Chapter 40 – Luke
LUKE
Tuesday evening, they worked out together at The Ridge. Luke loved watching Jack’s movements, methodical and precise, yet powerful, too. All that college boxing showed through, and Jack’s tight body reflected his focus and discipline. It was a beautiful thing to see.
"You're staring," Jack said without turning around.
"Can you blame me?" Luke said. The tension that once felt uncertain had become sweet anticipation of something promised.
"Hey, get a room, you two!" Evan shouted with a wave.
Luke laughed. Jack smiled and kept lifting.
On their way out, Amir pulled Luke aside to review the fundraiser paperwork. Jack stood near the door, looking around.
Luke glanced over and saw Jack standing by the door, taking in the scene—the seniors' yoga class, Dale and Evan chatting with Patty's friend, and a couple of young women working through a circuit together. Jack's expression was thoughtful, almost proud.
He'd become invested in this place. Luke could see it.
Three teenage boys bounded in energetically.
"Hey, Coach Luke!" one of them called out.
"You guys here for the strength program?" Luke asked.
"Yeah. We need to get jacked for baseball."
"Cool. Start with warm-ups, then find Amir. He'll set you up."
Jack smiled. Luke knew everyone, coached everyone, and made space for everyone.
By now, Amir was standing next to Jack, observing the scene as Luke approached them.
“Was that everything you needed tonight?” Luke asked Amir.
“Yep, all good for now… See you Saturday, Jack?" Amir asked.
Jack playfully put up his fists. "Try to keep me away."
"My man," Amir said, returning to the desk.
They agreed to pick up something prepared from the market. On the drive over, "Drops of Jupiter" came on the radio, the opening piano notes instantly recognizable. Luke reached over and turned it up.
"Wow, remember this one?"
"Oh, yeah. You used to blast it out of your bedroom speakers."
"In the afternoons, when we were fooling around after school," Luke said, grinning. "Your mom could probably hear us downstairs. We tried to be quiet but probably weren’t so good at that."
"She definitely heard," Jack said.
Luke's eyes went wide. "She knew?"
"She knew." Jack smiled. "She said she figured we were either going to figure it out or not, but making us feel ashamed wasn't going to help anything."
"Your mom's pretty great."
"Yeah. She is."
The song reached the chorus, and Luke sang along, unselfconscious and slightly off-key. “Was it everything you wanted to find? And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there…”
Luke closed his eyes, singing along to the “na, na, na, nas”... and the song finally faded out.
"Mem'ries…" Luke said.
"You haven't changed a bit," Jack said. "Except you're all grown up, from a pretty boy to a gorgeous man." He took Luke's hand and kissed it. "My man."
"Yeah?"
"Oh, yeah."
They finished listening in the parking lot, neither wanting to move.
"Those boys at the gym reminded me of when we were on the baseball team,” Luke said. “You were the BMOC going into your senior year.”
“You were the heavy hitter, as I recall, made varsity as a sophomore. You were so sexy. The smell of grass and dirt still turns me on.”
“I was so in love with you, Jack," Luke said quietly. "You were everything I wanted to be and everything I wanted to have. Even if it killed me when you left."
"Luke, I'm back now. Only took me twenty years, but I am back."
"Stop. I know." Luke touched his hand. "But you were major in my life, Colonel. And, can I say this without you thinking it's a big deal?"
"Shoot."
Luke paused. "I never stopped thinking about you."
Jack choked up, and a tear came to one eye.
"Same, Luke," Jack said. "After my divorce, I looked you up online and asked around about you. Not in a stalker way. I just wanted to make sure you were alive, healthy, and happy."
"You did?"
"Yeah. When I retired and got those other offers I told you about, there was no contest when my dad sent me the opening at CRU. And then when I saw you that first day at The Ridge..." He smiled. "I thought, 'Whoa, you're in trouble now, Garrison.'"
"Were you?" Luke asked. "In trouble?"
"Oh, yeah." Jack squeezed his hand. "The best kind. Still in it. Deep."
Luke leaned in and kissed him. "You're gonna be in trouble now if we don't get this food in my belly soon."
They laughed and headed into the store.
On the drive back, they barely made it out of the parking lot.
Their fingers laced together over the console, a touch that could've been innocent but had a mind of its own. Their eyes met. Jack's jaw was set, his breathing quickened. Luke knew they were thinking the same thing.
Inside the Jeep, they grabbed each other and kissed furiously, hands groping, each of them reaching for the other’s belt. They stopped at the same time and looked at each other with a mutual stare that said: I want your dick right now. But not here, obviously.
Jack drove about a hundred yards before pulling off onto a quiet lane and parking behind a stand of fir trees and blooming azaleas.
"I can't wait anymore," Jack said, pulling Luke's face to his.
Their lips crushed together. Buckles came undone in record time.
They pushed their pants down far enough, grabbed each other's cocks, and jerked each other off in a frenzy, faces just inches from each other.
They came together in a breathtaking rush, even faster than when they were kids, hard and from the gut.
Jack extended his cum-covered fingers to Luke, who took each one into his mouth, licking them clean. Jack reached over and swiped some off Luke's jeans, leaning down to suck the puddle from Luke's belly button like a shot of whiskey.
They burst out laughing and drove the rest of the way in silence, hands clasped on Luke's knee.
At Jack’s place, they quietly put away the groceries and settled on the couch, scrolling on their phones and channel surfing absentmindedly.
The rest of the week was like that, too. Fun, playful, and sexy. No pressure, no worries. They stayed home over the weekend, ordered pizza again, and watched a Tom Cruise "Mission: Impossible" movie.
"Can we agree on one thing?" Jack asked when it was over.
"Sure, what?"
"Henry Cavill is one gorgeous stud."
Luke tossed a throw pillow at him.
"Listen to you! Sound like Tyler."
"Am I wrong?"
"No. Oh, no. Henry Cavill can get it."
Jack pulled Luke to him and growled.