Chapter 4 – Jack
JACK
Jack woke at six, showered, and dressed for the meeting with purpose.
Downstairs, he had time for coffee, breakfast, and the news headlines on his phone. The weather forecast called for possible snow flurries tonight, but this morning was clear. Most of yesterday's snow was already gone, and it was shaping up to be a beautiful day.
He drove through the short mountain pass, reviewing what he knew about the job opportunity.
This morning's interview was essentially a formality, but you could never be sure.
He wanted to assess them as much as they wanted to assess him, because, he thought, for what was surely the one millionth time in his life, the price of freedom is eternal vigilance.
Twenty-four years ago, he'd left Luke behind without looking back. But in the past few years, especially since his divorce from Anna, Luke had been on his mind more and more. Now it was part of what was sending him back to Calder Ridge, even if he wasn’t exactly sure what he wanted.
He needed to see it through before he could move on to whatever came next.
Maybe it would bring a tidier, happier ending to their story.
Maybe forgiveness and perspective. Maybe, he realized after touching those impossibly soft curls on the porch last night, something more. Though he didn't dare name it.
He focused on the road.
By the time Jack returned to town, it was noon, and he was ready for lunch. He drove to Mara's café and texted Luke.
"Interview went well. Looking forward to telling you about it."
"That's awesome! Still on campus?"
Mara appeared with a menu, coffee pot, and ceramic mug.
"No, at Mara's café," Jack texted.
A text arrived: "Get out! I was heading there myself."
Jack smiled and typed: "We're waiting for you."
He looked up at Mara. "Morning. Last night was nice."
"Mom enjoyed it," Mara said, pouring his coffee. "And it seemed Luke did too, from the way he was beaming when he came back inside after you left."
Jack didn't take the bait.
"Good coffee," he said after another sip. "Luke's on his way. I'll wait to order, if that's okay."
Someone in the kitchen called her name. Mara started to go, then turned back.
"He's really got himself together now, Jack. And he's, like, my favorite person on earth."
"Mara—”
"You're a grown-ass man. So is he. We're not kids anymore. We can't get away with shit like we used to. Got me?"
"Yes, ma'am."
She disappeared behind the swinging doors.
Jack considered Mara's warning. She'd drawn conclusions based on one group dinner and Jack's vanishing act a lifetime ago. But maybe she wasn't wrong. Still, it was adding one more variable on just his second day back, after the job and the unexpected rush of seeing Luke again. He didn’t care what Mara thought of him, and he wasn’t going to let her be a disruptive force.
The bell on the café's front door chimed. Luke walked in, heading toward Jack's table.
Jack stood, left a five on the table for the coffee, and said, "Let's go for a walk instead."
They left without saying goodbye to Mara, who was still in the back.
"Follow me," Luke said, heading across the square and down First Street. "Best smoothies in town," he added.
The woman at the smoothie shop greeted Luke warmly and promised she'd return to the gym next week.
"I'll send Amir after you," he threatened jokingly. "I know you don't want that!"
They sat at a picnic table in the park, with patches of snow where the pines blocked the sun. Luke picked at a sugar-glazed muffin, licking his fingers.
"Couldn't resist," he said. "Sometimes you gotta go for the empty carbs."
"You look like you can afford a muffin now and then," Jack said.
He was smiling despite himself, gripping his smoothie cup tighter than necessary.
All those years he'd held Luke in shrouded memory—guilt and nostalgia knotted together—and now here he was in the high-altitude sunlight, those sunglasses masking whatever was behind his eyes.
Jack recognized the defensive tactic and filed it away.
"What have you been up to today?" he asked.
"The usual," Luke said. "I woke up at 5, did my morning routine with Marley, and came to work. I had a Zoom interview with a trainer who might be moving here from the Springs. Speaking of interviews… tell me about yours!"
"You're looking at Calder Ridge University's newest instructor."
"Hey! Congratulations! That's great. So you're Professor Garrison now. Should I call you Doctor?"
"Ha, no. They're strict about that. I only have a master's degree, and I might be here just temporarily."
Luke paused, but his expression didn't change. His eyes were still hidden behind the Ray-Bans. "Right. Any idea how long? A month? Five years?"
"Six months before I have to decide whether to stay permanently, I need time to think about my next steps. I don't want to rush into anything long-term."
Around them, the park hummed with afternoon life—a mom pushing a stroller, two dogs chasing a frisbee, and an older couple on the far bench.
"Hey, are we still on for dinner tonight?” Luke said. “Now that you've updated me on the job situation..."
"Hell yes, we're still on. You're not getting out of it that easily, Son."
Luke leaned in closer, lowering his voice. "Son? Does that make you, Daddy?"
Jack's breath caught. "Not yet," he said quietly, eyes locked on Luke's.
A bashful smile. A moment of silence.
He was flirting with Luke. And Luke was flirting back.
Boys no longer. That's for sure. Thank God.
Luke took another bite of the muffin and stood.
