Lure BB: The Road Home Chapter 5
Chapter Five
It was a perfect day: clear, breezy, cool without being cold. Luke was driving along the highway, not really caring about their next destination. He had some rock music station on and was humming along to a song that he didn’t know the name of, and Smooch was hanging out of the window in the back, his tongue lolling out of his mouth and drooling. Next to Luke, Reid was absorbed in some medical magazine, but every so often he would let out a small, grunt. He hadn’t looked up in an hour, but that was fine. Luke actually missed watching the way Reid would get so wrapped up in the newest procedures and medical tools; he was like a kid about it. His mouth would curve up, his eyes would glitter with excitement, and he’d go on and on about it. Smiling,
Luke glanced at his magazine.
“Good article?”
“Some neurosurgeon in New York got to remove a rusty blade from some idiot’s head. A guy came into the hospital with severe headaches and they discovered he had a piece of an old blade in his brain. He’d had headaches for years and didn’t connect it with a past stabbing incident. The blade must have broken off there and was just rusting away inside of him.”
“Ugh, sounds awful. That poor guy.”
“Yeah, but that doctor is one lucky bastard,” Reid sighed.
“Do you know him?”
“Her. She’s good. Not as good as me, but you don’t get that kind of trauma living in Hicksville.”
Luke knew that this subject put him on shaky ground. Although Reid had come to care about Memorial, he sometimes found the work tedious. If Reid had asked, Luke would have considered moving to Chicago or someplace equally as big city, but he’d never asked him to do that, understanding that Luke needed to be near his family as much as Reid needed to drill into a skull. For the most part, the good of living in Oakdale had outweighed the bad for them, but sometimes, on occasions like this, Luke wondered if it hadn’t been a mistake not to offer to move to a city like Chicago. Would it have changed things? Would it have saved them from all this heartache? Or not?
Reid suddenly let out a tiny chuckle. He’d already moved onto the next article in the magazine. Thank goodness he wasn’t brooding about that fancy New York doctor. Luke glanced down at the car wheel, and he noticed that they were almost out of gas.
“Time for a pit stop.”
“I thought we were driving all the way through Colorado?”
“Well, we need some gas. And we’re passing a town soon. Here’s a sign for it now: Gulliver, three miles. Might as well stretch our legs and fill up.”
Reid closed his magazine, blinking, as if coming out of the darkness. “Where are we?”
“Near Gulliver? Don’t get your hopes up for some great takeout here. I haven’t seen a restaurant advertisement, aside from Dunkin Donuts. Of course, you love doughnuts for lunch, right?”
He didn’t answer.
“Reid?”
“You can make it to the next town.”
“The next town? I don’t even know how far away that is. Besides, the light is on.”
“So?”
“So? You usually hate when I let the gas gauge dip so low.”
When Reid made no reply, his lips pressing together, his face getting all tight, Luke considered going on to the next town, but at the last moment, he took the exit ramp to Gulliver. If Reid couldn’t be bothered to explain his sudden objection to getting gas, then it made no sense to ignore the empty tank. They pulled up at a gas station, near a Welcome to Gulliver! sign.
“I’m getting some snacks.” Reid didn’t even ask if he wanted anything. He just stormed off. Luke frowned, looking at Smooch.
“What’s his problem ?”
Smooch’s ears went back, but he offered no answers.
“And to think, I was just about to tell him that I’m ready to move faster. A big step forward, if you get me. I miss being with him. God, I miss it, and I want to be close, I do. But now, he’s acting like an ass. So what should I do? Wait for a better time or go for it?”
Smooch cocked his head.
“What do you think? Maybe just grab him tonight in the hotel room and show him anyway? That will cure his bad mood, mine, too. Maybe we need to talk, really talk first? Otherwise, can we make it back all the way?”
Smooch put a paw over his nose, burying his face down, like he was disgusted by all this debating…or like he had an itch.
“You’re right, Smooch. Of course, we’ll make it back to each other. This is me and Reid that we’re talking about. I’m being stupid,” Luke mused.
