New LuRe Fic: The Best Fake Boyfriend Ever, 1/4
The Best Fake Boyfriend Ever, Part 1
by Suz
Luke/Reid fake dating fic! Weeeeeeeeee! Future-AU-fic, assuming everything happened up until the end of the Mason storyline, which ended differently.
Many, many thanks to the lovely nel and d <3
An extreme guilty pleasure fic, very much needed at the moment (life suuuuuuucks). Nothing really in the way of Luke/Reid conflict, just two crazy boys being crazy about each other. Fluff, fluff and more fluff! Nothing in this is meant to be an accurate reflection of anything. Rated R for language and sex. Also posted at AO3 here.
*
Reid was busy perusing the menu in his favourite booth at his favourite diner when a - very attractive - guy suddenly appeared next to him, staring at the booth beseechingly.
“Please tell me you're eating alone.”
That had certainly never happened before. “Not that it's any of your business, but yes-”
“Perfect!” the guy announced and then just happily threw himself into the booth across from Reid as if this was in any way normal behaviour. “Sorry to do this to you but I really need a rescue right now.”
Wonderful, probably some woman he was on a terrible first date with. Reid had no intention of getting involved in anyone's personal business. “Look, all I want to do is eat in peace-”
“I'll pay for anything you order.”
Reid thought about it. He could more than afford the food there, but a free meal always did taste so much sweeter. “I'm listening.”
“My name's Luke,” the guy introduced, but then his eyes widened as he saw something over Reid's shoulder. “Crap, he's coming.” Focusing back on Reid, he pleaded with him using his voice and his eyes - quite effectively, if Reid were honest. Luke's eyes were very pretty. “Please just act like you know me.”
What the hell?
Reid soon saw what - or more especially who - Luke was looking at when another guy appeared next to Reid's booth. He was attractive enough, Reid supposed, though his hair was too long for Reid to find him really appealing. Also, who the hell wore a scarf in the middle of July?
“Wow, you really are meeting someone,” Scarf Guy said to Luke as he glanced over at Reid. “I was convinced you were lying.”
Within seconds he'd already put Reid's teeth on edge - something that either took skill, talent or raw dumb luck. Reid was betting on the dumb part. He also wasn't letting this guy get away with being the biggest asshole in the room - that was Reid's job.
“Who's this, Luke?” he asked, committing to the role.
Shooting him a grateful look, Luke looked considerably more relaxed as he introduced Scarf Guy. “Mason Jarvis,” he explained. “We...knew each other back in Oakdale.”
Reid nodded along like he'd heard all about Oakdale before, when in actuality he had no freaking clue where it even was.
Mason honestly looked a little offended. “I'm surprised you haven't heard of me.”
Wow, ego, much? “I can honestly say Luke's never mentioned you at all.”
Sitting across from him, Luke didn't even bother holding back his grin.
Mason's unbearable smugness finally cracked, a little. “Oh,” he said, sounding surprised - just for a few moments, before recovering. “And you are?”
“Oh, sorry, Mason, where are my manners?” Luke asked rhetorically, obviously covering for the fact that he had literally no idea what Reid's name was. “Mason, this is-”
“Reid Oliver,” he introduced, taking over from Luke's lead-in. They made a good team. “Dr Reid Oliver,” he added because while he didn't usually need to trade on his title, this asshole clearly needed an assault on all fronts.
“A doctor,” Mason remarked, sounding suitably impressed before turning his head to look at Luke. “You did well, Luke.”
Luke's eyes widened at the assumption that he and Reid were together - he obviously hadn't explicitly said he was dating the person he was meeting before rushing over to Reid's table - but it wasn't like Reid was bothered by the idea. In fact, it made his role even more interesting to play.
Everything Mason said was so damn patronising - no wonder Luke wanted rescuing from his guy. Reid usually liked to keep to himself - or had until recently - but Mason needed to be taken down. “On the contrary,” he said firmly, holding Luke's gaze as he looked across at him, “I'm the one who did well in this relationship.”
Face flushing, Luke lowered his head even as he smiled privately in happiness. It was such a perfect reaction that Reid genuinely had no idea if it was act or not.
Either way it was extremely appealing.
“Well,” Mason said, ruining the moment, “lucky for you, I guess. Look, I'm gonna head to the men's room but then what do you say we catch up on old times? I must admit, it's not my usual milieu,” he immediately continued, not giving Luke a chance to respond as he glanced around the diner, “but when in Rome...” With a final nod, he took himself over to the men's room.
Who the hell actually used the word milieu?
As soon as Mason was out of hearing range, Luke leant forward and spoke quickly. “I'm so sorry about this.”
“Are you kidding me?” Reid asked rhetorically. “This is the most entertainment I've had in months. That said - please tell me that moron isn't actually your ex.” The guy was wearing a scarf even in the middle of July. There had to be something wrong with him.
“Hardly,” Luke said distastefully, which made Reid's impression of him go up. “My ex's ex,” he explained, looking a little embarrassed. “My boyfriend at the time - Noah - left me for him.”
While Reid suddenly understood Luke's desire to look like he wasn't eating alone, he had to give his brain a mental scrub because he found it impossible to picture anyone leaving Luke for that guy. “Even if we could forget what an ass Mason is, this Noah's seen you, right? You're much more attractive.”
Flushing again, Luke nonetheless looked pleased and took the compliment. “That's nice of you, thanks.”
“Simply stating fact.”
“Anyway,” he shrugged, “looks aren't everything.”
Yeah, but even in the personality stakes Luke already had that idiot beat - something Reid was about to share when Carol came over.
“Sorry about the wait, Reid,” she said by way of greeting, “but we were all so shocked you were actually in here with someone that I needed to take a few minutes.”
Luke let out a small laugh.
Reid rolled his eyes. “Even though I should threaten your tip for that remark, I won't.” Reid knew just how shitty the wage system was when it came to wait staff. “In fact,” he continued, “if you help us out, I'll guarantee you an even bigger tip than usual.”
Carol definitely looked interested. “As long as it doesn't involve a felony, I'm in.”
He started work immediately. “Carol, this is Luke,” he said, nodding across the booth. Luke raised a hand and waved at her. It was not at all adorable. “We eat here together all the time - for the past few months, anyway.” Probably better to let this be a relatively new relationship. Less chance of getting caught up in lies, that way. “We need to sell the idea that we're dating.” She nodded like she'd been expecting to hear that. “The guy who'll come back to the table in a minute needs to be brought down a peg - or three.”
“Got it,” she said. “Should I take your drink orders now, or...?”
“Well I know Mason will only want coffee anyway,” Luke offered, “so we might as well order drinks.”
When Carol was gone, Mason still hadn't returned (what was he doing in there? Dramatically re-arranging his scarf?), so Reid quickly asked for the down-low - Luke's age, job, anything else he really should know if he was playing the boyfriend.
Luke quickly told him - 23, ran his own charitable foundation, only lived in Chicago for a few months, big family, mostly all back in Oakdale - and then asked the same information of Reid. 34, lived in Chicago for the past three years, since taking over as Head of Neurology at Chicago General. No family to speak of.
“Wow,” Luke joked, “I really did do well.”
“You run a charity,” Reid pointed out, “I don't think there's much in it.”
Conceding, Luke grinned - a visual Reid was coming to enjoy more and more every time he saw it - when Mason sadly returned.
Sitting next to Luke, he talked about himself for a while - Reid mimed hanging himself when Mason wasn't looking, forcing Luke to hold back a laugh - when Carol finally arrived with their drinks.
“Here you go, boys,” she announced, placing the drinks on the table one by one, then holding the tray underneath her arm, pulling out her pen and order pad. “So, what're we having today? Luke, you having the usual?” She was good.
