Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
Luke balanced takeout containers against his hip while fumbling with his toolbox. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across Noah’s porch, highlighting peeling paint and warped boards he’d originally planned on having fixed by now so Noah had somewhere to sit and work while Eli played in the front yard.
He didn’t bother knocking anymore. That boundary had dissolved somewhere between their first kiss and this morning when he’d left Noah’s bed before sunrise to head to the Tillerman site. Now, he moved through the house with ease, following the sound of papers shuffling in the dining room.
Luke still couldn’t believe how easily they’d fallen into what felt like a routine, and he worried what would happen tomorrow when Jenna brought Eli back. He wasn’t sure either of them was capable of pretending they weren’t screwing or making out every chance they got, but he didn’t want Eli getting mixed messages.
This was turning into a giant tangle of complications. Even worse, his friends would be over tomorrow to help bust through as many of the repairs from the storm as possible, and Keaton was too damned perceptive. He’d know as soon as he walked in that Luke and Noah weren’t just contractor and client.
Noah sat at the makeshift desk they’d cobbled together, surrounded by essays and red pens. His reading glasses had slipped down his nose, and his usually neat hair stuck up in ways that suggested he’d been running his fingers through it in frustration. He looked…sexy. Touchable. Like something Luke could have forever if he was brave enough to reach for it.
“Brought dinner,” Luke announced, forcing lightness into his voice. “Figured you’d forget to eat while grading.”
Noah glanced up, his tired smile warming as he took in Luke’s presence. “My hero. Just let me finish this last?—”
“Nope.” Luke set down the food, gently tugging the pen from Noah’s hand. “Food first. Then we can work on Eli’s room while your brain recovers from whatever your students did to The Great Gatsby .”
“You don’t want to know.” Noah stretched, his dress shirt pulling tight across his shoulders in a way that made Luke’s mouth go dry. Luke didn’t know shit about classic literature, but that didn’t stop him from listening to Noah rant about the bizarre tangents some of his students went on in their essays. “One of them suggested Gatsby should have just used Tinder.”
Luke laughed, already pulling containers from the bag. “Well, it would have simplified things. Though I’m not sure how you’d swipe right on a green light.”
“Please don’t give them ideas.” But Noah was smiling now, his real smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes. “Seriously, though, you didn’t have to bring food. I could have?—”
“Let me take care of you sometimes?” The words slipped out before Luke could stop them, heavy with meaning he wasn’t ready to examine. The past few days had filled a void Luke hadn’t known existed in his heart. Instead of wanting to escape as quickly as possible, he found himself lingering in bed in the mornings, stealing every second possible in Noah’s arms. He busied himself opening plastic to-go containers, pretending not to notice how Noah’s breath caught. “I mean, you’ve been grading all afternoon. And we need to finish the ceiling in Eli’s room before he comes home.”
Noah pushed away from the desk and spun his chair around. He hooked his fingers in Luke’s belt loops, tugging until Luke was between his legs. When he rested his head against Luke’s stomach, another brick in the wall around Luke’s heart crumbled. Noah sighed, his body relaxing as Luke massaged his shoulders. “Thank you. I’ll eventually get used to not being the one trying to look after everyone else all the time.”
“Doubt it.” Luke chuckled. It hadn’t escaped his notice how Noah bristled every time Luke tried doing something nice for him. He bent to kiss the top of Noah’s head. “Come on, let’s eat. We’ve got work to do.”
With any luck, they’d get Eli’s room put back together before they fell into bed exhausted tonight. Luke wasn’t stupid enough to think there would be anymore sleepovers once Eli got home, but he also wasn’t entirely comfortable sleeping in the bed Noah’s son had slept in since the night of the storm. The sooner Eli had his own space again, the better.
They settled into a comfortable silence, sharing Thai food while Noah’s essays waited. Luke found himself watching Noah’s hands as he ate—elegant fingers that could grade papers or swing a hammer with equal grace. He’d felt those hands on his skin this morning, gentle but insistent…
Noah’s phone buzzed, Eli’s picture lighting up the screen. “Right on schedule,” Noah said softly, answering the video call. “Hey, buddy! How was the zoo?”
Luke started to move away, giving them privacy, but Noah’s hand on his wrist stopped him. He found himself drawn into their conversation, watching Eli’s excited recounting of seeing tigers and elephants. The boy’s enthusiasm was infectious, and Luke couldn’t help smiling as he demonstrated how the monkeys had thrown food at each other.
“Mr. Luke!” Eli’s face pressed closer to the camera when he noticed Luke. “Are you fixing more stuff? Did you find any treasure in the walls yet? Mom says there might be old letters or pictures!”