Smooch let out a deep bark and Luke saw in the glass of the store window that Reid was the next one in line and he’d be out soon.
“Thanks for the warning, buddy,” Luke said with a grin, giving Smooch’s head a scratch. “Smart boy.”
Smooch whimpered at his touch and knocked at Luke’s hand for more.
Luke laughed. “And you have more in common with Reid than he knows. Both of you need lots of affection and food, huh?” Luke patted Smooth absently now, running his hands across the dog’s back. “People don’t usually get to see that it’s Reid who needs attention. He comes across as so self-sufficient, and he is, I guess. But I’ll tell you a secret. He’s a bigger cuddle-freak than you are.”
Luke began to pump the gas, his eyes absently looking at the nearby street signs.
Gulliver, Gulliver …Why was that town name sound so familiar? Then it hit Luke. Gulliver Circle, near Fort Collins, Colorado was where Reid’s cousin lived. He remembered because he’d personally hand-written the wedding invitation twice, hoping the first one was just lost in the mail. Luke had really wanted to meet some of Reid’s family at their wedding. With a gasp, Luke darted a glance at Reid. He was coming his way, loaded up with snacks and drinks. No wonder Reid had freaked out a little about stopping here.
Their wedding had been at Luke’s family home with Luke’s relatives and friends. At his insistence, Reid had invited his only living relatives-his Uncle Angus and his cousin Allen. Reid’s uncle had shown up, a bit grudgingly, and had stood off to the side, talking to no one and leaving early. Luke had tried to engage Angus in conversation, God knows, he was often curious about Reid’s childhood. All he really knew was after Reid’s parents died in a car accident, and his Uncle Angus and Aunt Sarah had taken him in. She’d died of cancer a few years later, and Reid never spoke of it beyond that information. He hadn’t seemed to care that Uncle Angus had left their wedding so abruptly, or that his cousin had never even given an RSVP for their wedding, or a belated gift, or anything. But still, Reid had lived in the same house with him, and they were passing his home.
“I brought you some iced-tea and the cookies that you like.” Reid said, returning to the car. He held them out to Luke. “I didn’t mean to walk off like that.”
“No problem.” Luke took the drink and cookies, understanding that they were a peace offering. “Besides, I figured out what’s wrong with you.”
“You did?”
“Besides your normal grumpiness, that is.” Luke shot him a wide smile. Then he reached out a lightly touched the side of Reid’s face. “Your cousin Allen lives here, right? In this town? Don’t deny it, I know he does. We should swing by his house.”
“Why?”
“He’s your family,” Luke said patiently.
“He won’t care.”
“He might.”
Reid shook his head.
“It’s the right thing to do. At least call, tell him hello and ask to swing by?”
Reid was silent.
“Even if your relationship isn’t close,” Luke chose his words carefully, “you are still cousins and that counts for something. Believe me, my family relationships sometimes take some work, too. My double dad issue alone,” Luke smiled over at Reid, “makes me crazy sometimes.”
“That’s because you try too hard to please them.”
“Maybe, but let’s keep this conversation on you” Luke dodged the usual fight. He knew Reid felt this way and really, he couldn’t argue that he’d spent many times running back and forth between his various parents trying to keep the peace. But really, all his efforts were worth it, because Luke couldn’t imagine anything worse than being alone in the world. “This may be an opportunity to be closer.” At Reid’s derisive snort, Luke plowed on. “See him. You only regret the things you don’t do.”
“Where do you get all this deep wisdom? Off a cereal box?”
“Yes, every morning it’s written on my Captain Crunch.”
Reid gave a reluctant smile. Luke seized the moment to push a little more. “We don’t have to stay long. But give the guy a chance. Who knows if you’ll ever be out this way again? Right?”
“I’ll visit him, but do me a favor and leave it at that.”
Luke shrugged. “All right, sure. You lead, I’ll follow.”
“Good.”
Luke tried to push away the excitement over meeting Reid’s relative. Even if they weren’t close, maybe this Allen would share a few stories about Reid as a teenager, and that would be worth its weight in gold. Luke couldn’t even count the number of embarrassing stories various members of his family had told Reid about him. Emma kept a picture of Luke on the big boy potty, for goodness sake, right in plain view on the mantle, and Lucinda had shown Reid some of the silly poems he used to make up.