But then so was Luke. “Thanks, Carol,” he said easily, like they spoke all the time. “But I think I'll go for the bacon cheeseburger and fries today.”
“Oookay,” she nodded, jotting that down on the pad. “Reid? Next on the menu is the chicken club, I think.” 'Noticing' Mason's confusion, she explained. “Used to be a real stick-in-the-mud, this guy,” she told him, “a creature of habit. Always ordered the same meal - cheeseburger and fries, no pickle. And then I don't see him for a while and when he comes back, he starts at the beginning of the menu and orders the next dish on there, whatever it is, everytime he eats here. Come to think of it,” Carol added contemplatively, “that's probably around the time you two started dating,” she told Luke. “Always knew you were good for him,” she winked.
Luke preened under the attention, undeserving as it was.
“What can I say?” Reid asked, playing along - though every word she'd said had been true up until the fiction about Luke. “He made me realise life's too short.” And - yeah, it was a hell of a lot sappier than he'd ever gone in the relationships he'd had in the past, but Mason looked like he was actually buying it. “And - yeah. The chicken club's good.”
“And what you about you, hon?” Carol asked Mason.
“Caesar salad.”
“With chicken?”
“No,” he said snottily, “if I wanted chicken I would've said I wanted chicken.”
Freezing in place, Carol stared at him for a few moments before smiling too-pleasantly. “Just checking.” Putting her pad and pen away, she reached for their menus. “Give me a holler if you need anything.”
Reid would like to think that Carol was professional enough that nothing untoward ever ended up in any customer's food. However, he'd heard enough horror stories about the food-service industry to know that if he'd been Mason, he wouldn't have been touching anything Carol served him today.
“So, Mason,” Luke began, “what're you doing in Chicago? Last I heard, you were still out in LA.”
Clearly pleased to talk about himself again, Mason prattled on about an 'opportunity' that could be opening up in the city - Reid genuinely had no idea what the guy did, but when he mentioned a friend of a friend who knew Ben Affleck, he figured it was something to do with the movie industry.
Though Reid was willing to bet Ben Affleck had heard about Mason about as many times as he'd heard of Reid himself - as in, never.
“And what about you, Luke?” Mason finally asked. “You still working on your little charity?”
“Actually, The Snyder Foundation has only grown in size and scope,” Luke announced boldly, clearly not about to be cowed by the likes of Mason. “Hence why I moved to Chicago this year. Oakdale will always mean a lot to me, but it's harder to get things done from there, even with the technology available these days. We're actually looking into partnering up with the hospitals and medical centres in the Chicago area, to see if there's any support we can offer LGBT kids who are currently dealing with medical issues. Reid's idea,” he added proudly, which was a complete falsehood for such a great idea.
He hoped that part was true.
Nodding sagely, like he'd been Luke's mentor all along, Mason spoke. “Well, I'm glad you're finally doing something productive with your life. I know Noah was always worried that you never made it through college.”
Okay, yeah, Reid couldn't fake any 'niceness' anymore - and by nice he just meant keeping his mouth shut because he'd known if he hadn't, exactly the type of thing he was about to say now would come out. “Hang on there, Scarf Boy,” he started, making Mason blink at him in surprise. “You make movies - possibly the most self-indulgent career choice possible - and you think Luke is 'finally' doing something productive when he's been running a charity that helps people - helps children - for years?”
“Reid,” Luke began.
“I'm sorry, Luke,” he shook his head, “but this moron's been bad-mouthing you since he got here and I won't put up with it anymore.”
“No,” Luke tried again, smiling gently, reaching across the table to touch Reid's forearm. “I mean I don't need you to defend me. I can defend myself.”
Satisfied that at least someone was going to finally rip Mason a new one, Reid backed down.
Patting Reid's arm one more time, Luke turned to face the man still stupidly sitting next to him. “First of all, the reason I never 'made it' through college is that Noah got me kicked out by reporting me for breaking rules that someone else actually broke, so I think his opinion of my time at college is more than a little suspect.” Wow, this Noah sounded even worse than Mason. “Secondly - Reid's right. You've done nothing but insult me since arriving and I was going to try, you know? Actually doing the right thing, act like a decent human being when you're clearly still incapable of that.”
“Luke,” Mason began knowingly, “if this is about Noah-”
“This has nothing to do with Noah,” Luke interrupted passionately, “this is about you, still, after all these years, acting like you're so much better than everyone else. The sheer smugness is amazing and completely unjustified - you were never that impressive. You manipulated a student you were mentoring into dating you - which says so much about your ethics, by the way - and then guess what, Mason?” Luke smirked. “Then he left you, too. In the end, you were no more important to him than I was.”
There was a whole hell of a lot to unpack about that, but mostly Reid was just glad Luke wasn't rolling over and taking it - already it sounded like he'd had more than enough to deal with in the past.
As it was, Mason barely hesitated before shifting along the booth until he could stand up. “I think...I'll go.”
“Sounds like a good idea,” Luke told him. “Don't worry about your food - we'll pay for it. In return you can promise that if you ever see me again?” He stared at him flatly. “Don't talk to me.”
Saying nothing else, Mason just left.
Reid was honestly a little turned on, which was impressive for so many reasons.
“Wow,” Luke transformed completely as Mason scampered off, wearing a delighted smile, “I should've done that years ago. I feel so good!”
“It was definitely impressive,” Reid replied, which wasn't even an exaggeration.
“I'm so sorry for dragging you into all this,” he said sincerely. “If I'd done that when I first bumped into him I'd never have needed to bother you at all. I think it was the shock of seeing him again - here of all places. Fell back into old habits, I guess.”
“I meant what I said,” he shrugged, “still the most entertainment I've had in years.”
Smiling at him, Luke reached for his drink. “You don't get out much, huh?”
“Not usually,” he admitted, “though been looking to change that, lately.”
“Does that have something to do with what Carol was talking about earlier?”
So he had picked up on that. “You could say that.”
“Time to make some changes in your life?” Luke asked perceptively. “I know all about that - that's part of the reason I really moved to Chicago.”
“Not just for work?”
“No,” he shook his head, “though I do think I can be more effective here. I love my family but there's so much baggage there. After Noah and...everything, I only really stayed for my siblings but after Faith - my sister - left literally the day she turned eighteen...well,” he admitted, “I understood it even if I didn't agree with it, because she and Mom had been clashing for years. But then...” he paused, remembering something. “She was so happy, you know? She was happier than I'd seen her in years - kinder, too. A better person. So,” he continued, “I finally found the courage to try putting myself first, too.”
Good for him. “And how's that working out for you?”
“Well, I'm currently having lunch with a really nice guy, so,” he grinned, making Reid smile a little too, “I'd say it's working out pretty well.”
Carol arrived then, carrying Mason's caesar salad. “Oh, shoot,” she said, “is he gone?”
“Fortunately,” Reid told her.
“You can leave that, if you want,” Luke offered. “Looks pretty good - we could split it as a side-salad.”
“Oh, no,” Carol shook her head, holding the dish away from him. “Trust me, you don't want to eat this.”
Reid knew it. “Is it a felony to deliberately contaminate someone's food?”
“Well as that surely didn't happen I couldn't possibly know the answer to that question,” she replied innocently. “I'll make sure you don't get charged for this,” she added, leaving before either of them could examine the salad closer.
“She must like you,” Luke told him after she'd gone, “to risk getting into trouble like that.”
“I'm a regular and I tip well.”
“Or she thinks you're a good guy,” he argued, “because I certainly do.”
Luke was easy to please, apparently. “You only say that because, next to Mason, anyone looks like a decent guy.”
“You make a fair point,” Luke conceded, “but if you're trying to tell me you're not a good person?” He shook his head. “Nah, I'm not convinced.”
