Chapter 27 #2
“You know what?” Luke said. “I think I would believe it. You make me feel things I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to feel again. That’s quite an accomplishment.”
Mikey preened. He reminded Luke of a peacock.
“Don’t get too full of yourself,” he said. “Though I guess I have to admit you probably should be proud. I don’t think anyone else could have the impact on me that you have.”
Mikey kissed him on the lips then and, even though it was probably the hundredth time they’d done it the past week, he still felt butterflies in his belly.
“Okay, okay,” he said. “We’ve got to get on our way, or we’re never going to get into town. And I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be on the receiving end of Brenda’s annoyance.”
They both blanched a bit. Brenda definitely had “I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed” energy, and it was enough to scare the both of them.
So, Luke pulled away from the house and started the drive back to Moundsville.
As they drove along the twisting roads along Fish Creek, they both just savored the silence, their hands nestled together.
Luke particularly enjoyed the warmth in his chest, the sense all was right in the world.
The windows were down, the West Virginia breeze was coming through and tickling them, and the birds–the red-winged blackbirds, the cardinals, the robins–were all singing.
There were even a few grackles and crows off in the distance, and they made him smile.
In fact, everything about the world made him smile right then.
“Whatcha smilin’ about?” Mikey asked.
“I was just thinking about how lucky I am that we reconnected,” Luke said. “And how I’m glad we’re working to bring NACA back to life.”
He paused, unsure he wanted to ask the next question. Now they'd left the cocoon of the cabin, though, he had to ask.
“Do you think even a great concert is going to be enough to save it, even with the streaming and all of it?”
It was the one thing neither of them had really talked about, but it was arguably the one thing they should have been talking about.
What if, despite all they’d managed to achieve–both musically and romantically–they were unable to save NACA?
What if, heaven forbid, it was just fated to be one of those things left behind by history?
Mikey Smiles, however, wasn’t the type to admit defeat, and he certainly wasn’t the type to admit defeat before he’d even tried.
“Luke Carter,” he said firmly, “we’re not even going to admit the possibility of failure. Trust me. If you want to succeed when you’re doing something like this, you just have to stride right in and act like you’re going to succeed. Failure doesn’t stand a chance.”
Maybe he’s right, Luke thought. Maybe it really will be okay.
It still felt a little strange to be optimistic, but he went with it.
The rest of the drive passed in a pleasant haze and when, at last, they came within sight of Moundsville, Luke tried not to feel too disappointed. It certainly helped that, when they pulled up to NACA, Brenda was already there, a huge smile plastered on her face.
“You boys certainly didn’t waste any time,” she said. “Is the set list all done?”
Luke nodded, pulling out the folder with the songs. He hesitated just the slightest bit before handing them over. Surrendering the music he’d worked on with Mikey these past few days just felt…well, like a betrayal.
Brenda, however, wasn’t one to be kept waiting.
He handed them over, finally, and Brenda started looking at them right away. Slowly but surely, her eyes got the twinkle in them he knew very well.
Well, well, well, he thought. I guess we did a better job than I dared to hope.
“I have to say,” she said at last, putting the various pieces of paper back in the folder, “you two have really outdone yourselves. I didn’t doubt you for a moment, of course, but these songs…
they’re really gonna knock people’s socks off, and I don’t say that lightly.
I think you’ve really written something special here, and you should both be proud. ”
She saw the two of them holding hands.
“So,” she said. “That’s how it is. I hope you know I’m very happy for you both.
You always were the best couple I’d ever seen come out of NACA.
” Her face got sober for a minute. “I’m just sorry things weren’t easier for you back then.
It was a different time, but still, I’m sorry we didn’t do more. ”
Luke tried to speak around the lump in his throat.
“Thank you for that,” Mikey said, stepping in. “We really appreciate it. You’re right, though. It was a different time, and we were all just doing the best we could to get by. You were a great mentor, and we always knew you were a safe space if either of us decided to come out.”
“You boys…,” Brenda said, and now it was her turn to sound like tears were in her voice. “You both really are something special. I hope you know that. Now go on and go enjoy yourselves. I’ll take a look at these pieces and leave some notes, then we’ll get the concert planned.”
Luke wondered just why it had been necessary to come all the way here if she was just going to send them away again, but then he realized she was doing this because she wanted the two of them to spend some more time together.
She really is the best, he thought.
Then she was going back inside NACA, and he was left alone with Mikey again.
They spent the next several hours just walking around Moundsville, enjoying the early summer atmosphere. They eventually made their way to the Mound itself and, after wandering the museum for a bit, they climbed to the top of it and sat down.
A cool breeze was blowing in off the river, lifting up a few of Mikey’s curls as he sat there, head leaned back, eyes closed.
Luke allowed his eyes to just wander across his boyfriend’s face, relishing the way his long eyelashes swept his cheeks, the way his lips pursed out just the slightest bit when he was relaxing, the way he just seemed so comfortable in his own body.
God, he’s beautiful, he thought.
“I can sense you staring at me,” Mikey said, without opening his eyes.
“I can’t help it,” Luke said. “You’re just too beautiful not to look at. You’re like a work of art.”
Mikey chuckled softly.
“I think you’re pretty beautiful too, for what it’s worth. On both the inside and the outside.”
Luke was aware they were both being very sappy, but he didn’t care. They were both in touch with their feelings, which was what mattered.
Well, and the fact they were together and just enjoying one another’s company.
Finally, though, Mikey sighed.
“I hate to leave,” he said softly, “but I think I should probably go tell Damian, Tricia, and the rest of them what’s been going on. I want to make sure everything goes smoothly when we become official, you know?”
The reminder of just how different their lives were wasn’t particularly welcome. What had seemed the perfect day was now just the slightest bit sour, and he started to wish they hadn’t come up here at all.
Don’t be like that, he thought. He’s just doing what’s best for both of you.
“I get that,” he said. “Do you think they’ll be okay with it?”
Mikey shrugged.
“If they’re not, they’re going to have to figure out a way to be. I love you, Luke Carter, and I’m not going to let you get away from me a second time.”
Luke looked away so Mikey wouldn’t see just how much his words affected him.
“Hey,” Mikey said, “I mean it, okay? I’m going to do everything in my power to look out for us. I promise.”
Luke gave him what he hoped was a reassuring smile. He was pretty sure, based on the look on Mikey’s face, it came out as more of a grimace.
“I trust you,” he said, pouring all of his belief in Mikey into his tone. “Really. I’ve just been burned so many times, and I don’t want our relationship to turn into another press debacle for either of us.”
“Trust me. I’m going to put Damian on it. If anyone can keep this going the way we want it to, if anyone can keep control of the narrative, it’s Damian.”
Luke could tell there was a whole lot more about Damian Mikey wasn’t telling, but he decided not to push it for now. If Mikey had faith in the guy, then he would, too.
They parted ways shortly after, and as Luke drove off–not sure yet where he was going to go for the rest of the day–his heart was breaking a little.
“Hey,” Mikey said, giving him another tender kiss, “don’t have such a long face. We’ll be back together soon. Promise.”
“I’m gonna hold you to that,” Luke said, and then Mikey was gone, back into the hotel.
See you soon, Mikey Smiles, he thought.