"Hey, I need to head back,” he said. “Walk with me to The Ridge? You could work out if you want to grab some clothes at the lodge. I'll give you a one-on-one training session."
Jack felt like getting physical with Luke in a different way, but that would really be rushing things.
He still wasn't sure how Luke might feel about anything beyond a friendly reunion marked by banter and a spark of electricity.
Although Luke had neither run nor thrown a punch yesterday when Jack faced him, Jack didn't think that meant he was in the clear just yet.
But Jack knew he did not want this time with Luke to end, even with dinner on the horizon.
"I can't pass up that offer. But take it easy on an old man, okay?"
Luke's smile vanished in a comical way. "Absolutely not."
The Ridge was busier than Jack expected for an early afternoon.
He stood in the doorway for a moment, taking it in—clean equipment, good lighting, and mountain views through the windows.
Professional yet welcoming, with the familiar scents of rubber mats and air freshener, and a Spotify playlist of 2000s hits playing softly in the background.
Jack noticed how easily Luke moved through the space—greeting members, checking in with staff, and crossing the gym floor.
He had the ease and assurance of a man in his element, comfortable in his role as a leader.
A man like that could easily be a cocky prick in a gym. Jack had seen enough of them to know.
But Luke wasn't trying to draw attention to himself. He just did—well, at least Jack's attention. And his body—God, his body.
Jack had been surrounded by robust men at their peak for most of his career. He'd hooked up with hot guys before. But this was different.
"We'll start with squats," Luke said, loading the bar.
The second, Luke positioned himself under the bar and sank toward the floor. Jack's brain stopped working, and another part of his anatomy hummed into action.
Christ, that ass, Jack thought. It was high, round, perfectly formed.
Jack had never forgotten that particular attribute.
How many times had he rubbed one out thinking about it back at West Point?
Now it was a fuller, grown man's powerhouse, and it was all Jack could do not to stare every time Luke performed a rep.
Luke straightened, racked the bar, and backed away. "Your turn."
Jack stepped up. Luke moved behind him to spot, close enough that Jack could feel his body heat and catch the scent of his shampoo, which clearly had not come from the grocery store.
"Form looks good," Luke said quietly. "Control on the descent. Drive up through your heels."
Jack descended slowly, rose, and repeated.
Luke's hands hovered near Jack's hips, not touching but present. Ready.
"Nice," Luke said.
They moved through the session—shoulder press, bench press, bicep curls, and lat pulls.
"My greatest hits," Luke said with a smile. "Guaranteed to work the big muscles you shouldn’t ignore when you're pressed for time."
He paused, then added, "Not that you're ignoring anything, obviously. You're in great shape."
Jack's chest and arms were pumped as blood coursed through his lean, sinewy form. If he was peacocking, Luke was too.
They moved to pull-ups.
Luke went first, gripping the bar and pulling himself up with controlled, effortless movements. His tank rode up slightly with each rep, revealing a strip of taut flesh.
Twelve reps, and Luke wasn't even breathing hard. Now it was Jack's turn.
When Jack dropped down, Luke was right there.
"That was eleven. I counted."
"Not sure I can manage another," Jack admitted.
"We'll get you there." Luke's hand settled on Jack's shoulder, steadying him. The touch was brief but heavy and hot. "You've got good form. And now… the big finish—push-ups! Winner gets to 20 first," Luke said, dropping into a plank.
"What do I get if I win?" Jack asked.
"What do you want?"
Jack froze, body and brain. He wanted to fuck Luke, as if that wasn't obvious to everyone around them. But he also wanted to hold him, to kiss him, to wake up to him asleep in his arms. He wanted everything in that moment, but he could not find an appropriate response.
His time ran out, and the push-up race was on. Luke finished first, but not by an embarrassing margin.
With the late afternoon crowd gone, they were alone in the gym now.
They stood close, facing each other, sweaty and breathing hard. Their muscles were tense and gleamed in the high-altitude sunlight pouring through the windows.
Luke's chest rose and fell. His eyelids seemed heavy.
Jack's hands flexed at his sides. One step. That's all it would take.
Luke's gaze dropped to Jack's mouth.
Jack's pulse hammered.
Then—
The front door chimed. A group of teenagers burst in, loud and laughing.
The spell broke.
Luke stepped back, clearing his throat. "Good session."
"Yeah," Jack said between shallow breaths. "Thanks."
They stood there for another beat, neither moving.
"Tonight," Luke said.
"Tonight," Jack confirmed.
Jack showered in the locker room, the cool water having no effect on the heat surging through him. He could still feel Luke's hands hovering near his hips during squats, could still see Luke's eyes drop to his mouth.
Tonight.
He dressed quickly and headed out. Luke was at the front desk, talking to Amir. When Luke saw Jack, he flashed the same megawatt smile that had rocked Jack's teenage world and rattled him yesterday.
Killer.
"See you at seven?" Luke called.
"Seven," Jack confirmed.
He walked to the Jeep, confident that something would definitely happen tonight.
And for once, Jack wasn't going to fight.