“Just go ask anyone I've ever worked with,” Reid told him, “they'll tell you all about what an asshole I've been in the past.”
Studying him for a while, Luke spoke quietly. “I think it's more important how we treat people in the present.”
“So, what? I'm forgiven all my sins?”
“I'm not qualified enough to give an answer on that,” he said honestly, “all I do know is that you've been nice to me and Carol obviously likes you - she seems like a good judge of character.”
“Let's be honest, though,” Reid pointed out, “you don't really know me. We barely know each other at all.”
“Then let's change that,” he suggested. “We're both here, we're both going to eat - no reason why we can't keep doing that together even if we're not pretending to be a couple now. And that way,” he added with a small smile, “maybe we can get to know each other.”
Reid honestly didn't need any more convincing. He'd already decided that he liked the guy and - well. This was the kind of thing he'd been thinking about lately, right? Taking more chances, living outside of the rules he normally made for himself?
Decision made, he held out his hand. “Reid Oliver.”
Grinning, Luke shook his hand. “Luke Snyder. Pleased to meet you,” he added formally, before releasing his hand. “So, Reid Oliver,” he continued, settling further back against his seat, “tell me about yourself.”
*
Having exchanged numbers, they kept in contact in the days after their first encounter in the diner. It was always initiated by Luke - Reid had never been good at that kind of thing - but he did make an effort to respond. Meeting Luke had honestly been the most interesting thing to happen in his life in years.
Well, the most interesting good thing.
The fact that he apparently found Reid just as interesting was not something he was about to take lightly, so Reid made the effort. He didn't feel like he always got it right - it was difficult to get tone of voice right in text messages when you didn't use emojis - but Luke seemed to take everything in good humour, if the amount of times he sent that damn sticking-out-tongue emoji was anything to go by.
Four days later, Reid was on the sofa resting after work when his phone went off again - though it was the ringtone, this time.
Luke was calling.
Reid had already reached the point where just seeing Luke's name pop up on his phone made him smile. Shaking his head at himself, he nonetheless answered the phone.
“Hey.”
“Hey!” Luke greeted enthusiastically. “Sorry if I'm bothering you.”
“Don't be ridiculous.” Reid had made it plain at their meal the other day that he didn't do anything if he didn't want to - that included answering the phone to cute guys who'd admitted they were still working through some confidence issues. “Did you want something?”
Luke started teasing. “I can't call just to talk?”
“We've been 'talking' every day through text,” Reid explained his thinking. “If you're calling now, I know it's because you want something.” After all, he did know Luke a hell of a lot better already. “Come on - out with it.”
“Fine,” he grudgingly admitted. “I just don't want you to think that I'm only going to call when I want something - that I'm using you.”
That was a little dramatic - this was the first time Luke had ever called him, after all. “What is it?” he asked, half-jokingly. “Need me to pretend to be Super Boyfriend again?”
There was silence for a few moments, until... “...yes?”
Oh. “Wait, really?”
“But it's not like a need - more like a want,” he rushed to explain. “It's my mom,” Luke sighed. “Mason must still be in contact with Noah, because he told Noah about meeting us the other day and then Noah called my mom and then she called me...”
Wait a minute. “Your ex is friends with your mom?” He was sure it'd happened with people in the past, but surely only when your son actually still wanted anything to do with said ex - as was very much not the case with Luke, something he'd made abundantly clear at lunch the other day.
“Yep,” Luke sighed, and he really hadn't been exaggerating about needing to leave Oakdale. “She couldn't believe she hadn't even heard of you - never mind didn't get to meet you - before Mason and-”
“You want to prove to her that I'm real, too?”
“No,” Luke said, to Reid's surprise. “I want her to see that you make me so disgustingly happy that she'll never, even once, suggest ever again that Noah and I get back together.”
Reid chuckled. “I like it.”
“I want to rub our awesome relationship in her face,” he continued, not a little vindictively. “Because despite the fact that he cheated on me - and all the other things I explained that he put me through, over the years - Mom still somehow thinks we're 'meant to be'. Despite the fact that Noah doesn't want that. Despite the fact that I don't want that.” He huffed out a breath. “I figure that if anyone can make Noah pale in comparison, it's you.”
“Your certainty that I can bullshit awesome boyfriendness is reassuring.”
“It's not even that,” Luke replied with humour in his voice. “Just your...everything.”
“Everything?”
“Yeah, you know,” he explained. “Your sense of humour, impressive job, rocking hot bod,” he joked. Well, there was humour in it, but the way he said he kind of made it sound like he meant every single word. “Anyone would look bad next to you.”
Reid wasn't about to deny it - that was good for the old ego. “Well, when you have such faith in me, I can hardly say no.”
“Really?” Luke asked, excited. “That's amazing! Thank you so much, Reid. I know the mature thing to do would just be to say we can't make it-”
“Or even do something really radical and actually tell the truth.”
“Right,” he agreed. “But then I never claimed to be very mature. And my Mom...it's a bit like Mason. When it comes to the Noah stuff, at least, she just...gets to me. It's like she has these blinders on and she won't listen to a word I have to say. It drives me crazy.”
Reid could understand that. “Does sound frustrating.”
“Extremely.”
“So, what's the plan?” he asked. “We meet up with her some place, hold hands and suck face for a while and it's all good?”
“I don't know if going that far is completely necessary,” he answered, sounding amused, “but...well, how do you feel about a trip to Oakdale?”
Luke's suggestion, to make it more worthwhile for Reid, was to make a day of it. They'd have a short road trip together - apparently Oakdale was about two hours from Chicago - Reid would get to visit a place he'd never been before and Luke would spring for everything, gas included.
Honestly, Reid had already been sold at the 'let's pretend to be boyfriends again' portion of the conversation. He liked Luke, a lot, and while in the past he probably would've just slept with him and moved on, that wasn't what he wanted anymore.
Well, of course he wanted to sleep with Luke - but that wasn't happening for a variety of reasons.
But here, again, was a perfect opportunity to branch out from himself. Just being around Luke seemed to bring up new experiences and, for once in his life, Reid was revelling in it.
Luke insisted that as Reid was a doctor - and a very important one at that - they work around his schedule so after he shared his next few days off from work they agreed on one and Luke eagerly ended the call to give his mom the date, fully intending to tell her that if she really wanted to meet Reid, she'd have to make herself available.
That vindictive streak of Luke's was really quite something.
Reid made it through the next week or so of work well enough - staying in contact with Luke helped the time pass - and finally it was the morning of the day in question and Reid was waiting outside his apartment building for his ride. In the end they'd agreed on Luke driving as he already knew where he was going and taking two cars was unnecessary.
The weather was good today, so Reid just enjoyed the sun until an average-looking car pulled up at the curb, the window lowering to reveal Luke inside. “Hey, hot stuff,” he called out, “looking for a ride?”
Grinning despite himself, Reid got into the car. “You couldn't afford me.”
“I actually could,” Luke said, which - oh yeah. Right. He was loaded. “I got coffee,” he added, nodding towards the drink holders at the back of the gear shift between them.
“I take it all back,” Reid retorted, eagerly grabbing one of the cardboard cups, “if you have coffee, that's all the payment I need.”
“Cheap date,” he remarked, as he carefully pulled back out into the traffic - it was going to suck, for a while, but they'd wanted to get an early start and once they got out of Chicago itself it should be fine.
It was a little weird, for Reid, not being the one driving. He honestly couldn't remember the last time he'd been in the passenger seat of a car. He'd been in the back of cabs numerous times in recent memory, but actually being in the front and not driving was something his inner control freak was struggling with.
