Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The past month had been a whirlwind. Luke had spent almost as many nights in Noah’s bed as he did his own. Luke barely remembered what life felt like before that fateful day when he caved to his sister’s pleas for her to help a single dad who’d gotten suckered into buying a house that had almost as many issues as it had history. If not for the fact they were trying to be mindful of how much time Luke and Eli spent together, not wanting the boy to see Luke as a fixture in their lives until he and Noah were certain this was something that would last, he’d have gladly spent every night keeping Noah warm and satisfied.
It’d been barely spring when they met again, and now it was Father’s Day weekend. Taking Noah and Eli to the Garrett’s annual weekend at the lake felt like a monumental step. The sort of step you didn’t take until you were ready to commit your life to the partner you brought into the fray.
Until this year, Luke swore he’d forever be relegated to sleeping on the couch in the basement because he would forever be the singleton in the family. This year, Luke’s baby brother, Ryan, would be on the couch because his partner couldn’t get the weekend off work. Luke wasn’t even the least bit sorry to be taking over the room that had been theirs for the past three years.
Luke stood in his kitchen, running through the list he’d put together. The scent of fresh coffee filled the air, grounding him as he double-checked that he had Eli’s favorite snacks and drinks. He packed Eli’s juice boxes and a six-pack of soda into a cooler for the drive, then pulled the big cooler out of the shed in the backyard to hold the meat his mom had assigned for him to bring, beer, and more juice boxes. The kid was a fiend for them lately, and Luke wouldn’t let him down.
The domesticity was both comforting and unnerving. Luke felt a growing sense of responsibility, a realization that his actions now affected more than just himself. As he added the last snacks, he thought about how easily he had fallen into this routine, how natural it felt to be a part of their lives.
He looked around his kitchen at the familiar objects that had once signified bachelorhood and freedom. Now, they seemed to hold a different meaning, relics of a lonely life that didn’t have room for anyone else. He was on the precipice of something profound, something that could change his life forever, and the weight of that realization was daunting.
Luke took a deep breath, steeling himself for the day ahead. He grabbed the coolers and headed out to his truck, the sun already bright and promising a warm summer day. The streets of Maple Hill were quiet, a peaceful contrast to the turmoil in his mind. He rolled down the windows, letting the fresh air fill the cab, trying to clear his thoughts.
Turning onto Noah’s street, Luke felt a mix of comfort and apprehension. The sight of Noah’s house, with its well-kept yard and inviting porch, made his spirits lift higher. He pulled into the driveway, the crunch of gravel under his tires signaling his arrival. The house felt different now—not just a job site or a quick stopover, but a place that felt like home. Funny how he’d once felt the same about his own place, but now that property felt more like a burden than anything.
Luke barely had the truck in park before Eli came bounding out the front door, his face lighting up with excitement. “Uncle Luke!” he shouted, running toward the truck. Luke stepped out in time to catch Eli as he launched himself into Luke’s arms. “I thought you’d never get here!”
Luke chuckled, ruffling Eli’s hair. “I promised I’d be here by eight, didn’t I? And I always keep my promises.”
Eli beamed up at him. “Are we going to the lake now? Dad says we can swim and have a picnic. And Livy said there’s a boat and that if it’s okay with you and my dad, I might be able to sit in one of the tubes on the water. But you’d have to go with me because kids can’t go in the water without an adult.”
Luke nodded, setting Eli down. “That’s the plan, buddy. We’ve got a whole weekend of fun ahead of us. And it’s a safe bet there will be plenty of time tubing, but you have to remember to take turns with the other kids.”
Noah appeared in the doorway, a small cooler in one hand and a tote bag slung over his shoulder. He smiled warmly at Luke, his eyes soft with affection. “Morning,” Noah said, stepping onto the porch.
“Morning,” Luke replied, feeling a flutter in his stomach as he met Noah’s gaze. He took the cooler as he leaned in for a quick kiss. “All set?”
Noah nodded. “I think so. Eli, did you grab your swim trunks?”
Eli bounced on his toes. “Yeah, and my goggles and my beach ball and everything!”
Noah laughed, shaking his head. “All right, let’s load up then.”
Luke took the picnic basket from Noah, their hands brushing briefly, sending a spark of warmth through him. As they got into the truck, Eli chattered nonstop about the weekend ahead. As they settled in, Eli behind them, Luke felt a sense of contentment wash over him. This felt right, natural, like they were a family. And maybe that’s where they were headed.
The drive to the lake wound through the countryside, taking them past fields of wildflowers and a stretch of dense forest. Eli pressed his face against the window, pointing out anything that caught his attention—a bird of prey soaring overhead, a family of deer grazing in the distance, and every piece of farm equipment he saw. Luke had been the same way when he was younger. It didn’t matter how many times he’d visited. This area always filled him with a sense of wonder.
“Uncle Luke, how much longer?” Eli asked for the third time, his excitement barely contained.
Luke glanced in the rearview mirror, catching Eli’s eager expression. “About fifteen minutes now. You’ll be able to see the lake soon.”
