The Big Gamble (Part Five)
Part Five:
“I hate these things,” Reid complained.
The one thing that Reid really hated about being Chief of Staff of a hospital (besides the paperwork) was the schmoozing. Dressing up in some ridiculous penguin suit and having to listen to rich people go on and on about superficial, mundane things was not his idea of a good time. He didn’t see the point of the hospital putting on and paying for some big dinner just to have people write them checks. Why couldn’t they just mail them in? Having to throw a party in exchange for receiving money didn’t really sound like charity to him, but then again, what did he know? He wasn’t cultured like the wealthy. He was just a lowly neurosurgeon.
“Quit being a baby, you’ll be fine. It only lasts a few hours.”
Reid groaned. “God don’t remind me.”
Luke smirked finding the expression on Reid’s face to be highly amusing. “Come on dear,” he said in his sweetest voice. “Let’s mingle.” He began walking forward but not before hearing Reid mumbled something that sounded a great deal like ‘I hate you’.
“Luke?”
Luke turned around and instantly smiled as he saw his Aunt Meg. “Hey,” he said cheerfully.
“What are you doing here?”
He cleared his throat and tugged on Reid’s suit jacket. “I came here with Reid. Reid this is my aunt, Meg Ryan. Aunt Meg, this is Dr. Reid Oliver.”
Meg nodded slowly, glancing over at Luke before extending her hand. “Nice to meet you Dr. Oliver.”
Reid stared at the hand and shook it after he felt Luke’s elbow dig into his ribs. “You too.”
“Are you here with Paul?” Luke asked.
“Yeah, he’s around here somewhere.”
“Aunt Meg’s husband is Paul Ryan.”
“Who?”
“Paul….um….I think he was at the Poker Game. He usually is anyway.”
“Henry’s brother,” Meg offered.
“Oh yeah. Him.”
“I heard about that,” Meg said not too subtly. “And look at you two. Here……together.” Meg attempted to smile as her eyes kept sweeping back and forth between the two of them. She noticed as Luke went someone rigid and fidgeted a little.
“Yeah. Definitely not one of Noah’s finest moments I think,” he replied tugging on his ear. “Worked out well for you though, didn’t it?” he asked Reid.
Reid could sense Luke was uncomfortable and had tried to make his last statement sound somewhat teasing, yet it fell short. Still he found himself wanting to play along for Luke’s sake.
“Of course it did,” Reid replied, pulling Luke into his side.
“So you two are…….” She waited for them to fill in the blank.
“We’re dating,” Reid said simply.
“Wow.” She turned her attention to Luke. “I just can’t believe you went along with it.”
Luke swallowed the lump around his throat, but stood taller and shrugged. “Things haven’t been great between Noah and I for awhile. Reid and I met to discuss the situation. I wasn’t going to go through with it and Reid wasn’t going to force me to. We talked for a little while and the next thing we knew about an hour had gone by and we realized that we actually liked talking to each other. He asked me out on a proper date and I said yes.”
“Huh. That’s just…..you don’t seem much like the talking type,” she addressed Reid, “but great. Well….as long as you’re happy Luke. That’s all I care about.”
“I am. I’m great,” he forced another smile.
“Good,” Meg nodded. “And will you be coming to a family dinner sometime Dr. Oliver?”
“Uhh……how big of a family?”
Luke snorted. “I’m not quite sure we’re at that stage yet Aunt Meg, but if we get there, I’m sure Reid would love to come.”
“I do love to come,” he agreed.
Meg’s mouth dropped the same time as Luke’s, both stunned and unaware as to what to say. Reid just looked bored. Meg blinked a few more times before stammering out a quick goodbye, leaving Reid alone to face Luke’s wrath.
“You love to come?” he hissed. “What the hell was that?”
“A joke. Has no one in this god forsaken town ever heard of one?”
“It was a highly inappropriate joke.”
“Okay then. It was the truth.” He ran his hand down Luke’s arm, relishing in the quick intake of breath it caused the younger man to take. “I do love to come. Maybe some time…..”
“Do not even finish that sentence,” he warned backing up. “This is a hospital. You’re Chief of Staff. You should be conversing with potential donors. Not……whatever it is you’re trying to do.”
“When do I get to kiss you?”
“W-what?”
“We’re supposed to be a couple and we haven’t really touched. Wouldn’t that look suspicious?”
“Not necessarily.”
“Really? I mean….I’m not like a ‘Oh my God, let’s hold hands’ type of guy, but still. You look like the type that would be and would force your significant other to indulge you in the meaningless display of affection. So why haven’t we? And furthermore, what’s more standard than someone kissing their partner out in public?”