Jeez. How embarrassing it had been. Well, now it was Reid’s turn. Finally. He couldn’t wait to see what pictures Allen might have. Luke grinned, imagining Reid as a young boy with a mop of curly hair, or as a young teenager back in high school -all serious and nerdy.
After a terse telephone conversation, Reid hung up with his cousin. “He’s home.”
“Don’t sound so happy.”
“Just toss me the damn keys. And when this is all done, I want some ice-cream.”
Luke gave him the keys and they switched drivers.
It didn’t take them long to get there. The place was located on about ten acres of land, and Allen lived in a giant house. Surprisingly, he had not gone for a rustic look, despite having the mountains all around, and it was a bit modern for Luke’s taste, but impressive nonetheless. Leaving Smooch in the car, they walked up and knocked. Reid waited, sighing heavily.
Luke smoothed Reid’s shirt and adjusted his collar, while Reid looked irritated, but stood for Luke’s inspection nonetheless. Satisfied, Luke turned to the door and set a smile onto his face. He imagined Allen as either another Reid or maybe a younger version of Angus. Reid’s uncle was thin and angular, with crinkles set around his eyes. Maybe Allen took after him. Luke heard footsteps coming.
He glanced at Reid, who wore a stony expression, and then smiled at the door again as it swung open.
A Greek God stood there. This was Allen?
Holy Hell! Of all the things Luke had been expecting, this was not it.
Allen had a body out of a muscle magazine. He was dressed like he’d been working out, too, showing lots and lots of skin in tight biker pants and a tank top.
“Reid,” he nodded. Allen looked like Thor: Blond hair, green eyes and God-of-Thunder-like, all he needed was the hammer. His muscles bulged as he swung the door a little wider to let them in. Luke glanced at Reid whose face was still neutral. “And you must be Luke, yeah?”
“Yes, um, hi.”
Boy, that killer smile could provide enough white light for a whole city. Allen must get his teeth whitened professionally, but who cared. Luke didn’t feel any great pull of attraction, not the way he did when Reid was near, but he could appreciate the man’s beauty for beauty’s sake.
Smooch barked from the car.
“Oh. You have a pet.” Allen paused. “I just had my carpets done, and the guy charged me an arm and a leg for it.”
“That’s fine; he can stay in the car. I’ll just give him some water.” Luke smiled and Allen smiled back dazzlingly.
“I’m glad to finally meet you,” Luke added, as they walked inside. The room was almost bare, except for white carpets, a huge white couch, and a square coffee table. Allen must really like white. It was immaculate, too, if a bit…cold. “I briefly met Angus at our wedding, and would love to see him again.”
“My father is a very busy man,” Allen said. Luke nodded and waited to be asked to sit down. He glanced at the couch. Allen didn’t offer.
“How is he doing?” Reid asked stiffly. It was the first words he’d said. Reid gestured to Luke to sit down, and Luke looked to Allen, who still seemed oblivious to basic manners. Luke perched on the edge of the couch uneasily.
“Are you married?” Luke asked Allen.
“Me?” Allen smiled, his gorgeous eyes flashing with sudden amusement. “Oh, no.”
“You’re not um…” Luke wasn’t picking up any gay vibes, but of course, Reid was forever teasing him that he still needed that fine-tuned.
“Too many women, too little time,” Allen winked.
“Oh.” There was an awkward pause. “Well, eh, what do you do? Are you a doctor like Reid? He’s Chief of Staff at our hospital back home. Did you know that?”
Allen shrugged. “Back in Iowa?”
“Illinois.”
Allen smiled. “Reid always said he’d be running Johns Hopkins or the Mayo Clinic. Didn’t turn out quite like you planned, huh?”
Luke fidgeted. He couldn’t quite get a handle on Allen, but his instincts were starting to protest. Allen seemed weirdly hostile. Luke looked at Reid, who was quietly picking at a thread in his jeans.