Noah reached over and squeezed Luke’s hand where it rested on the center console. “Thanks for inviting us,” he said softly. “Eli hasn’t stopped talking about how awesome it’ll be to go in a boat since you mentioned it.”
“I can swim really good now too,” Eli announced proudly. “Dad’s been teaching me at the pool. Can we find a good spot to build a sandcastle?”
“Of course,” Luke replied, his chest tightening at how easily Eli included him in his plans. “Maybe we can have a little competition—you and your dad against me and Livy.”
Noah laughed. “Oh, you’re going down, Garrett. Eli and I are sandcastle champions.”
The road began to curve more sharply as they descended toward the lake, and Luke could feel the familiar pull of childhood memories. Every summer spent here, every family gathering, every quiet moment by the water—they all came rushing back. He couldn’t wait to build new memories with Noah and Eli.
“Look!” Eli exclaimed as the first glimpse of water appeared through the trees. “I can see the lake!”
Luke turned down the familiar gravel drive, the house coming into view. It wasn’t fancy—just a modest mid-century with weathered blue siding and a wraparound porch—but to Luke, it had always been perfect. The late morning sun sparkled off the lake behind it, and the dock stretched out over the clear water like an invitation.
Eli pressed his hands against the window, his eyes wide with wonder. “Wow,” he breathed. “This is awesome! You get to come here whenever you want?”
“When my parents say it’s okay,” Luke answered, pulling up beside the other family cars in the gravel lot. “It’s been in our family for a long time. My grandparents built it when my dad wasn’t much older than you.”
“It’s beautiful,” Noah said quietly, and when Luke looked over, he found Noah watching him with an expression that made his heart skip a beat. “It would be nice to have a place like this if it wasn’t just Eli and me.”
“Yeah, I thought about buying a place up here, but it didn’t make much sense for just myself,” Luke replied. Vacations were cramped with partners and niblings. At some point, someone would have to find more space. Luke thought about the homes nearby, wondering if that was a possibility for his own future.
As they came to a stop, Eli was already unbuckling his seatbelt, practically vibrating with anticipation. As they approached the door, Luke’s family spilled onto the porch to greet them. Livy darted past everyone, heading straight for Eli. His mother stood with her hands clasped together, beaming at them in a way that made Luke’s stomach do a complicated flip.
“You guys made it!” Megan called out. She passed by Luke to pull Noah into a warm embrace. He was grateful his sisters had accepted their relationship so easily. “So glad you two could join us today.”
“Noah, Eli, make yourselves at home,” Luke’s mom added, her smile warm and inviting. “We’re all so happy you’re here.”
His father emerged from the boat dock, tools in hand as always, and made his way over to them. “Noah,” his dad said, extending his hand. “Good to see you again. Luke tells me Eli’s getting quite good at baseball.”
Eli puffed up with pride. “Uncle Luke’s been teaching me! And Dad lets me practice in the backyard every day, but I have to finish my homework first.”
“That so?” Jim’s eyes crinkled with amusement. “Well, we’ve got plenty of space here for practicing. Maybe after lunch, we can see if anyone wants to play?”
“Can we, Dad?” Eli turned to Noah, practically bouncing with excitement.
Noah laughed, ruffling Eli’s hair. “Sure, buddy. But why don’t we get settled first?”
“Come on,” Megan said, gesturing toward the house. “We’ve got the upstairs guest room set up for you two, and Eli can bunk with Mason so you have some privacy.”
Luke felt his face heat at the smirk she flashed them. He glanced at Noah, who squeezed his hand reassuringly.
Inside, the lake house was exactly as Luke remembered—worn wooden floors, comfortable furniture, and windows that let in plenty of natural light. Family photos lined the walls, documenting decades of summers spent here. Luke noticed Noah pause by one particular photo, a grin spreading across his face.
“Is this you?” Noah asked, pointing to a picture of Luke when he was probably about Eli’s age, covered in mud and holding up a fish almost as big as he was.
“Oh god,” Luke groaned. “Mom, why is that still up?”
“Because it’s adorable,” she replied, appearing beside them with glasses of lemonade. “You were so proud of that catch, even though your dad helped you reel it in.”
Drew slid the door from the deck open with his foot, carrying a platter of burger patties and hot dogs. “Food’s almost ready if anyone’s hungry. And Luke, fair warning—Ryan’s planning a water volleyball tournament later.”
“I wanna play!” Eli exclaimed. “Can I be on your team, Uncle Luke?”
“Actually,” Ryan called from the deck, “I thought we could make it Thompson-Garrett versus Garrett-Wilson. I’ll be on your team and then Rachel and Archer can pick where they go.”
Typical, Ryan had everything figured out. Luke wasn’t so sure about the kids playing. His siblings and brothers-in-law could get a bit too competitive at times.
Luke watched as Noah’s eyes widened slightly. “Should I be worried?”
“Probably,” Megan laughed. “Last summer’s badminton tournament ended with Drew sleeping on the couch for a week.”
“That’s because someone”—Drew shot his wife a pointed look—“is a terrible loser.”