“But we’re…….”
“Not really together.”
“Well yes, but we’re……”
“So attractive it would be cruel to rub our hotness in the face of others?”
“Gay,” Luke said softly.
“And what does that have to with it?”
“Not everyone’s comfortable with seeing two men kiss.”
“And I’m not comfortable dressing up in this ridiculous outfit and being stuck here tonight. Nor am I comfortable with the way Katie’s voice becomes five octaves higher when she gets excited about something. Nor am I comfortable with that blundering idiot Henry’s choice in shirts, but it’s all inevitable.”
“But……”
“Please. Don’t tell me you and the boyfriend have never kissed each other in front of other people.”
Luke’s eyes shifted crazily back and forth as he tried to recall a moment where he and Noah had kissed in front of other people before. “I’m sure there were a few times……”
“Sweet lord,” he huffed. “He at least held your hand, didn’t he?”
Luke nodded in confirmation.
“Well at least he gave you that,” he mumbled sarcastically before sighing. “Okay.” He grabbed down at Luke’s hand, interlacing their fingers. “Come on.”
“Where are we going?”
“We’re going to sit at our table. I’m going to get up and make a speech like the good little boy I am at this dog and pony show and then afterwards, we’re going to skip out early and go and have some real fun.”
“I’m not sure that’s………..”
Reid stopped abruptly and turned around. “Who runs this hospital?”
Luke bit his lip. “You do.”
“I don’t believe anyone should challenge my authority as to what I can and cannot do inside these walls, do you Mr. Snyder?” Reid gave him a look that just dared him to disagree.
“No,” Luke bit out.
“Excellent.” He squeezed the hand he was still holding. “Now shall we find our seats?”
“I can’t believe this is your idea of fun,” Luke laughed.
They were sitting off of Old Highway 54. An abandoned side street about a quarter mile down from the last exit led to a hill, in which most of the town could be seen below. They were out sitting there on the hood of Reid’s car, eating from one of the biggest sundaes Luke had ever seen. It could probably be shared amongst four people but having seen the man eat before, Luke had no doubt that there would be nothing left of the monstrous creation.
“What’s not fun about eating ice cream?” Reid asked seriously. “And tell me that this isn’t better than being stuck in that stuffy room.”
“I don’t know,” Luke shrugged. “I kinda like big events like that. I like talking to people.”
“And that’s where we differ Mr. Snyder.”
“You don’t seem to have much of a problem talking to me.” Luke took another bite of ice cream, avoiding Reid’s gaze as he waited for a response.
“You’re different,” Reid spoke gently. “Plus I want in your pants at some point.”
Luke snorted so hard, he nearly choked on the ice cream as it threatened to come through his nose. Reid patted him on the back a few times while he continued to sputter. “You’re unbelievable.” Luke shook his head, regaining most of his control; however the one thing he couldn’t stop was the blush that rose to his cheeks.
“I think you like it.”
“Like what?”
“Being wanted by someone like me.”
Luke dropped his spoon into the bowl. “I don’t know,” he said leaning back on both palms and looking out at the view. “I’ll admit. It’s a compliment.”
“Yes it is,” Reid agreed.
Luke chewed on his lip nervously, trying his hardest to ignore the tension between them. I should…..I should probably be getting home.”
Reid nodded. “If that’s what you want.”
“Yeah.”
Pulling up to Luke’s apartment, Reid put the car in park and turned down the radio. Luke rubbed his hands over his thighs attempting to calm himself down, wondering if Reid was going to kiss him. He wasn’t even sure if he wanted to be kissed by him.
“So,” Reid said.
“Yeah, I……” Luke pointed to his building and half smiled.
“Okay then.”
“Right. Umm……bye,” Luke frowned getting out. He made his way into the building, choosing to climb the stairs after his big dessert. He let himself into his apartment, where he proceeded to make his way into his bedroom, first going to the bathroom and brushing his teeth, then changing out of his clothes. When he was left in little more than a pair of boxers and an old t-shirt, he climbed into his bed, burying himself under the covers. He tried hard not to think of Reid, but it was unavoidable. He’d never had anyone confuse him quite as much. The man was unabashed in expressing his interest in him one minute, but when given the opportunity to make a move, did no such thing. He wasn’t aware as to why it bothered him. After all, they weren’t really going out with each other. It was an agreement that they had. It was Noah’s attention he was trying to get. So why did he feel so disappointed by how the evening ended?