“Are you a doctor, too?”
“Me. No. There’s no money in that. Not once you factor in all the costs of medical school. Eh, Reid?” Allen smiled as he said it, but his eyes were cold. “No, I’m a businessman, like my father.“
“And you like it?” Luke forced his tone to remain polite.
“Who likes what they do? It’s a job."
“Well, Reid loves what he does. Right?” Reid said nothing. Luke frowned slightly, trying to find his way through the awkward conversation. “And I actually enjoy my work, too. I run a foundation and--”
“Oh, I do fine where it matters. I make a damn good living, let me tell you. The money’s good. Really good.” He gave a smug grin. “You wouldn’t believe just how much money I made last year. ”
Luke really wanted to like him, but he found his fingers curling up in to tight fists. Allen hadn’t said one kind word to Reid, or hugged him, or, well, anything.
“Mostly, I deal with the fitness industry,” Allen continued. “I work with several spas in the areas and some gyms. The body is a temple after all.”
“Right,” Luke said, wondering how he might ask Allen for some old pictures of Reid, if there were any. Allen’s house was totally void of personal items.
Allen turned his attention to Reid. “Still scrawny, hmm? I could help you with that. Some protein shakes, some weight training.”
Luke waited for Reid to come back with a sarcastic reply. And waited. And waited.
What the hell was wrong with Reid? He was just sitting there, picking that stupid thread, braiding it and unbraiding it with his capable fingers, letting this idiot, a guy Reid could outwit in an instant, lord it over him.
“I do a lot of skiing myself, perfect exercise out here to stay in shape.” Allen ran a self-admiring hand over his bulging calves. “Reid, you never did learn how to ski, did you?”
“No.”
“He never wanted to.” Luke couldn’t stop himself from saying. “Reid’s told me how many skiers actually hit trees and suffer head injuries.” Luke reached out and held Reid’s hand. This was a mistake. The hatred radiating off of Allen was becoming more and more apparent to him. He wanted to kick himself for insisting they come here. To be polite, they should stay another twenty minutes or whatever, and then Luke would help them get out.
“Allen, would you mind giving me a water bowl for Smooch?”
“Smooch?”
“Our dog?”
“My bowl?” Allen said, his lips thinning.
“If you wouldn’t mind, please?” Luke forced his smile.
Reluctantly, Allen disappeared into his no doubt immaculate kitchen to get a dish of water, giving Luke a much need moment alone with Reid.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“Dragging you here. He’s awful.”
Before Reid could answer, Allen was back.
He handed Luke a bowl the size of a teacup. Smooch would drink it dry with one lick of his tongue.
“He might need a bigger bowl,” Luke said. “I can go and get the one from our car.”
“I’ll go.”
“But--”
“I got it,” Reid repeated firmly. Luke had a feeling Reid needed to step outside and he couldn’t blame him one bit.
Left alone with Reid’s cousin, Luke squirmed a little in his seat. “So…Allen, um, do you have any old pictures of you and Reid? I have never seen any of him as a kid or even a teenager…”
“No. I don’t think so.”
“Not even, I don’t know, a high school year book or something?”
“Reid didn’t go to my school. He got some fancy pants scholarship to a prep school. Even so, it cost my father a bundle in books and his uniform. There are a lot of hidden costs. And you’d think Reid’s parents would have left him enough money for all that, right?"
“Well, ah--”
“They might have been smart with academics, but they were common sense stupid. They left him nothing but debt. My father and mother had to bail him out and pay for everything.”
“I’m sure they didn’t want to do that to Angus, or to Reid, of course. I’m sure they assumed they’d be around to take care of him.”
“Maybe,” Allen said, like Reid’s parents had planned their deaths.
Luke looked at him. All that surface beauty, and absolutely no soul.
“Let me ask you a question, Luke. Don’t you think if your relatives took you in, you’d be grateful? Reid’s never even thanked me for sharing my room, my car, my family. He’s so ungrateful. He should kiss my father’s feet. Instead, he was all moody and quiet all the time.”
