid, it’s eleven-fifteen. I told you we’d meet at one. I’m in the middle of the meeting right now,” Luke explained as softly as he could. He recalled Reid’s expression last night when Luke declined to go swimming and then when he’d initially refused to join Reid in bed. He didn’t want to see that again, and he especially didn’t want to be the cause of it.
“I’ll wait. I don’t have a whole lot else to do,” Reid responded with a crooked grin.
“Why don’t you go home and I’ll call you when I’m done?”
“Do you not want me to be here, Luke?”
Luke touched Reid’s arm. “Of course I do; I just don’t want you to be bored.”
“I won’t. Do you have something to eat in there?” Reid asked, gesturing towards Luke’s office.
“Uh, no.” Luke pointed to the mint jar on his assistant’s desk. “But you’re welcome to have some of those.” As Reid opened his first mint, Luke leaned close to his assistant. “Don’t let him eat all of them.” He then faced Reid. “And you, no more beeping me, okay?
Reid nodded and gave him a thumbs-up sign as his mouth chewed on two of the mints.
That evening, Luke arrived home close to ten. He didn’t work too much throughout the week, but on those few days that he did, Luke worked himself to the bone. At that moment, he wanted nothing more than a quick shower and sleep.
“Luke!” Lily said upon standing from the couch in the living room.
“Hey, honey, how was work?” Reid said with a smirk as he stood behind Lily.
Luke paused; he certainly had not expected to see Reid there. “Reid, what are you doing here?”
“Dr. Oli-Reid came by to see you, but you weren’t here so he stuck around and we all got to know him a little better,” Lily said with a smile.
“We?”
“Me and the kids. Reid had dinner with us, taught Ethan and Natalie how to play chess-”
An odd little laugh escaped from Reid’s lips.
“And he explained how the brain works, which was absolutely fascinating to them. I had to force Ethan and Natalie upstairs a little while ago because they refused to leave Reid’s side.”
Luke stared at Reid.
Lily turned to Reid. “Well, I’m heading upstairs, too.” She extended her hand. “It was a pleasure, Reid. I hope to see you around here more often.”
Reid shook her hand. “Thank you, Ms., uh, Lily.”
“Good night, sweetie,” Lily said, patting Luke’s arm and walking off.
Reid walked closer to Luke and playfully tapped his arm. “Want to play some chess?”
Luke’s mouth dropped open as he stared Reid. “Reid, I’m, I’m beat. I just want to sleep.”
Reid glanced around the room before looking at Luke again. “I don’t have anything to do.”
Luke grabbed Reid’s arm and slowly pulled him to the front door. “How about you also go to sleep, at your place?”
“All right, all right, I can take a hint.”
Luke patted Reid’s back. “I’m sorry, Reid, I’m just really tired.”
Reid smiled. “Nah, it’s fine. I get it. Breakfast tomorrow?”
Luke wrinkled his forehead. “Are you sure you want to get up that early? You have time now to sleep in and not worry about being late-you should take advantage of that.”
“If you don’t want to have breakfast with me, just tell me,” Reid said, low and timid.
“No, no, it’s not that. I do,” Luke said quickly. He really did hate hearing that particular tone in Reid’s voice. “I’ll meet you in the morning. Al’s?”
Reid smiled and nodded before leaning in and kissing Luke gently. “Good night, Luke.”
“Good night, Reid.”
Luke sighed and leaned against the door. That was only the second day of Reid’s new life, and Luke wasn’t sure if he liked it.
The next day, Reid arrived at Al’s sporting a scruffy face and a wrinkled, plaid shirt with his signature black jeans. His hair was fluffier, which Luke noticed happened when Reid didn’t brush it much. He kissed Luke on the cheek and sat across from him in the booth.
“Did you already order?”
Luke stared at him. “New look?”
Reid looked at Luke over his menu. “What are you talking about?”
“I’ve never seen you so casual.”
Reid shrugged. “Got nowhere to go. Certainly got no one to impress since, you know, I already gave up my job for him.” His returned to the menu.
Luke chuckled and softly kicked Reid under the table. Reid kicked him back. And just like that, as they talked about things over a hearty breakfast without any interruptions from the hospital, Luke was feeling better about Reid’s decision.
Until later that afternoon.
Luke was sitting in his office when his phone rang.
“Hey, Katie.”
“Luke,” Katie’s voice was not so bubbly. “You have got to get him out of there.”
“Who? What are you talking about?”
“Reid! He’s been calling me all morning asking me where I keep the bagels and the sponges and the vacuum. I was in the middle of a live segment when he called to ask if I could stop by the store to get popcorn-popcorn, Luke! I’m about to go over and pop something of his if he doesn’t quit it.”