NEXT
“I hate these things,” Reid complained.
The one thing that Reid really hated about being Chief of Staff of a hospital (besides the paperwork) was the schmoozing. Dressing up in some ridiculous penguin suit and having to listen to rich people go on and on about superficial, mundane things was not his idea of a good time. He didn’t see the point of the hospital putting on and paying for some big dinner just to have people write them checks. Why couldn’t they just mail them in? Having to throw a party in exchange for receiving money didn’t really sound like charity to him, but then again, what did he know? He wasn’t cultured like the wealthy. He was just a lowly neurosurgeon.
“Quit being a baby, you’ll be fine. It only lasts a few hours.”
Reid groaned. “God don’t remind me.”
Luke smirked finding the expression on Reid’s face to be highly amusing. “Come on dear,” he said in his sweetest voice. “Let’s mingle.” He began walking forward but not before hearing Reid mumbled something that sounded a great deal like ‘I hate you’.
“Luke?”
Luke turned around and instantly smiled as he saw his Aunt Meg. “Hey,” he said cheerfully.
“What are you doing here?”
He cleared his throat and tugged on Reid’s suit jacket. “I came here with Reid. Reid this is my aunt, Meg Ryan. Aunt Meg, this is Dr. Reid Oliver.”
Meg nodded slowly, glancing over at Luke before extending her hand. “Nice to meet you Dr. Oliver.”
Reid stared at the hand and shook it after he felt Luke’s elbow dig into his ribs. “You too.”
“Are you here with Paul?” Luke asked.
“Yeah, he’s around here somewhere.”
“Aunt Meg’s husband is Paul Ryan.”
“Who?”
“Paul….um….I think he was at the Poker Game. He usually is anyway.”
“Henry’s brother,” Meg offered.
“Oh yeah. Him.”
“I heard about that,” Meg said not too subtly. “And look at you two. Here……together.” Meg attempted to smile as her eyes kept sweeping back and forth between the two of them. She noticed as Luke went someone rigid and fidgeted a little.
“Yeah. Definitely not one of Noah’s finest moments I think,” he replied tugging on his ear. “Worked out well for you though, didn’t it?” he asked Reid.
Reid could sense Luke was uncomfortable and had tried to make his last statement sound somewhat teasing, yet it fell short. Still he found himself wanting to play along for Luke’s sake.
“Of course it did,” Reid replied, pulling Luke into his side.
“So you two are…….” She waited for them to fill in the blank.
“We’re dating,” Reid said simply.
“Wow.” She turned her attention to Luke. “I just can’t believe you went along with it.”
Luke swallowed the lump around his throat, but stood taller and shrugged. “Things haven’t been great between Noah and I for awhile. Reid and I met to discuss the situation. I wasn’t going to go through with it and Reid wasn’t going to force me to. We talked for a little while and the next thing we knew about an hour had gone by and we realized that we actually liked talking to each other. He asked me out on a proper date and I said yes.”
“Huh. That’s just…..you don’t seem much like the talking type,” she addressed Reid, “but great. Well….as long as you’re happy Luke. That’s all I care about.”
“I am. I’m great,” he forced another smile.
“Good,” Meg nodded. “And will you be coming to a family dinner sometime Dr. Oliver?”
“Uhh……how big of a family?”
Luke snorted. “I’m not quite sure we’re at that stage yet Aunt Meg, but if we get there, I’m sure Reid would love to come.”
“I do love to come,” he agreed.
Meg’s mouth dropped the same time as Luke’s, both stunned and unaware as to what to say. Reid just looked bored. Meg blinked a few more times before stammering out a quick goodbye, leaving Reid alone to face Luke’s wrath.
“You love to come?” he hissed. “What the hell was that?”
“A joke. Has no one in this god forsaken town ever heard of one?”
“It was a highly inappropriate joke.”
“Okay then. It was the truth.” He ran his hand down Luke’s arm, relishing in the quick intake of breath it caused the younger man to take. “I do love to come. Maybe some time…..”
“Do not even finish that sentence,” he warned backing up. “This is a hospital. You’re Chief of Staff. You should be conversing with potential donors. Not……whatever it is you’re trying to do.”
“When do I get to kiss you?”
“W-what?”
“We’re supposed to be a couple and we haven’t really touched. Wouldn’t that look suspicious?”
“Not necessarily.”
“Really? I mean….I’m not like a ‘Oh my God, let’s hold hands’ type of guy, but still. You look like the type that would be and would force your significant other to indulge you in the meaningless display of affection. So why haven’t we? And furthermore, what’s more standard than someone kissing their partner out in public?”