Telling himself to stop being an idiot - he'd conquered much worse - he tried to let the tension out of his body and just enjoy his drink. “So,” he began, in an attempt to distract himself, “tell me everything I need to know to play the devoted boyfriend.”
He already had some idea of the state of Luke's family from their previous interactions, but they should probably work out details - how they met, exactly how long they'd been together, how serious it was.
The discussion went on long enough that it was only when they were finally out of the city, driving along the freeway that it came to an end and Luke flicked the radio on, letting it play quietly. “I like the background noise.”
Reid shrugged. “It's your car.”
He soon regretting giving in so easily because when a particular song came on - Reid recognised it but had no idea who the artist was - Luke cranked the volume right up at the same time as he said, “I should warn you - I'm a terrible singer.”
“You're really going to-” And then Luke just started belting the song out along with the radio. “Of course you are.”
Reid side-eyed him, aghast, because he really hadn't been kidding - Luke had a truly awful singing voice - but he just kept singing regardless, even knowing he was bad. Honestly, he looked like he was having the time of his life and, in the end, it only made Reid smile.
Thankfully for Reid's ear drums, the radio - and Luke's - volume went back down after that song, though he sung along quietly to almost every song that came on afterwards. Reid didn't join in - sometimes he just didn't know the words, and he'd never been the type anyway - but if he found a song particularly catchy he drummed his fingers against his leg in time to the beat.
Most of the rest of the drive went that way - Luke bopping or singing along to whatever came on the radio, Reid quietly tapping next to him - but after they took the turn-off with the sign that read Oakdale, Luke finally turned the radio off and glanced over at him.
“Thanks.”
Reid had literally done nothing except sit there. “For what?”
“Not being an asshole.”
That'd come out of nowhere. “That's a matter of opinion.”
“Trust me,” Luke nodded wryly, “I know all about assholes. And you're not one.”
Fair enough. Even if he didn't really agree with him, he wasn't about to argue with Luke's expertise. He knew his ex had really done a number on him.
They drove in a comfortable silence after that, until they finally made it into Oakdale. “So, we'll be going to the farmhouse,” Luke told him, “instead of the town house. Grandma Emma's really eager to meet you, too,” he explained, “and, well...” Luke made an awkward face. “We ended up with two houses because Mom and Dad really have that on-again off-again thing down pat. They're back together at the moment and while Natalie and Ethan are both hoping it'll stick, this time, I don't know,” he admitted. “I only really realised after Noah left me that we were stuck in the same kind of pattern so while, at the time, I was devastated, retrospectively it was the nicest thing he ever did for me. He broke my heart so effectively I knew I'd never take him back.”
Luke said it almost proudly, like it was a good thing. And while, rationally, Reid knew it probably was - Luke never wanting anything else to do with that asshole ever again - the idea of anyone hurting Luke that badly infuriated him. “You know, as your Super Boyfriend, I would never do anything like that to you.”
“I know,” Luke grinned, “you're gonna sweep them off their feet.”
“Shouldn't I be doing that to you?”
“Oh, no problem there,” he teased, “that's already a done deal. Consider me officially swept.”
He was such a dork.
Reid liked him so much.
“Uh, speaking of impressing my family, though,” Luke added, glancing between Reid and the road, “we should probably talk about how convincing we want to be and what our limits are. The last thing I want to do is make you uncomfortable, but I know you joked the other day about making out-”
“I wasn't joking.”
Luke looked like his brain had crashed for a good few moments before he was suddenly pulling over to the side of the road. They seemed to be in Oakdale-proper now, though it clearly wasn't where anyone was supposed to park.
“You know that's not a legal parking spa-”
“I don't care,” Luke said, cutting the engine and facing him. “You actually want to kiss me?”
“Why wouldn't I?” he explained rationally. “Luke, you're attractive, you're smart, I like spending time with you - I have no issue at all with playing the perfect boyfriend, whether that means holding hands or playing tonsil hockey for ten minutes. No footsie, though,” he felt compelled to add. “I draw the line at footsie.” Everyone should draw the line at footsie.
“No, but,” undoing his seatbelt, Luke shifted further around. “Is the wanting to kiss me thing something you'd only do because you're playing the perfect boyfriend, or because you actually want to kiss me?”
Reid shrugged. “Both, obviously.”
The transformation on Luke's face was something to see as he went from wary hopefulness to utter happiness in a split-second. “Well, good,” he admitted with a huge grin, “because I really want to kiss you, too. It's just that you keep helping me out so I was never sure if it was just you being nice or-”
“I am never nice.”
“That's a lie,” he shot back, gaze falling to Reid's mouth. “So is it okay if I kiss you now? You know, for research purposes. Have to make sure we look convincing.”
Reid had no problem with that, but would prefer they didn't do so under false pretences. “You know you're not convincing either one of us with that argument,” he said, even as he undid his own seat belt.
“That's not a no,” Luke pointed out, leaning in.
“No,” he grinned, “it's not.”
Unfortunately, their lips had only just met when there was a rapping at the window. Jerking apart, they both peered through Luke's window to see a man Reid unsurprisingly didn't recognise. Judging by Luke's face he certainly did, as he sighed and turned the key in the ignition, giving the car power so he could open the window.
“Jack,” he said darkly.
“Luke,” the guy grinned, leaning down to look further into the car. “imagine my surprise when I'm walking down the street and I see what I recognise as your car. I think to myself - that can't be Luke. He knows better, especially having a relative on the force. But no, it is you, and the reason you're parked illegally at all is, well,” he smirked across at the passenger seat, “you must be Reid.”
“My reputation precedes me.” Everyone really did know each other in this place.
“More like Mom told everyone you were coming,” Luke muttered.
“You know how she is, kid,” Jack said, commiserating a little. “Now, move this thing before I get someone to give you a ticket.”
“Thanks.” Reluctantly, Luke started the engine before eyeing Jack again. “You're going to tell Mom about this, aren't you?”
“Luke,” he sounded offended. “I wouldn't do that to you. I will, however,” he added with a grin, “definitely be telling your dad.”
Jack was still grinning when Luke pulled away from the curb.
“Seems like a nice guy,” Reid said non-committally, using every ounce of his willpower to hold back his own smile lest he be the next one confronted by Luke's glare.
“He is,” Luke admitted, “I just know this'll end up getting back to Mom and she'll be all judgemental and think you're a bad influence.”
Seriously? How twisted was Luke's mom? “First of all, showing affection to the guy you're meant to be in a relationship with is a good thing - does she expect you to be a eunuch? Secondly - and more importantly - so what?” Luke glanced across at him. “The whole point of this was to do it your way, right? Rub our awesome relationship in her face? Why does it even matter that we can't keep our hands off each other? If anything, it only adds to our authenticity.”
Luke had been looking more and more convinced as Reid went on. “You're right,” he nodded, grasping the steering wheel firmly. “That makes us look even more convincing.”
“Of course I'm right.”
Huffing out a laugh, Luke shook his head at him. “I just...don't like the idea of her thinking badly of you.”
That was so kind and considerate - and completely unnecessary. “I genuinely couldn't care less if your mom likes me or not. All that matters is that you do.”
Coming to a stop at a traffic light, Luke looked across at him fondly. “I do like you,” he said seriously, “and maybe, later, we could try that kissing thing again.”
He made it sound like they were eighth graders, but Reid was thoroughly charmed. Luke was at turns innocent and experienced, confused and then confident. Instead of giving him emotional whiplash, Reid found the combination fascinating. “I could be persuaded,” he assured with a tilt to his voice, staring at Luke until the other man flushed happily.
He knew, however, that if Luke ever wanted this to go anywhere other than kissing - relationship-wise or even just physically - they were going to have to have the conversation Reid was not looking forward to having.
For now, however, he just sat back in his seat and enjoyed the prospect of playing Luke Snyder's boyfriend for the rest of the day.