Luke sighed. “I’m sorry, Katie, he just doesn’t know what to do.”
“Well, you better help him find something because I can’t have him bothering me all day,” Katie said. "Yesterday, in just one afternoon, he managed to eat all the groceries that I barely bought this past weekend. I’m gonna have to hike up the rent.”
“I’ll talk to him, and I’m sorry again,” Luke said quickly. He did not enjoy Katie not being Katie.
“Fine,” huffed Katie before hanging up.
Luke confronted Reid that evening after work. He walked in to Katie’s to find Reid, his face definitely scruffier, sitting on the couch with his bare feet on the coffee table and munching on a bag of chips. The TV played a medical drama that Luke vaguely recognized.
“Hey, you,” greeted Reid. He held up the bag.
Luke loosened his tie and sat down next to Reid, waving the bag away. “Reid, you have to get out of here.”
Reid sat up straight. “Go where? Can we go swimming?”
“No,” Luke said, “I mean that you have to go outside and do something.”
Reid sat back. “I already told you I only want to do things with-”
“Yes, I know that but I can’t be here all the time. You should explore Oakdale-”
Reid laughed.
“Okay, how about going to the bookstore and finding something to read? Or go to the mall or go get an ice cream or go the movies, something.”
Reid munched on his chips as he stared at the TV screen.
“You’re bored, I can tell,” Luke said.
Reid shut the TV off and looked at Luke. “Can you stay over tonight?”
“Will you go out tomorrow-by yourself-if I do?”
“Fine,” Reid said.
Luke smiled. It was only the third day of Reid’s new life, and it wasn’t that bad.
In the morning, as they stirred in bed, having only slept, Luke reminded Reid about their deal. After making out for a bit, he also asked Reid to shave, which Reid begrudgingly agreed to.
While Luke went to work, Reid showered and shaved as Luke had asked.
His first stop was Al’s, where he ran into Henry Coleman.
“Hey, Hank, where you’ve been? You haven’t stopped by in a while.”
“Yeah, and now that you’re there full-time, you’ll be seeing less and less of me,” Henry shot back.
“Aww, that’s so sweet,” Reid said with his biggest grin.
Henry narrowed his eyes at him and walked away.
After that, Reid bought a news magazine at the bookstore and sat at Java while trying to ignore Noah’s death stares. Finally, after a good ten minutes of hearing Noah’s muttered mumbling, which Reid knew for certain was about him, Reid put the magazine away and deliberately spilled his coffee on the table.
“Hey, Mr. Barista, sir, do you think you can stop wiping that counter for a bit and come clean up this mess? Please?”
Noah walked over.
“You know, Noah, I can’t tell you how glad I am that I fixed your eyes so that you could shoot death rays at me like you’ve been doing since I walked in here this morning,” Reid said.
“I wasn’t staring at you.”
Reid stood, bored and tired. “Yeah, whatever, I gotta go.” He pointed to the table. “And you missed a spot.”
Reid wanted to visit Luke at work, but he’d been instructed by Luke not to bother him there. So, he got in his car in search of something else to do and somewhere else to go.
“Reid, hello,” Lily greeted him at the door. “Luke’s-”
“Not here, I know,” Reid finished, his hands in his pockets as he rocked back on his feet.
“Do you want to come in?”
“Yeah, sure,” Reid said, walking in and looking around. “Where are the, uh, little people?”
Lily laughed. “They’re upstairs, just got home from school. They’ll be so happy that you’re here; haven’t stopped raving about you.”
Reid plopped down on the couch. “Who can blame them, right?”
Lily liked Reid, she really did. But after three hours of feeding him, listening to him describe-in graphic detail-a complicated brain operation, and watching him unsuccessfully explain to Natalie that the queen cannot jump over other chess pieces, Lily was a little exhausted about having a doctor in the house. She silently went into the kitchen and dialed her son’s number.
After ending the conference call, Luke rushed home. He wasn’t sure what to do about Reid anymore. Luke was still flattered by what Reid had done in giving up the most important thing in his life for Luke, and Luke wanted to spend as much time with Reid as he could. But that did not mean he could be with him every second of every day. Maybe if he didn’t have a job or other responsibilities, Luke would be okay with that. But he did have a job-two, in fact. And he had other things to attend to that didn’t involve Reid.
But the relationship was brand-new, and Luke knew that all they had to do was set some boundaries-rules, even-and they’d be okay.
That, and find Reid a job. Soon.
Luke’s thoughts were interrupted by a second call from his mother, who notified him that Reid had left their house a few minutes ago.