“I prefer to think of myself as passionately competitive,” Megan retorted.
The banter continued as they filled their plates and moved outside to the deck overlooking the lake. Luke hung back, watching as Noah and Eli seamlessly integrated into his family’s dynamic. Eli was already deep in conversation with Mason about the best fishing spots. He was proud of both boys. Mason for not getting annoyed by a “little kid” pestering him and Eli for getting out of his comfort zone to spend time with someone other than Livy and Emma.
Luke’s dad paused on his way to the tables. “Your mother’s thrilled you finally found someone. She’s always worried about you.”
Luke shifted uncomfortably. “Dad?—”
“Let me finish,” he interrupted gently. “We’ve watched you keep people at arm’s length for years, son. It’s good to see you let someone in. And that little boy? He looks at you like you hung the moon.”
“They both mean a lot to me,” he admitted. “Sometimes it scares me how much.”
His dad squeezed his shoulder. “That’s how you know it’s real. The best things in life usually come with a healthy dose of fear.”
Before Luke could respond, Noah appeared at his side, slipping an arm around his waist. “Your mom’s insisting we eat before the kids get in the water. The girls are already asking about going on the boat, but she says they’ll have to wait thirty minutes after eating. I tried telling her it should be fine to take sandwiches with us for when they’re hungry, but she’s adamant.”
“We all know it’s just an old wives’ tale,” Luke said, grateful for the distraction. “But good luck arguing with her about it.”
Luke’s mom fussed over Eli, making sure he had enough food and asking about his favorite subjects in school. Ryan and Noah talked about literature while Megan gave Drew a hard time about how much food he’d grilled.
It was nearly perfect.
Luke looked out the bedroom window, in awe of the moonlight reflecting off the lake. Nights up here had always felt a bit magical to him, and tonight, there was an extra charge in the air.
Across the hall, Noah said goodnight to Eli one last time. The afternoon had been amazing—filled with laughter, family, and memories that lasted a lifetime. His skin felt warm from the sun, and his muscles were pleasantly tired from hours of swimming and playing with the kids. Livy and Eli were so excited about spending the weekend together he’d doubted they’d be able to get either kid to sleep. Luckily, Mason stepped in and told Eli he was going to bed, which made Eli follow suit.
The sound of the door clicking shut made him turn. Noah leaned against it, a soft smile on his face. “Eli’s finally settled. Your mom gave him and Mason cookies and milk, so I’m sure they’ll be up playing video games for hours.”
“Yeah, sorry about that. She can’t help herself when it comes to spoiling kids.” And since there was a strict no electronics rule during the day, he had no doubt Mason would stay up playing until he passed out. Luke crossed the room, drawn to Noah like a magnet. “Did you have fun today?”
Noah wrapped his arms around Luke’s waist, pulling him close. “I did. I’m not sure your mom realizes how much it means to me that she included Eli like he’s one of her grandchildren. That’s something he’s never had with my parents, and I’ve always wished it could be different.”
“As far as she’s concerned, he is one of her grandkids,” Luke said softly, even as a familiar twinge of uncertainty flickered in his chest. “And I’m pretty sure you’re higher on her list of favorite kids because you gave her another grandson.”
Noah studied his face, his expression thoughtful. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”
Luke shrugged, trying to sort through his jumbled thoughts. “Do you ever wonder how something that feels this good can last? Eli with the other kids, you with my family, all of it.” He paused, struggling to find the right words. “Sometimes it feels too good to be true, you know?”
“Hey.” Noah’s hand came up to cup Luke’s cheek. “It’s okay to be happy. We don’t need to walk around waiting for something to happen.”
Luke leaned into the touch, drawing comfort from Noah’s steady presence. “I know. And I am happy. Happier than I’ve ever been.” He took a deep breath, meeting Noah’s gaze. “That’s what scares me sometimes. How much I want this. Want you and Eli. I feel like it’s too soon for me to imagine years and years of the three of us coming up here with my family in the summer, watching the kids grow up together.”
Noah’s thumb traced Luke’s jawline. “We want you too. You know that, right?”
Luke nodded, letting himself be drawn into a gentle kiss. The lingering doubts didn’t disappear entirely, but they faded to background noise, overshadowed by the warmth of Noah’s embrace and the certainty of his feelings.
They got ready for bed in comfortable silence, moving around each other with practiced ease. The queen-size bed was smaller than they were used to, but neither minded the excuse to stay close. Luke settled on his side, Noah’s chest pressed against his back, their fingers intertwined.
“Thank you for sharing this place with us,” Noah murmured, kissing Luke’s shoulder. “It means a lot.”
Luke squeezed Noah’s hand, his heart full. “Thank you for being here. For everything.”
As they drifted off to sleep, Luke focused on the steady rhythm of Noah’s breathing, on the weight of his arm draped across Luke’s waist, on the perfect rightness of this moment. The fear would probably always be there, quiet whispers in the back of his mind, but that didn’t matter. Not when he had Noah and Eli and a future full of possibilities stretching out before them.