“He had just lost his parents! Of course he’d be quiet and moody!” Luke fumed, his face hardening. “And actually, Allen, I think if I tragically lost my folks when I was little and had to move in with my uncle, or any of my relatives for that matter, I’d hope they’d make me feel welcome and not like a burden. I’d welcome any of my sister’s kids into my house with arms wide open, because family should be like that, Allen, caring and accepting of you. They should be there for you, loving you, not telling you that you’re not wanted with every gesture. Family is all that really matters in this world, and I feel sorry for you that you don’t seem to know that!”
“Luke,” Reid said, standing in the doorway, holding the water bowl, “enough.”
“But -but I---but he---Reid! You don’t understand.”
“I understand.“ Reid’s eyes held his a moment. Then he glanced at Allen. “We need to get going.”
“Sure.” Allen stood.
“Tell Angus I said hello,” Reid said.
“Do you need directions back to the highway?”
“No.”
Luke rose to his feet, heat on his cheeks. “Nice meeting you,” he said, lamely. He knew his face was burning.
“You, too.” Allen extended his hand like nothing had happened and they shook.
“Sorry,” Luke muttered as he followed Reid to the car. His throat was tight with emotion. But what he was really sorry about was the loneliness Reid must have endured for so many years. Luke opened the passenger door, giving Smooch an absent pet. How many times during their marriage had he chewed Reid out for not expressing his emotions? And Reid would stand there and take it, and then try to do better at “this being human thing.” It had almost become a joke between them, only now Luke didn’t feel like laughing. In all these years, he’d never stopped and truly considered how much of Reid’s behavior must have been learned the hard way.
Luke reached over and grabbed Reid’s arm, stopping him from turning the car key. “You know what? I’m not sorry. Allen needed to hear that. Somebody needed to say it.”
“I seem to remember asking you not to be overly involved in this.”
“Well, too bad. I am involved. But why didn’t you say anything? Why didn’t you rip him a new orifice for being such a jerk?”
“Because…” Reid’s fingers tightened his keys. “Because he’s not worth it.”
Luke took a deep breath. “Maybe that’s true, but I just couldn’t sit there and listen to him. I couldn’t let him go on tearing you down like that.”
“I don’t care what he thinks. I never have.”
“You’re still my husband,” Luke continued, “I still care about your getting hurt. We may be having our own troubles right now, but that hasn’t changed. I care about people treating you badly, and I’m always going to stick up for you.” Luke bit his lip, lowering his eyes. “And well… I guess that’s it. That’s all I wanted to say. I’m done.” When Reid was silent, he added, “And um… I shouldn’t have yelled at your cousin. I’m sorry. I was trying to help.”
“I know that.”
“He really was awful.”
“Well, consider it payback.”
Luke looked up. To his relief, he saw a smile tugging at Reid’s lips.
“For what?”
“For all the times I had to listen to your meandering, often pointless tales about long-lost siblings. Or worse yet, had to sit through a dinner with them all.”
“Hey. You loved those dinners! At least, you loved all the food!”
“Emma gets a pass,” Reid acknowledged, his smile widening. “But I will say that I more than made up for the free food given to me by your grandmother by helping Natalie and Ethan with all their homework, thus freeing you up to deal with your mother.”
“Listen---”
“---A woman who has her picture in the Wikipedia under histrionics.”
“No mother bashing.”
“No bashing. I’m just stating the facts. But fine. I’ll leave Lily alone. How about all of the times the rest of your family bothered me at work? Not to mention, one of them is always getting shot or kidnapped or otherwise injured. I’ve provided so much free medical care to all the Snyders in town-it’s like they’ve won the lottery.”
“Oh, jeez. I never knew I was so lucky.” A surge of relief went through Luke. If Reid were teasing him, he wasn’t really upset. He grinned. “Remind me again why I put up with you and your ego all these years?”
“I have the kind of charm that grows on you.”
“Like a fungus?”
Reid flashed a smile. “Exactly. And luckily for you, I’ve put up with your insane, downright certifiable family for all these years.”
“Shut up,” Luke ordered cheerfully.