TBC
by Suz
Luke/Reid fake dating fic! Weeeeeeeeee! Future-AU-fic, assuming everything happened up until the end of the Mason storyline, which ended differently.
Many, many thanks to the lovely nel and d <3
An extreme guilty pleasure fic, very much needed at the moment (life suuuuuuucks). Nothing really in the way of Luke/Reid conflict, just two crazy boys being crazy about each other. Fluff, fluff and more fluff! Nothing in this is meant to be an accurate reflection of anything. Rated R for language and sex. Also posted at AO3 here.
*
Reid was busy perusing the menu in his favourite booth at his favourite diner when a - very attractive - guy suddenly appeared next to him, staring at the booth beseechingly.
“Please tell me you're eating alone.”
That had certainly never happened before. “Not that it's any of your business, but yes-”
“Perfect!” the guy announced and then just happily threw himself into the booth across from Reid as if this was in any way normal behaviour. “Sorry to do this to you but I really need a rescue right now.”
Wonderful, probably some woman he was on a terrible first date with. Reid had no intention of getting involved in anyone's personal business. “Look, all I want to do is eat in peace-”
“I'll pay for anything you order.”
Reid thought about it. He could more than afford the food there, but a free meal always did taste so much sweeter. “I'm listening.”
“My name's Luke,” the guy introduced, but then his eyes widened as he saw something over Reid's shoulder. “Crap, he's coming.” Focusing back on Reid, he pleaded with him using his voice and his eyes - quite effectively, if Reid were honest. Luke's eyes were very pretty. “Please just act like you know me.”
What the hell?
Reid soon saw what - or more especially who - Luke was looking at when another guy appeared next to Reid's booth. He was attractive enough, Reid supposed, though his hair was too long for Reid to find him really appealing. Also, who the hell wore a scarf in the middle of July?
“Wow, you really are meeting someone,” Scarf Guy said to Luke as he glanced over at Reid. “I was convinced you were lying.”
Within seconds he'd already put Reid's teeth on edge - something that either took skill, talent or raw dumb luck. Reid was betting on the dumb part. He also wasn't letting this guy get away with being the biggest asshole in the room - that was Reid's job.
“Who's this, Luke?” he asked, committing to the role.
Shooting him a grateful look, Luke looked considerably more relaxed as he introduced Scarf Guy. “Mason Jarvis,” he explained. “We...knew each other back in Oakdale.”
Reid nodded along like he'd heard all about Oakdale before, when in actuality he had no freaking clue where it even was.
Mason honestly looked a little offended. “I'm surprised you haven't heard of me.”
Wow, ego, much? “I can honestly say Luke's never mentioned you at all.”
Sitting across from him, Luke didn't even bother holding back his grin.
Mason's unbearable smugness finally cracked, a little. “Oh,” he said, sounding surprised - just for a few moments, before recovering. “And you are?”
“Oh, sorry, Mason, where are my manners?” Luke asked rhetorically, obviously covering for the fact that he had literally no idea what Reid's name was. “Mason, this is-”
“Reid Oliver,” he introduced, taking over from Luke's lead-in. They made a good team. “Dr Reid Oliver,” he added because while he didn't usually need to trade on his title, this asshole clearly needed an assault on all fronts.
“A doctor,” Mason remarked, sounding suitably impressed before turning his head to look at Luke. “You did well, Luke.”
Luke's eyes widened at the assumption that he and Reid were together - he obviously hadn't explicitly said he was dating the person he was meeting before rushing over to Reid's table - but it wasn't like Reid was bothered by the idea. In fact, it made his role even more interesting to play.
Everything Mason said was so damn patronising - no wonder Luke wanted rescuing from his guy. Reid usually liked to keep to himself - or had until recently - but Mason needed to be taken down. “On the contrary,” he said firmly, holding Luke's gaze as he looked across at him, “I'm the one who did well in this relationship.”
Face flushing, Luke lowered his head even as he smiled privately in happiness. It was such a perfect reaction that Reid genuinely had no idea if it was act or not.
Either way it was extremely appealing.
“Well,” Mason said, ruining the moment, “lucky for you, I guess. Look, I'm gonna head to the men's room but then what do you say we catch up on old times? I must admit, it's not my usual milieu,” he immediately continued, not giving Luke a chance to respond as he glanced around the diner, “but when in Rome...” With a final nod, he took himself over to the men's room.
Who the hell actually used the word milieu?
As soon as Mason was out of hearing range, Luke leant forward and spoke quickly. “I'm so sorry about this.”
“Are you kidding me?” Reid asked rhetorically. “This is the most entertainment I've had in months. That said - please tell me that moron isn't actually your ex.” The guy was wearing a scarf even in the middle of July. There had to be something wrong with him.
“Hardly,” Luke said distastefully, which made Reid's impression of him go up. “My ex's ex,” he explained, looking a little embarrassed. “My boyfriend at the time - Noah - left me for him.”
While Reid suddenly understood Luke's desire to look like he wasn't eating alone, he had to give his brain a mental scrub because he found it impossible to picture anyone leaving Luke for that guy. “Even if we could forget what an ass Mason is, this Noah's seen you, right? You're much more attractive.”
Flushing again, Luke nonetheless looked pleased and took the compliment. “That's nice of you, thanks.”
“Simply stating fact.”
“Anyway,” he shrugged, “looks aren't everything.”
Yeah, but even in the personality stakes Luke already had that idiot beat - something Reid was about to share when Carol came over.
“Sorry about the wait, Reid,” she said by way of greeting, “but we were all so shocked you were actually in here with someone that I needed to take a few minutes.”
Luke let out a small laugh.
Reid rolled his eyes. “Even though I should threaten your tip for that remark, I won't.” Reid knew just how shitty the wage system was when it came to wait staff. “In fact,” he continued, “if you help us out, I'll guarantee you an even bigger tip than usual.”
Carol definitely looked interested. “As long as it doesn't involve a felony, I'm in.”
He started work immediately. “Carol, this is Luke,” he said, nodding across the booth. Luke raised a hand and waved at her. It was not at all adorable. “We eat here together all the time - for the past few months, anyway.” Probably better to let this be a relatively new relationship. Less chance of getting caught up in lies, that way. “We need to sell the idea that we're dating.” She nodded like she'd been expecting to hear that. “The guy who'll come back to the table in a minute needs to be brought down a peg - or three.”
“Got it,” she said. “Should I take your drink orders now, or...?”
“Well I know Mason will only want coffee anyway,” Luke offered, “so we might as well order drinks.”
When Carol was gone, Mason still hadn't returned (what was he doing in there? Dramatically re-arranging his scarf?), so Reid quickly asked for the down-low - Luke's age, job, anything else he really should know if he was playing the boyfriend.
Luke quickly told him - 23, ran his own charitable foundation, only lived in Chicago for a few months, big family, mostly all back in Oakdale - and then asked the same information of Reid. 34, lived in Chicago for the past three years, since taking over as Head of Neurology at Chicago General. No family to speak of.
“Wow,” Luke joked, “I really did do well.”
“You run a charity,” Reid pointed out, “I don't think there's much in it.”
Conceding, Luke grinned - a visual Reid was coming to enjoy more and more every time he saw it - when Mason sadly returned.
Sitting next to Luke, he talked about himself for a while - Reid mimed hanging himself when Mason wasn't looking, forcing Luke to hold back a laugh - when Carol finally arrived with their drinks.
“Here you go, boys,” she announced, placing the drinks on the table one by one, then holding the tray underneath her arm, pulling out her pen and order pad. “So, what're we having today? Luke, you having the usual?” She was good.