“Mom, I asked you to keep him there. Where’d he go?”
“I don’t know but he said he’d call you later.”
“All right, thanks,” Luke said, hanging up and dialing Reid’s number.
“Yes?” Emma Snyder stared at the stranger at her door.
Reid extended his right hand. “Hello, Dr. Reid Oliver. I heard there’s pie here.”
“Who are you?”
“Maybe you know me by just Reid. I’m, um, your grandson’s, um, Luke’s boyfriend,” Reid said, still not used to that label though he liked it very, very much.
“Oh, Noah’s doctor.”
“Ex-doctor.”
Emma smiled. “Come in, come in. The truth is I haven’t seen Luke in a while, but Holden’s told me about you.”
Reid glanced around the cozy kitchen. “They must be good things or you wouldn’t be letting in a complete stranger into your house.”
Emma led him to the table and motioned for him to sit. “Wonderful things, actually.”
“Wonderful,” Reid replied, smiling widely at Emma. “Now, where’s the pie?”
“Hey.”
Reid turned and smiled as Luke approached. “Hi. How’d you know I was here?”
“My dad called,” answered Luke, walking to Reid and stopping beside him.
They both stared at the moon’s reflection on the water’s surface.
“So this is the famous Snyder Swamp-I mean, Snyder Pond.”
Luke bumped his shoulder into Reid’s. “My dad and grandmother really like you, by the way.”
“It’s been nice meeting your family outside of a police station,” Reid said. “Look, I’m sorry for just showing up here. I know you’ve never invited me to the farm, but I didn’t know where else to go.”
“It’s okay.”
“But I didn’t bother you, just like I said I wouldn’t.”
“It’s okay, Reid. And you’re not a bother-you never will be.”
Reid stared at Luke. “So how come you’ve been treating me like I am?”
There was the voice again. Luke shook his head. “It’s not like that, Reid. I like having you around. I like having you in my life, period. But-”
“But I’m around way too much,” interrupted Reid.
“You just have to prioritize, Reid,” Luke said softly, touching Reid’s hand.
Reid moved back. “You don’t get it, Luke!” Luke flinched but Reid continued. “Work was everything, the only thing. And I don’t have that anymore. I don’t know what to do if I’m not in a hospital or in the OR, I really don’t.”
Luke stared at him.
“But I don’t regret it,” Reid said, his voice softening. “Not if I have you. You’re everything, Luke.”
Luke smiled and took Reid’s hand in his. “I want to be that for you, Reid, but you and I both know that’s not healthy. Yes, we’re together, but that doesn’t mean we must be together every single second. And really, I’m all you’ve got in your life?”
Reid smiled faintly. “Well, food and Luke, or, Luke and food, that’s my life now.”
“You can put food first. After all, you can’t starve without me,” Luke teased.
“Don’t test me.”
“This is new to me too, you know. I’ve never had anyone want me so much,” Luke confessed.
Reid pulled Luke to him and nodded firmly. “I want you, Luke, I want you so much.”
Luke looked into Reid’s eyes. He wanted to believe him; he needed to be sure. “No regrets, really?”
“Never,” whispered Reid.
Luke pushed his lips onto Reid’s. Their fierce kissing led to groping and undressing and before they were fully aware of what they were doing, they were spread out on the grass by the pond, both men panting and gasping and moaning as they climaxed together.
“I was going to suggest a swim, but this is so much better,” Reid said with a chuckle.
Luke, lying on his back beside him, laughed.
“And now I definitely know what I want to do with all my free time,” Reid said.
Luke quickly turned to face Reid. “No way. As great as this was, we’re not going to do it anymore.”
“What?”
“I mean, yes, we’ll do it but not that much, I figure, since you’re going back to work.”
“I’m not begging Bob and Mona to hire me back.”
“You won’t but I will,” Luke said with a grin.
“But Luke-”
Luke placed his hand on Reid’s bare chest as he talked. “You miss it, Reid. That’s why you’ve been acting like you have. And yes, I know you want to be with me and like being with me and my family, but I know you love your job, and I don’t want to keep you from that.”
“I do miss it.”
“Good, then it’s settled. Tomorrow we get you your job back,” Luke said.
Reid glanced at his watch. “I still have a few hours left of unemployment. Do you think we could go for that swim like you promised? I know it’s not the weekend yet but . . .”
Luke stood and pulled Reid to his feet. “Well, you did give up your job for me. I guess I can give up a few hours of my time for you.”
Reid grinned as he followed a very naked Luke into the water. “It’s the least you can do.”
Luke smiled. It was the last day of Reid’s new life, but everything would still be okay once Reid got his old life back, especially now that Luke would be in it for good.