“In one more minute. Here’s the thing, Mr. Snyder. Although your family is certifiable, at the end of the day, it’s all worth it. Your family, as zany and crazy as they are, are worth putting up with.”
“And why’s that, Dr. Oliver?”
Luke was ready for more teasing, but to his surprise, Reid’s smile faded.
“Because they love you, and that’s good enough for me to put up with them all.” He stared at Luke, his eyes intense. “But it’s not the same, for me. My cousin, as you saw today, and my uncle, they have few redeeming qualities, and they aren’t much on affection. But then again, I guess I wasn’t an easy kid to like.”
“Reid--”
“It’s all right. Don’t worry about it, Luke. It’s something I accepted a long time ago.”
Luke tried to nod and smile. He felt his mouth quivering and clamped his lips together.
“But there is something I do want you to understand,” he continued quietly. “The thing about my Uncle Angus and Aunt Sarah was that they took me in. I had met them only a handful of times before that, but they took me into their home. I could have ended up in foster care or something. So whatever wasn’t great about living with them, and it certainly wasn’t ideal, I knew they had done me a favor.”
“I understand.” Luke edged closer to Reid’s seat.
“It may not have been a real home, not like you know, but…I appreciated it. So if my cousin wants to be an ass, let him.”
“Okay.”
Reid sat there, so stiff and uncomfortable-looking. He could imagine the little boy, showing up to Angus’s house with his suitcase grasped in his hand, his face rigid with effort to not cry, with nobody to come along and really love him, and Luke’s whole heart turned over.
“Reid?”
“Yeah?”
“I want you.”
At Reid’s surprised noise, Luke leaned forward, wrapping his arms around him. Luke’s mouth came down swiftly and hard on to Reid’s. His body shook as, after a stunned moment, Reid began to kiss him back. Reid’s tongue thrust into his mouth. It was a toe-curling, heart-racing kiss. Luke arched closer, moaning deep in his throat. His eyes lost focus. He tried to wrap his body around Reid’s. They weren’t playing now. It was all hard-edged hunger.
“I want you, too. So damn much,” Reid broke away to say, and then he went right back to kissing Luke.
“We should talk,” Luke said, muffled at Reid’s mouth, his hands at Reid’s chest. His fingers clutched at his shirt.
“Yeah.” Reid nibbled at his lip and bit.
Luke shuddered. He grabbed Reid’s face with both hands, searching his eyes, and then pulled him down for another kiss. Heat surged through his body, twisting him up with need.
“Let’s go to our hotel. I found one just a few miles away. We can’t do it here. We’re outside of Allen’s house.”
“Let him watch. He could learn a few things.”
Luke groaned as Reid sucked at his skin, and Reid’s hand was at the zipper of his jeans. His fingers dove in, massaging Luke’s cock with a warm, sure hand. Panting, Luke clung to Reid’s shoulder, gripping him for support.
Luke looked up and his eyes met Smooch’s. The dog’s tongue hung out. His jowls shook.
“A hotel,” Luke urged, stopping Reid, “it’s a few miles from here.”
Reid’s thumb glided over his cock, caressing his leaking slit, and Luke moaned, pushing at Reid’s hand to move away.
“I can’t, not here with the dog watching and your cousin inside. Please? It’s a nice, clean hotel that allows dogs. And it has giant, king-sized, massive beds.”
“It’d better.”
With a muffled curse, Reid put the key into the ignition and drove like hell.
“Wow, you are horny,” Luke teased. “Usually you drive like an old lady.”
“Just plug in the GPS and let’s get there.”
“Yes sir.” Luke grinned happily at Reid, his heart thrumming with anticipation, and Reid’s grumpy look disappeared. Slowly, he smiled back. Unable to resist, Luke let his hand caress Reid’s pants and rest at his arousal.
“Unfair.” Reid groaned, hitting the gas harder. They were soon gobbling up the highway. Luke felt Reid harden and lengthen beneath his hand.
“Tell me, Dr. Oliver, what part of the brain controls motor skills? You’re swerving ever so slightly.”