But then so was Luke. “Thanks, Carol,” he said easily, like they spoke all the time. “But I think I'll go for the bacon cheeseburger and fries today.”
“Oookay,” she nodded, jotting that down on the pad. “Reid? Next on the menu is the chicken club, I think.” 'Noticing' Mason's confusion, she explained. “Used to be a real stick-in-the-mud, this guy,” she told him, “a creature of habit. Always ordered the same meal - cheeseburger and fries, no pickle. And then I don't see him for a while and when he comes back, he starts at the beginning of the menu and orders the next dish on there, whatever it is, everytime he eats here. Come to think of it,” Carol added contemplatively, “that's probably around the time you two started dating,” she told Luke. “Always knew you were good for him,” she winked.
Luke preened under the attention, undeserving as it was.
“What can I say?” Reid asked, playing along - though every word she'd said had been true up until the fiction about Luke. “He made me realise life's too short.” And - yeah, it was a hell of a lot sappier than he'd ever gone in the relationships he'd had in the past, but Mason looked like he was actually buying it. “And - yeah. The chicken club's good.”
“And what you about you, hon?” Carol asked Mason.
“Caesar salad.”
“With chicken?”
“No,” he said snottily, “if I wanted chicken I would've said I wanted chicken.”
Freezing in place, Carol stared at him for a few moments before smiling too-pleasantly. “Just checking.” Putting her pad and pen away, she reached for their menus. “Give me a holler if you need anything.”
Reid would like to think that Carol was professional enough that nothing untoward ever ended up in any customer's food. However, he'd heard enough horror stories about the food-service industry to know that if he'd been Mason, he wouldn't have been touching anything Carol served him today.
“So, Mason,” Luke began, “what're you doing in Chicago? Last I heard, you were still out in LA.”
Clearly pleased to talk about himself again, Mason prattled on about an 'opportunity' that could be opening up in the city - Reid genuinely had no idea what the guy did, but when he mentioned a friend of a friend who knew Ben Affleck, he figured it was something to do with the movie industry.
Though Reid was willing to bet Ben Affleck had heard about Mason about as many times as he'd heard of Reid himself - as in, never.
“And what about you, Luke?” Mason finally asked. “You still working on your little charity?”
“Actually, The Snyder Foundation has only grown in size and scope,” Luke announced boldly, clearly not about to be cowed by the likes of Mason. “Hence why I moved to Chicago this year. Oakdale will always mean a lot to me, but it's harder to get things done from there, even with the technology available these days. We're actually looking into partnering up with the hospitals and medical centres in the Chicago area, to see if there's any support we can offer LGBT kids who are currently dealing with medical issues. Reid's idea,” he added proudly, which was a complete falsehood for such a great idea.
He hoped that part was true.
Nodding sagely, like he'd been Luke's mentor all along, Mason spoke. “Well, I'm glad you're finally doing something productive with your life. I know Noah was always worried that you never made it through college.”
Okay, yeah, Reid couldn't fake any 'niceness' anymore - and by nice he just meant keeping his mouth shut because he'd known if he hadn't, exactly the type of thing he was about to say now would come out. “Hang on there, Scarf Boy,” he started, making Mason blink at him in surprise. “You make movies - possibly the most self-indulgent career choice possible - and you think Luke is 'finally' doing something productive when he's been running a charity that helps people - helps children - for years?”
“Reid,” Luke began.
“I'm sorry, Luke,” he shook his head, “but this moron's been bad-mouthing you since he got here and I won't put up with it anymore.”
“No,” Luke tried again, smiling gently, reaching across the table to touch Reid's forearm. “I mean I don't need you to defend me. I can defend myself.”
Satisfied that at least someone was going to finally rip Mason a new one, Reid backed down.
Patting Reid's arm one more time, Luke turned to face the man still stupidly sitting next to him. “First of all, the reason I never 'made it' through college is that Noah got me kicked out by reporting me for breaking rules that someone else actually broke, so I think his opinion of my time at college is more than a little suspect.” Wow, this Noah sounded even worse than Mason. “Secondly - Reid's right. You've done nothing but insult me since arriving and I was going to try, you know? Actually doing the right thing, act like a decent human being when you're clearly still incapable of that.”
“Luke,” Mason began knowingly, “if this is about Noah-”
“This has nothing to do with Noah,” Luke interrupted passionately, “this is about you, still, after all these years, acting like you're so much better than everyone else. The sheer smugness is amazing and completely unjustified - you were never that impressive. You manipulated a student you were mentoring into dating you - which says so much about your ethics, by the way - and then guess what, Mason?” Luke smirked. “Then he left you, too. In the end, you were no more important to him than I was.”
There was a whole hell of a lot to unpack about that, but mostly Reid was just glad Luke wasn't rolling over and taking it - already it sounded like he'd had more than enough to deal with in the past.
As it was, Mason barely hesitated before shifting along the booth until he could stand up. “I think...I'll go.”
“Sounds like a good idea,” Luke told him. “Don't worry about your food - we'll pay for it. In return you can promise that if you ever see me again?” He stared at him flatly. “Don't talk to me.”
Saying nothing else, Mason just left.
Reid was honestly a little turned on, which was impressive for so many reasons.
“Wow,” Luke transformed completely as Mason scampered off, wearing a delighted smile, “I should've done that years ago. I feel so good!”
“It was definitely impressive,” Reid replied, which wasn't even an exaggeration.
“I'm so sorry for dragging you into all this,” he said sincerely. “If I'd done that when I first bumped into him I'd never have needed to bother you at all. I think it was the shock of seeing him again - here of all places. Fell back into old habits, I guess.”
“I meant what I said,” he shrugged, “still the most entertainment I've had in years.”
Smiling at him, Luke reached for his drink. “You don't get out much, huh?”
“Not usually,” he admitted, “though been looking to change that, lately.”
“Does that have something to do with what Carol was talking about earlier?”
So he had picked up on that. “You could say that.”
“Time to make some changes in your life?” Luke asked perceptively. “I know all about that - that's part of the reason I really moved to Chicago.”
“Not just for work?”
“No,” he shook his head, “though I do think I can be more effective here. I love my family but there's so much baggage there. After Noah and...everything, I only really stayed for my siblings but after Faith - my sister - left literally the day she turned eighteen...well,” he admitted, “I understood it even if I didn't agree with it, because she and Mom had been clashing for years. But then...” he paused, remembering something. “She was so happy, you know? She was happier than I'd seen her in years - kinder, too. A better person. So,” he continued, “I finally found the courage to try putting myself first, too.”
Good for him. “And how's that working out for you?”
“Well, I'm currently having lunch with a really nice guy, so,” he grinned, making Reid smile a little too, “I'd say it's working out pretty well.”
Carol arrived then, carrying Mason's caesar salad. “Oh, shoot,” she said, “is he gone?”
“Fortunately,” Reid told her.
“You can leave that, if you want,” Luke offered. “Looks pretty good - we could split it as a side-salad.”
“Oh, no,” Carol shook her head, holding the dish away from him. “Trust me, you don't want to eat this.”
Reid knew it. “Is it a felony to deliberately contaminate someone's food?”
“Well as that surely didn't happen I couldn't possibly know the answer to that question,” she replied innocently. “I'll make sure you don't get charged for this,” she added, leaving before either of them could examine the salad closer.
“She must like you,” Luke told him after she'd gone, “to risk getting into trouble like that.”
“I'm a regular and I tip well.”
“Or she thinks you're a good guy,” he argued, “because I certainly do.”
Luke was easy to please, apparently. “You only say that because, next to Mason, anyone looks like a decent guy.”
“You make a fair point,” Luke conceded, “but if you're trying to tell me you're not a good person?” He shook his head. “Nah, I'm not convinced.”