“Not yet, buddy.” Luke’s chest felt tight at Eli’s easy inclusion of him in their nightly ritual. “But we’re working on your room tonight. Making sure everything’s perfect for when you come home.”
“Can we paint it Captain America colors?” Eli’s eyes widened with possibility. “Tommy’s bathroom has sharks on the walls!”
Noah laughed. He was still stressed about the repairs draining his savings, but talking about the work they were doing no longer sent him into a tailspin, which Luke took as a win. “We’ll talk about it when you’re home. For now, isn’t it almost time for you to eat dinner?”
After making promises about bedroom decorating discussions and treasure-hunting expeditions, Noah ended the call. Something in his expression had shifted, a melancholy that hadn’t been there before.
“He misses you,” Luke said quietly. “Even with all the fun he’s having with Jenna.”
“Yeah.” Noah set his phone down carefully. “I miss him too. It’s just…everything’s changing so fast, you know? The house, us, how quickly he’s growing up…”
Luke’s pulse jumped at the casual mention of “us.” They hadn’t really discussed what they were doing, content to let attraction and need guide them. But watching Noah with Eli, seeing how naturally they included him in their lives…
“Is that bad?” Luke asked, voice barely above a whisper. “The changes?”
Noah met his gaze steadily. “No. Just…complicated. Eli’s at an age where he notices everything, forms attachments easily. I have to be careful about who I let into his life.”
The weight of implication settled between them. This wasn’t about attraction or convenience anymore. This was about a little boy who already looked at Luke like he hung the moon, who trusted him to fix everything from leaky pipes to monster noises in the walls.
“Noah—” Luke started, but Noah shook his head.
“We should get to work,” he said softly. “The bedroom won’t fix itself.”
Heaviness settled in Luke’s stomach. Just as he was lowering his own defenses, it seemed Noah was constructing his own. He wished he could make Noah see that nothing had to change between them as far as Eli was concerned. They had been becoming friends even before Eli left, and it wasn’t like they were incapable of keeping their hands off one another. Luke also understood Noah’s concerns about Eli growing close to Luke if something happened, but now that Noah had let him in, Luke would do everything in his power to not hurt either of them.
They cleared dinner debris in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. As they headed upstairs, Luke couldn’t help noticing how naturally they moved together, anticipating each other’s needs without words. Noah handed him tools before he asked, steadied the ladder without being told, existed in his space like he belonged there.
It was terrifying how right it felt.
“Can you grab me some screws?” Luke asked, needing to focus on something concrete. But when Noah stepped close, pressing against his back to give him the box of drywall screws, all Luke could think about was how easily they fit together. How Noah’s presence had become as essential as breathing.
He was in over his head.
This wasn’t just about incredible sex or convenient companionship anymore. This was about how Noah’s reading glasses left marks on his nose, how his voice softened when he talked to Eli, how he remembered Luke’s coffee order and anticipated his needs.
This was about falling, fast and hard, for someone who had to think about more than just himself.
“Luke?” Noah’s voice pulled him back. “You okay? You zoned out there.”
“Yeah.” Luke forced a smile, turning back to the wall that needed his attention. “Just thinking about the best way to tackle this.”
But he wasn’t thinking about sheetrock at all. He was thinking about how easily he could imagine more nights like this—sharing dinner, talking to Eli, working side by side in comfortable silence. How naturally they’d fallen into a rhythm that felt like…family.
They worked until the muscles in Luke’s shoulders burned, replacing damaged drywall and checking for any signs of lingering moisture. The room slowly transformed from a disaster zone to a livable space, though it would need paint and finishing touches once Keaton helped him finish the ceiling repairs. Luke found himself imagining Eli’s face when he saw it—maybe they could add some built-in shelving for his growing collection of books and action figures…
He caught himself mid-thought. This wasn’t his room to plan. This wasn’t his kid to spoil. This wasn’t his family to?—
Aw, hell. This is bad. Luke couldn’t let himself even think about falling in love with Noah and Eli or wanting to be the one who took care of them.
“Beer?” Noah’s voice interrupted his spiral. Oblivious to Luke’s freakout, Noah continued straightening up since they were done working for the night. “We could sit out back and enjoy the evening air.”
Luke nodded, grateful for the distraction. They’d been dancing around something all night, ever since Eli’s call. The weight of unspoken words pressed against Luke’s chest as they made their way downstairs and out to the backyard.