“But we’re…….”
“Not really together.”
“Well yes, but we’re……”
“So attractive it would be cruel to rub our hotness in the face of others?”
“Gay,” Luke said softly.
“And what does that have to with it?”
“Not everyone’s comfortable with seeing two men kiss.”
“And I’m not comfortable dressing up in this ridiculous outfit and being stuck here tonight. Nor am I comfortable with the way Katie’s voice becomes five octaves higher when she gets excited about something. Nor am I comfortable with that blundering idiot Henry’s choice in shirts, but it’s all inevitable.”
“But……”
“Please. Don’t tell me you and the boyfriend have never kissed each other in front of other people.”
Luke’s eyes shifted crazily back and forth as he tried to recall a moment where he and Noah had kissed in front of other people before. “I’m sure there were a few times……”
“Sweet lord,” he huffed. “He at least held your hand, didn’t he?”
Luke nodded in confirmation.
“Well at least he gave you that,” he mumbled sarcastically before sighing. “Okay.” He grabbed down at Luke’s hand, interlacing their fingers. “Come on.”
“Where are we going?”
“We’re going to sit at our table. I’m going to get up and make a speech like the good little boy I am at this dog and pony show and then afterwards, we’re going to skip out early and go and have some real fun.”
“I’m not sure that’s………..”
Reid stopped abruptly and turned around. “Who runs this hospital?”
Luke bit his lip. “You do.”
“I don’t believe anyone should challenge my authority as to what I can and cannot do inside these walls, do you Mr. Snyder?” Reid gave him a look that just dared him to disagree.
“No,” Luke bit out.
“Excellent.” He squeezed the hand he was still holding. “Now shall we find our seats?”
“I can’t believe this is your idea of fun,” Luke laughed.
They were sitting off of Old Highway 54. An abandoned side street about a quarter mile down from the last exit led to a hill, in which most of the town could be seen below. They were out sitting there on the hood of Reid’s car, eating from one of the biggest sundaes Luke had ever seen. It could probably be shared amongst four people but having seen the man eat before, Luke had no doubt that there would be nothing left of the monstrous creation.
“What’s not fun about eating ice cream?” Reid asked seriously. “And tell me that this isn’t better than being stuck in that stuffy room.”
“I don’t know,” Luke shrugged. “I kinda like big events like that. I like talking to people.”
“And that’s where we differ Mr. Snyder.”
“You don’t seem to have much of a problem talking to me.” Luke took another bite of ice cream, avoiding Reid’s gaze as he waited for a response.
“You’re different,” Reid spoke gently. “Plus I want in your pants at some point.”
Luke snorted so hard, he nearly choked on the ice cream as it threatened to come through his nose. Reid patted him on the back a few times while he continued to sputter. “You’re unbelievable.” Luke shook his head, regaining most of his control; however the one thing he couldn’t stop was the blush that rose to his cheeks.
“I think you like it.”
“Like what?”
“Being wanted by someone like me.”
Luke dropped his spoon into the bowl. “I don’t know,” he said leaning back on both palms and looking out at the view. “I’ll admit. It’s a compliment.”
“Yes it is,” Reid agreed.
Luke chewed on his lip nervously, trying his hardest to ignore the tension between them. I should…..I should probably be getting home.”
Reid nodded. “If that’s what you want.”
“Yeah.”
Pulling up to Luke’s apartment, Reid put the car in park and turned down the radio. Luke rubbed his hands over his thighs attempting to calm himself down, wondering if Reid was going to kiss him. He wasn’t even sure if he wanted to be kissed by him.
“So,” Reid said.
“Yeah, I……” Luke pointed to his building and half smiled.
“Okay then.”
“Right. Umm……bye,” Luke frowned getting out. He made his way into the building, choosing to climb the stairs after his big dessert. He let himself into his apartment, where he proceeded to make his way into his bedroom, first going to the bathroom and brushing his teeth, then changing out of his clothes. When he was left in little more than a pair of boxers and an old t-shirt, he climbed into his bed, burying himself under the covers. He tried hard not to think of Reid, but it was unavoidable. He’d never had anyone confuse him quite as much. The man was unabashed in expressing his interest in him one minute, but when given the opportunity to make a move, did no such thing. He wasn’t aware as to why it bothered him. After all, they weren’t really going out with each other. It was an agreement that they had. It was Noah’s attention he was trying to get. So why did he feel so disappointed by how the evening ended?
NEXT