“Just go ask anyone I've ever worked with,” Reid told him, “they'll tell you all about what an asshole I've been in the past.”
Studying him for a while, Luke spoke quietly. “I think it's more important how we treat people in the present.”
“So, what? I'm forgiven all my sins?”
“I'm not qualified enough to give an answer on that,” he said honestly, “all I do know is that you've been nice to me and Carol obviously likes you - she seems like a good judge of character.”
“Let's be honest, though,” Reid pointed out, “you don't really know me. We barely know each other at all.”
“Then let's change that,” he suggested. “We're both here, we're both going to eat - no reason why we can't keep doing that together even if we're not pretending to be a couple now. And that way,” he added with a small smile, “maybe we can get to know each other.”
Reid honestly didn't need any more convincing. He'd already decided that he liked the guy and - well. This was the kind of thing he'd been thinking about lately, right? Taking more chances, living outside of the rules he normally made for himself?
Decision made, he held out his hand. “Reid Oliver.”
Grinning, Luke shook his hand. “Luke Snyder. Pleased to meet you,” he added formally, before releasing his hand. “So, Reid Oliver,” he continued, settling further back against his seat, “tell me about yourself.”
*
Having exchanged numbers, they kept in contact in the days after their first encounter in the diner. It was always initiated by Luke - Reid had never been good at that kind of thing - but he did make an effort to respond. Meeting Luke had honestly been the most interesting thing to happen in his life in years.
Well, the most interesting good thing.
The fact that he apparently found Reid just as interesting was not something he was about to take lightly, so Reid made the effort. He didn't feel like he always got it right - it was difficult to get tone of voice right in text messages when you didn't use emojis - but Luke seemed to take everything in good humour, if the amount of times he sent that damn sticking-out-tongue emoji was anything to go by.
Four days later, Reid was on the sofa resting after work when his phone went off again - though it was the ringtone, this time.
Luke was calling.
Reid had already reached the point where just seeing Luke's name pop up on his phone made him smile. Shaking his head at himself, he nonetheless answered the phone.
“Hey.”
“Hey!” Luke greeted enthusiastically. “Sorry if I'm bothering you.”
“Don't be ridiculous.” Reid had made it plain at their meal the other day that he didn't do anything if he didn't want to - that included answering the phone to cute guys who'd admitted they were still working through some confidence issues. “Did you want something?”
Luke started teasing. “I can't call just to talk?”
“We've been 'talking' every day through text,” Reid explained his thinking. “If you're calling now, I know it's because you want something.” After all, he did know Luke a hell of a lot better already. “Come on - out with it.”
“Fine,” he grudgingly admitted. “I just don't want you to think that I'm only going to call when I want something - that I'm using you.”
That was a little dramatic - this was the first time Luke had ever called him, after all. “What is it?” he asked, half-jokingly. “Need me to pretend to be Super Boyfriend again?”
There was silence for a few moments, until... “...yes?”
Oh. “Wait, really?”
“But it's not like a need - more like a want,” he rushed to explain. “It's my mom,” Luke sighed. “Mason must still be in contact with Noah, because he told Noah about meeting us the other day and then Noah called my mom and then she called me...”
Wait a minute. “Your ex is friends with your mom?” He was sure it'd happened with people in the past, but surely only when your son actually still wanted anything to do with said ex - as was very much not the case with Luke, something he'd made abundantly clear at lunch the other day.
“Yep,” Luke sighed, and he really hadn't been exaggerating about needing to leave Oakdale. “She couldn't believe she hadn't even heard of you - never mind didn't get to meet you - before Mason and-”
“You want to prove to her that I'm real, too?”
“No,” Luke said, to Reid's surprise. “I want her to see that you make me so disgustingly happy that she'll never, even once, suggest ever again that Noah and I get back together.”
Reid chuckled. “I like it.”
“I want to rub our awesome relationship in her face,” he continued, not a little vindictively. “Because despite the fact that he cheated on me - and all the other things I explained that he put me through, over the years - Mom still somehow thinks we're 'meant to be'. Despite the fact that Noah doesn't want that. Despite the fact that I don't want that.” He huffed out a breath. “I figure that if anyone can make Noah pale in comparison, it's you.”
“Your certainty that I can bullshit awesome boyfriendness is reassuring.”
“It's not even that,” Luke replied with humour in his voice. “Just your...everything.”
“Everything?”
“Yeah, you know,” he explained. “Your sense of humour, impressive job, rocking hot bod,” he joked. Well, there was humour in it, but the way he said he kind of made it sound like he meant every single word. “Anyone would look bad next to you.”
Reid wasn't about to deny it - that was good for the old ego. “Well, when you have such faith in me, I can hardly say no.”
“Really?” Luke asked, excited. “That's amazing! Thank you so much, Reid. I know the mature thing to do would just be to say we can't make it-”
“Or even do something really radical and actually tell the truth.”
“Right,” he agreed. “But then I never claimed to be very mature. And my Mom...it's a bit like Mason. When it comes to the Noah stuff, at least, she just...gets to me. It's like she has these blinders on and she won't listen to a word I have to say. It drives me crazy.”
Reid could understand that. “Does sound frustrating.”
“Extremely.”
“So, what's the plan?” he asked. “We meet up with her some place, hold hands and suck face for a while and it's all good?”
“I don't know if going that far is completely necessary,” he answered, sounding amused, “but...well, how do you feel about a trip to Oakdale?”
Luke's suggestion, to make it more worthwhile for Reid, was to make a day of it. They'd have a short road trip together - apparently Oakdale was about two hours from Chicago - Reid would get to visit a place he'd never been before and Luke would spring for everything, gas included.
Honestly, Reid had already been sold at the 'let's pretend to be boyfriends again' portion of the conversation. He liked Luke, a lot, and while in the past he probably would've just slept with him and moved on, that wasn't what he wanted anymore.
Well, of course he wanted to sleep with Luke - but that wasn't happening for a variety of reasons.
But here, again, was a perfect opportunity to branch out from himself. Just being around Luke seemed to bring up new experiences and, for once in his life, Reid was revelling in it.
Luke insisted that as Reid was a doctor - and a very important one at that - they work around his schedule so after he shared his next few days off from work they agreed on one and Luke eagerly ended the call to give his mom the date, fully intending to tell her that if she really wanted to meet Reid, she'd have to make herself available.
That vindictive streak of Luke's was really quite something.
Reid made it through the next week or so of work well enough - staying in contact with Luke helped the time pass - and finally it was the morning of the day in question and Reid was waiting outside his apartment building for his ride. In the end they'd agreed on Luke driving as he already knew where he was going and taking two cars was unnecessary.
The weather was good today, so Reid just enjoyed the sun until an average-looking car pulled up at the curb, the window lowering to reveal Luke inside. “Hey, hot stuff,” he called out, “looking for a ride?”
Grinning despite himself, Reid got into the car. “You couldn't afford me.”
“I actually could,” Luke said, which - oh yeah. Right. He was loaded. “I got coffee,” he added, nodding towards the drink holders at the back of the gear shift between them.
“I take it all back,” Reid retorted, eagerly grabbing one of the cardboard cups, “if you have coffee, that's all the payment I need.”
“Cheap date,” he remarked, as he carefully pulled back out into the traffic - it was going to suck, for a while, but they'd wanted to get an early start and once they got out of Chicago itself it should be fine.
It was a little weird, for Reid, not being the one driving. He honestly couldn't remember the last time he'd been in the passenger seat of a car. He'd been in the back of cabs numerous times in recent memory, but actually being in the front and not driving was something his inner control freak was struggling with.
Telling himself to stop being an idiot - he'd conquered much worse - he tried to let the tension out of his body and just enjoy his drink. “So,” he began, in an attempt to distract himself, “tell me everything I need to know to play the devoted boyfriend.”