The night air carried the scent of blossoming flowers and freshly mown grass, crisp and clean after the recent storms. There was only a slight breeze, and it was warmer than average for this time of year, making it the perfect night to light a fire on the patio and relax. Luke imagined what this space could look like once they renovated it. Wondered if he’d still be part of Noah’s life and able to enjoy quiet nights together. They settled on the back steps, shoulders brushing. Above them, stars peeked through breaks in the clouds, and somewhere in the distance, crickets provided nature’s symphony.
“Stay tonight?” Noah’s voice was soft, uncertain. “I know we said we wouldn’t once Eli comes home, but…”
But they could have tonight. They could pretend the chemistry between them wasn’t complicated. Tonight they could ignore the growing feelings neither was ready to name.
“Yeah,” Luke said, equally quiet. “I’d like that.”
They sat in comfortable silence, listening to crickets chirping and an owl calling out in the distance. Luke felt desperate to savor every last second they could steal between now and morning, when Eli would be home.
“Can I ask you something?” Noah’s voice held a note of vulnerability that made Luke’s chest tight. “Why haven’t you ever settled down? I mean, you’re good with people, great with kids, obviously capable of maintaining a household…”
Luke took a long pull from his beer, buying time. “Watching my parents, I guess. They set this impossible standard, you know? Forty years of marriage, still looking at each other like teenagers in love. The way my dad’s face lights up when Mom walks into a room…” He shrugged, trying to make light of it. “It’s hard to settle for less than that.”
“And you think you couldn’t have what they do?”
“I think…” Luke traced patterns in the condensation on his bottle. “I think I’m better at fixing houses than relationships. At least with houses, I know what tools to use.”
Noah’s laugh held no humor. “Yeah, well, I thought I knew what I was doing with Jenna. Look how that turned out.”
“You two seem to co-parent well.” The words felt inadequate. Luke had watched them the day Jenna picked up Eli, the way they supported each other without tension or drama.
“We do now. But it took work. Compromise. Learning to put Eli first, even when it meant setting aside our own feelings. But we both quickly realized we were married more out of comfort than passion. I think that made it easier to stay friends once we admitted what we had wasn’t enough.” Noah’s shoulder pressed closer. “That’s what scares me most about us. Whatever this is. What I feel for you already is so much more than what I ever felt for Jenna. And that’s dangerous because I can’t just think about what I want. Eli’s already so attached to you.”
The admission hung between them, heavy with implication. Luke thought about the drawings hanging on the fridge, covered in Eli’s careful notes about their progress. About the way the kid’s face lit up whenever Luke explained a repair or promised to teach him how to use tools.
“I’d never hurt him,” Luke said softly. “Either of you.”
“Not intentionally.” Noah’s voice held no accusation, just quiet certainty. “But you’re scared of commitment. Of letting anyone too close. I see it in the way you talk about relationships, how you keep even your closest friends at arm’s length.”
Luke’s throat felt tight. Because Noah was right—he did keep people at a distance. It was safer that way. Easier. But nothing about this felt safe or easy anymore.
“My sisters used to tease me about it,” he admitted. “Said I was waiting for some fairy tale romance like our parents have. But maybe I was just afraid of trying and failing. Of not measuring up.”
Noah’s hand found his in the darkness, fingers intertwining. “And now?”
“Now?” Luke stared at their joined hands, at how naturally they fit together. “Now I’m terrified. Because this feels…”
“Real,” Noah finished when Luke trailed off.
Luke nodded because that was exactly what scared him. “Yeah. It does.”
Noah set his bottle down on the top step before turning to cup Luke’s cheek. “Maybe your sisters were onto something. You wanted the fairy tale, but you knew deep down how much work it takes, which scared you. If you can’t trust yourself, can you trust me to help you?”
Luke swallowed hard. His heart pounded as he leaned close enough to feel Noah’s breath across his skin. His eyes fluttered shut. “Yes,” he whispered before ghosting his lips over Noah’s.
Fuck, he was terrified. His brain was screaming for him to run before he destroyed all of them. But he didn’t need to because Noah would help him learn how to be the type of partner he knew he wanted to be.
“Tell me about your parents,” Noah said after breaking the kiss. “What makes their marriage so special?”
Luke smiled, remembering countless Sunday dinners and quiet moments witnessed through a child’s eyes. “It’s not just the big things, you know? It’s the way Dad always makes sure Mom has coffee ready when she wakes up. How she knows exactly when he needs space in his workshop and when he needs company. And when his arthritis got to the point where he couldn’t keep up with woodworking, she encouraged him to find other hobbies, things they could do together, so he didn’t sit around the house and mope. They just…fit.”
“Like puzzle pieces,” Noah murmured, echoing Luke’s thoughts from earlier.
“Yeah.” Luke squeezed Noah’s hand. “They taught us that love isn’t only about grand gestures. It’s about showing up. Being there. Building something that lasts.”