“Who’s thinking about brains?” Reid slowed the car down as it approached a bend in the road; unfortunately, just as he did, the sound of a siren blared out behind them.
“Oh, hell. Not now.”
“Listen, just pull over and let me do all the talking, okay?”
“I’m perfectly capable of getting out of a ticket,” Reid answered, coming to a stop on the side of the highway.
***
An hour later they were in lockup and Smooch was on his way to a pound.
***
“Poor Smooch. I wish I could explain to him that we haven’t deserted him here. As soon as we get out of this, we’ll go and pick him up.” Luke looked around the small cell. It had bunk beds, a small toilet, no windows. “Are you going to be all right in here?”
“Sure.” But Reid’s was already swallowing hard.
“Don’t worry.” He gripped Reid’s hand in his own. “I’ll pay the fine and we’ll be out of here. Relax.”
“Relax. Right. The cops have already screwed us; we might as well lie back and take it comfortably.”
“Reid!” Luke bit back a smile. “You know that’s not what I meant. But it won’t be long until we’re out of here, okay?”
“Okay, okay.” Reid sighed, running a hand through his hair. “It’s my doing, anyhow. I’m sorry for shooting my mouth off. This isn’t the end to our day that I was hoping for.”
“The day isn’t over,” Luke murmured, squeezing his fingers. Oh boy, Reid still looked nervous. The muscle in his jaw was twitching, and he was sweating hard. Luke knew the best thing to fix one of his freak-outs was to distract him from the size of the cell.
“Besides, that cop was a bit much. I don’t blame you for losing your cool. I was ready to tell him off, too. And the looks he gave us?”
“I saw them.”
“You think we’ve made progress in this country. I might just pursue this after we pay the fine and look into his badge number. Let’s see how he likes that. By the end of all this, he might be answering to us.”
“God, I love it when you get all Grimaldi on me.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Reaching out with his free hand, Reid cupped the side of Luke’s face. “How is it that nobody else in Oakdale appreciates the blackmailing, scheming side of you?” Reid smiled, his gaze moving slowly over Luke, causing a heavy pounding in his heart. It was crazy, how one smile could seem to reach down into him like that. Luke grinned back.
“I really, really wish that cop hadn’t pulled us over,” Luke said. He glanced at the bunk beds. Reid followed his look. Distracting Reid from his claustrophobia with sex was always a good idea, not that they could do much in here. But maybe he could continue that hand job he’d started in the car, as long as they were discreet. Together, they moved toward the beds. His eyes still on Reid’s, Luke yanked the starchy blanket away.
“Ahhh! Holy shit!” Reid jumped back, scrambling away.
The large, black roach crawled down the bed sheet and onto the floor.
“Get rid of it!” Reid shouted.
“Okay, okay. I’ll kill it.”
“No! Toss it out of here.”
“I’ll step on it.”
“Luke, roaches are resilient bastards. You can cut their heads off and they can still live for up to 8 hours.”
“Is that really true?”
“Just get it out of here!”
Suppressing a laugh, Luke grabbed a piece of toilet paper, scooped the roach up with it, and chucked it through the bars of their cell. “It’s gone.”
“Are you sure?” Reid eyes darted wildly.
“I’m sure.”
“And you threw it far enough away?”
“I threw it all the way to Oakdale. It’s hitting Memorial right now, probably headed for your office.”
“Very funny.”
Reid glanced around warily, on guard for more cockroaches to attack from the walls. Luke smiled as he watched. “I think we’re safe,” he told Reid gently. From one neurotic fear to another, Reid clearly still needed him to help him out. What a crazy day this was. First they’d visited Reid’s less than nice cousin, where they had actually decided to have sex and speed things along. And now, they’d gotten thrown into a jail cell. Yet, Luke thought as his smile widened, he felt like it was a strangely good day, maybe the best time he’d had in a long while.
“Snyder- Oliver,” the guard yelled, stepping into the hallway.
“Thank God!” Reid ran to the front of the cell, rattling the bars. “We’re here. Here!”
Luke followed at a more leisurely pace, still smiling. Poor Reid.
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