He already had some idea of the state of Luke's family from their previous interactions, but they should probably work out details - how they met, exactly how long they'd been together, how serious it was.
The discussion went on long enough that it was only when they were finally out of the city, driving along the freeway that it came to an end and Luke flicked the radio on, letting it play quietly. “I like the background noise.”
Reid shrugged. “It's your car.”
He soon regretting giving in so easily because when a particular song came on - Reid recognised it but had no idea who the artist was - Luke cranked the volume right up at the same time as he said, “I should warn you - I'm a terrible singer.”
“You're really going to-” And then Luke just started belting the song out along with the radio. “Of course you are.”
Reid side-eyed him, aghast, because he really hadn't been kidding - Luke had a truly awful singing voice - but he just kept singing regardless, even knowing he was bad. Honestly, he looked like he was having the time of his life and, in the end, it only made Reid smile.
Thankfully for Reid's ear drums, the radio - and Luke's - volume went back down after that song, though he sung along quietly to almost every song that came on afterwards. Reid didn't join in - sometimes he just didn't know the words, and he'd never been the type anyway - but if he found a song particularly catchy he drummed his fingers against his leg in time to the beat.
Most of the rest of the drive went that way - Luke bopping or singing along to whatever came on the radio, Reid quietly tapping next to him - but after they took the turn-off with the sign that read Oakdale, Luke finally turned the radio off and glanced over at him.
“Thanks.”
Reid had literally done nothing except sit there. “For what?”
“Not being an asshole.”
That'd come out of nowhere. “That's a matter of opinion.”
“Trust me,” Luke nodded wryly, “I know all about assholes. And you're not one.”
Fair enough. Even if he didn't really agree with him, he wasn't about to argue with Luke's expertise. He knew his ex had really done a number on him.
They drove in a comfortable silence after that, until they finally made it into Oakdale. “So, we'll be going to the farmhouse,” Luke told him, “instead of the town house. Grandma Emma's really eager to meet you, too,” he explained, “and, well...” Luke made an awkward face. “We ended up with two houses because Mom and Dad really have that on-again off-again thing down pat. They're back together at the moment and while Natalie and Ethan are both hoping it'll stick, this time, I don't know,” he admitted. “I only really realised after Noah left me that we were stuck in the same kind of pattern so while, at the time, I was devastated, retrospectively it was the nicest thing he ever did for me. He broke my heart so effectively I knew I'd never take him back.”
Luke said it almost proudly, like it was a good thing. And while, rationally, Reid knew it probably was - Luke never wanting anything else to do with that asshole ever again - the idea of anyone hurting Luke that badly infuriated him. “You know, as your Super Boyfriend, I would never do anything like that to you.”
“I know,” Luke grinned, “you're gonna sweep them off their feet.”
“Shouldn't I be doing that to you?”
“Oh, no problem there,” he teased, “that's already a done deal. Consider me officially swept.”
He was such a dork.
Reid liked him so much.
“Uh, speaking of impressing my family, though,” Luke added, glancing between Reid and the road, “we should probably talk about how convincing we want to be and what our limits are. The last thing I want to do is make you uncomfortable, but I know you joked the other day about making out-”
“I wasn't joking.”
Luke looked like his brain had crashed for a good few moments before he was suddenly pulling over to the side of the road. They seemed to be in Oakdale-proper now, though it clearly wasn't where anyone was supposed to park.
“You know that's not a legal parking spa-”
“I don't care,” Luke said, cutting the engine and facing him. “You actually want to kiss me?”
“Why wouldn't I?” he explained rationally. “Luke, you're attractive, you're smart, I like spending time with you - I have no issue at all with playing the perfect boyfriend, whether that means holding hands or playing tonsil hockey for ten minutes. No footsie, though,” he felt compelled to add. “I draw the line at footsie.” Everyone should draw the line at footsie.
“No, but,” undoing his seatbelt, Luke shifted further around. “Is the wanting to kiss me thing something you'd only do because you're playing the perfect boyfriend, or because you actually want to kiss me?”
Reid shrugged. “Both, obviously.”
The transformation on Luke's face was something to see as he went from wary hopefulness to utter happiness in a split-second. “Well, good,” he admitted with a huge grin, “because I really want to kiss you, too. It's just that you keep helping me out so I was never sure if it was just you being nice or-”
“I am never nice.”
“That's a lie,” he shot back, gaze falling to Reid's mouth. “So is it okay if I kiss you now? You know, for research purposes. Have to make sure we look convincing.”
Reid had no problem with that, but would prefer they didn't do so under false pretences. “You know you're not convincing either one of us with that argument,” he said, even as he undid his own seat belt.
“That's not a no,” Luke pointed out, leaning in.
“No,” he grinned, “it's not.”
Unfortunately, their lips had only just met when there was a rapping at the window. Jerking apart, they both peered through Luke's window to see a man Reid unsurprisingly didn't recognise. Judging by Luke's face he certainly did, as he sighed and turned the key in the ignition, giving the car power so he could open the window.
“Jack,” he said darkly.
“Luke,” the guy grinned, leaning down to look further into the car. “imagine my surprise when I'm walking down the street and I see what I recognise as your car. I think to myself - that can't be Luke. He knows better, especially having a relative on the force. But no, it is you, and the reason you're parked illegally at all is, well,” he smirked across at the passenger seat, “you must be Reid.”
“My reputation precedes me.” Everyone really did know each other in this place.
“More like Mom told everyone you were coming,” Luke muttered.
“You know how she is, kid,” Jack said, commiserating a little. “Now, move this thing before I get someone to give you a ticket.”
“Thanks.” Reluctantly, Luke started the engine before eyeing Jack again. “You're going to tell Mom about this, aren't you?”
“Luke,” he sounded offended. “I wouldn't do that to you. I will, however,” he added with a grin, “definitely be telling your dad.”
Jack was still grinning when Luke pulled away from the curb.
“Seems like a nice guy,” Reid said non-committally, using every ounce of his willpower to hold back his own smile lest he be the next one confronted by Luke's glare.
“He is,” Luke admitted, “I just know this'll end up getting back to Mom and she'll be all judgemental and think you're a bad influence.”
Seriously? How twisted was Luke's mom? “First of all, showing affection to the guy you're meant to be in a relationship with is a good thing - does she expect you to be a eunuch? Secondly - and more importantly - so what?” Luke glanced across at him. “The whole point of this was to do it your way, right? Rub our awesome relationship in her face? Why does it even matter that we can't keep our hands off each other? If anything, it only adds to our authenticity.”
Luke had been looking more and more convinced as Reid went on. “You're right,” he nodded, grasping the steering wheel firmly. “That makes us look even more convincing.”
“Of course I'm right.”
Huffing out a laugh, Luke shook his head at him. “I just...don't like the idea of her thinking badly of you.”
That was so kind and considerate - and completely unnecessary. “I genuinely couldn't care less if your mom likes me or not. All that matters is that you do.”
Coming to a stop at a traffic light, Luke looked across at him fondly. “I do like you,” he said seriously, “and maybe, later, we could try that kissing thing again.”
He made it sound like they were eighth graders, but Reid was thoroughly charmed. Luke was at turns innocent and experienced, confused and then confident. Instead of giving him emotional whiplash, Reid found the combination fascinating. “I could be persuaded,” he assured with a tilt to his voice, staring at Luke until the other man flushed happily.
He knew, however, that if Luke ever wanted this to go anywhere other than kissing - relationship-wise or even just physically - they were going to have to have the conversation Reid was not looking forward to having.
For now, however, he just sat back in his seat and enjoyed the prospect of playing Luke Snyder's boyfriend for the rest of the day.
TBC