That’s what you’re doing here. It’s not just the house. You’re building a home. Maybe one you can be a part of.
Thunder rumbled in the distance. Noah tensed. Luke couldn’t blame him, given the damage done during the last round of storms. He slid closer, slipping his hand around Noah’s waist. He kissed his neck, hoping to distract him. “It’s going to be fine. We have everything covered, and tonight isn’t supposed to be anything severe. How about we go upstairs and I’ll wear you out so you don’t even notice if it rains tonight?”
Noah’s fingers danced along the top of Luke’s thigh. Luke hissed as Noah’s hand met the swell of his cock. “I like the way you think.”
Luke jumped up, yanking Noah to his feet and giving him a swat on the ass. “I want you undressed and laid out for me by the time I finish locking up.”
Noah flashed a sly grin. “Yes, sir. I could get used to you being all bossy.”
“Yeah, we’ll see if you’re still saying that in the morning when you get hard from seeing me walk funny from taking your monster cock all night,” Luke quipped. God, when had sex been fun before?
Luke stretched, cataloging the pleasant aches that reminded him of the night before. The bed beside him was empty but still warm, and he could hear Noah moving around downstairs. It would be so easy to get used to this—waking up in Noah’s bed, sharing quiet morning moments before the world intruded.
Too easy.
Luke forced himself up, knowing they needed to get moving before everyone arrived unless he wanted to field uncomfortable questions from his friends. It was unlikely he’d fool anyone if he said he and Noah were just friends, but he’d rather not face an interrogation in front of Noah’s ex-wife and son.
He found Noah in the kitchen, hair still damp from his shower, wearing one of Luke’s old T-shirts he’d left here earlier in the week. The sight hit Luke like a physical blow—domestic and intimate in a way that made his chest tight. “Nice shirt. Is that your way of saying you need to come over to my place to use the washer and dryer?”
“Morning.” Noah handed him coffee without looking, already knowing how he took it. “And possibly. By the way, Keaton’s here early. He’s checking the roof access from the outside.”
Shit.
“Of course he is.” Luke accepted the cup, careful not to let their fingers brush. He needed space, needed to get his head straight before?—
The front door burst open, Eli’s voice carrying through the house. “Dad! Mr. Luke! We’re home!”
Luke jerked away from Noah as Eli bounded into the kitchen, Jenna following at a more sedate pace. Her knowing look took in Luke’s presence, Noah’s borrowed shirt, the intimate tableau they presented.
“Well,” she said mildly, “this is cozy.”
“Mr. Luke!” Eli launched himself at Luke, who caught him automatically. A pit formed in Luke’s stomach at the realization he’d sailed right past his dad into Luke’s arms. “Did you fix my room? Did you find any treasure? Mom says old houses sometimes have secret passages!”
Luke’s arms tightened around the boy, even as panic clawed at his throat. This was exactly what Noah was afraid of—Eli’s easy acceptance, his unguarded affection, the way he fit into their lives like he belonged there.
“Still working on it, buddy.” Luke set Eli down carefully, noting how the boy immediately moved to show Noah something from his backpack. The casual familiarity of it all—father and son reuniting while Luke watched from the periphery—made something in his chest ache. “It wouldn’t have been any fun if I found cool stuff while you were gone, though, right?”
“I s’pose,” he muttered over his shoulder before telling Noah all about the fun he’d had with Jenna and her parents.
“Luke!” Keaton’s voice carried from outside. “Need your eyes on something up here!”
It was really saying something that he’d rather face Keaton’s inquisition than stick around as the third—fourth?—wheel in the kitchen. Jenna and Noah probably needed time to talk, and his place wasn’t anywhere in the middle of that.
“Duty calls.” Luke escaped to the porch, ignoring Jenna’s raised eyebrow and Noah’s concerned glance. The morning air felt cool against his heated skin as he climbed the ladder to where Keaton waited.
“So,” Keaton said once Luke reached him, “want to tell me what’s going on?”
“Just checking the roof damage.” Luke busied himself examining shingles, pretending he couldn’t feel Keaton’s knowing gaze.
“Right. And it has nothing to do with you wearing yesterday’s clothes or the way Noah now looks at you like you hung the moon?” Keaton laughed when Luke flipped him off. “I’m just saying, if you don’t want everyone knowing the two of you are bumping uglies, maybe him wearing one of your shirts isn’t the best idea.”
Luke’s hands stilled on the roofing materials. “Don’t. Seriously. I know you think it’s funny, but don’t fuck this up for me.”
“Luke.” Keaton’s voice gentled. “I’ve known you since we were kids. I’ve seen you run from every possibility of something real. But this? Your sisters are going to lose their minds when they realize the playboy is ready to start playing house.”
“It’s not—” Luke stopped, frustrated. Because it was different. Everything about Noah and Eli was different. “I can’t mess this up, Keaton. There’s a kid involved, and he doesn’t know I’m anything more than the fix-it guy who’s had dinner here a couple of times and is maybe friends with his dad.”
“Yeah, a kid who already adores you.” Keaton gestured toward the yard, where Eli was showing Noah his zoo souvenirs. “And a man who looks at you like you’re everything he never knew he wanted. So what are you really afraid of?”
Before Luke could answer, more vehicles pulled up. Finn emerged from his sensible sedan, followed by Megan’s husband Drew in his pickup truck loaded with materials. The cavalry had arrived, ready to help put this house—and maybe these lives—back together.
The following hours passed in a blur of activity. Luke directed repairs, assigned tasks, and tried to maintain some semblance of professional distance. But he kept finding his attention drawn to Noah and Eli, how they moved through the chaos together, naturally including Luke in their conversations, the easy affection between them that seemed to have space for one more.
“Uncle Luke!” Eli called from where he was “helping” Drew measure trim. “Emma and Livy said you buy pizza when you’re working on their house. Can we have pizza for lunch?”
Luke’s breath caught. Uncle Luke . The title slipped out naturally like Eli had just been waiting for permission to use it. Across the room, Noah’s eyes met his, soft with something Luke wasn’t ready to name. God, that just complicated things even further. He knew Eli had likely picked it up while hanging out with his nieces, but was that the role he saw Luke filling in his life?
“Sure, buddy.” Luke’s voice came out rough. “Whatever you want.”
He retreated to the back porch, needing air. The morning’s humidity had burned off, leaving behind the kind of perfect spring day that usually energized him. But today, everything felt too bright, too real, too…
“He’s been waiting to call you that.” Jenna’s voice made him jump. She joined him on the steps, her presence surprisingly comfortable. “He asked me last week if it was okay since that’s who you are to his friends.”
Luke’s throat felt tight. “Jenna, I?—”
“You’re good for them.” She cut him off gently. “Both of them. Noah’s lighter when you’re around, more himself. And Eli? He talks about you constantly. The amazing Mr. Luke who can fix anything, who makes his dad smile, who treats him like he’s smart enough to understand things.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.” The admission slipped out before Luke could catch it. “I don’t… I can’t…”
“Can’t what? Be the person they already see you as?” Jenna’s smile held no judgment. “Sometimes the scariest thing is letting ourselves be loved. Trust me, I know. And if I’m being honest, you’re exactly the type of person I want taking care of my guys when I’m not here. Noah and I might not have worked out as a couple, but he’ll always be my best friend. Just promise me you won’t string them along if you don’t feel the same way.”
“Never.” It was one of the easiest promises he’d ever made. He might not know if things would work out between him and Noah, but he’d do whatever it took to never break either of their hearts. Inside, Luke could hear Eli’s laughter mixing with the sounds of renovation. Noah’s voice carried through the open windows, directing Drew and Finn as they worked on the dining room ceiling. It all felt so natural, so right, so terrifying.
“I should get back,” Luke said, standing abruptly. “Lots to do, and apparently, I have pizza to order.”
But as he moved through the house, coordinating repairs and directing volunteers, Luke couldn’t shake the weight of possibility pressing against his chest. Every time Eli grinned at him, every soft look from Noah, every casual touch that felt like belonging—it all added up to something he wasn’t sure he was ready for.
Something he wasn’t sure he could live without.
The day wound down, volunteers trickling away with promises to return tomorrow. Luke made his excuses, claiming work he needed to finish at home. But as he climbed into his truck, he caught sight of Noah and Eli through the front window—heads bent together over what was probably the disaster map, matching smiles on their faces.
Luke started his truck, hands shaking slightly on the wheel. He needed space, needed to think, needed to…
His phone buzzed.
Thanks for everything today. Eli wants to know if you’ll come over tomorrow to help plan his room colors.
Luke stared at the message until the screen went dark. Because that’s what terrified him most—not the big moments, but the small ones. Planning room colors, sharing meals, being included in their daily rituals. Being part of their lives in ways that went beyond fixing broken things.
Another text appeared
No pressure. Just…we miss you already.
We.
Such a simple word for such a complicated feeling.
Luke put his truck in gear, but he couldn’t shake the image of Noah and Eli through the window. Of Keaton’s knowing looks and Jenna’s gentle understanding. Of everything he’d been running from, everything he suddenly, desperately wanted.
Everything he was terrified of ruining.