CHAPTER 6

A few hours later…

Clark looks at the clock on his computer. Looks like it's time for lunch, he decides as he logs out before putting on his coat and heading to his favorite deli place. While he's waiting in line, his phone rings again.

Now what does he want? he frowns at first as he checks the caller id before answering his phone. "How's my beautiful bride-to-be?" he asks with a smile as he moves closer to the counter.

"Better," she answers back with a little smile in her voice. "I was able to get a little more sleep last night."

"You certainly sound like you did," he replies as he adjusts the phone between his ear and shoulder. "So how's your Dad doing?"

"He's still not out of the woods," she says with a sigh.

"He'll find his way out," he says in a reassuring tone.

"I hope you're right," sighing again into the phone.

"So I finally finished my Christmas shopping yesterday," he remarks as he comes closer to the counter.

"Lucky you," a slight hint of jealously in her voice. "I haven't left the hospital since I got here," she replies.

"Well what about your sister? Isn't she there?"

"She's back at Dad's apartment sleeping," Lois replies. "She's been with Dad ever since he was brought in," she adds. "So did you talk to Oliver?" she abruptly changes the subject.

"Oh, I talked to him alright."

There's a brief moment of silence on the other end before she responds. "I know that tone," she says at last.

"You should have told me about his hand before I went to see him," he replies coolly.

"I'm sorry, Clark, but I just-"

"You should have also told me he was gay."

"I'm really sorry, Clark. You're right. I should have told you about his hand, but would it have made a difference if I had told you he was gay?"

"Of course not," he scoffs.

"So tell me. What did you think of him?" she asks him suddenly.

Clark takes a long pause to consider the question. What do I say to her? That we jumped into bed within a few hours of our first meeting? She would definitely break off the engagement. No, I can't tell her the truth.

"Smallville? Are you still there?"

"Yeah, I'm still here," shaking himself out of his reverie as he comes up to the counter. "Can I call you back in a few minutes?"

"Sure."

He hangs up the phone and gives his order to the guy behind the counter. When his sandwich is ready, he pays for it and takes a seat next to the window before calling her back.

"Hello."

"You know it's me," he rolls his eyes slightly but with amusement.

"So for the past few minutes I've been thinking about your lack of an answer to my question and I've come up with a theory."

This should be good. "You've got my curiosity piqued. What's is it?"

"I believe that you found him attractive and you don't want to admit it to yourself."

Can she read my mind? "That's a very interesting theory, Lois, but you couldn't be more wrong," he stammers slightly.

"You didn't find his lean, muscular body a turn-on?" she asks coyly.

"No," he gulps thickly as he pulls at his shirt collar.

"What about his smooth golden-colored skin and soft, wavy blonde hair?"

"Nope," he replies while wiping the sweat off his brow with the back of his hand.

"So you mean to tell me that you didn't check out his package in those tight jeans he wears? What kind of gay man are you anyway?"

"Lois, I'm warning you-"

"Okay, okay. I'll stop. Don't get your panties in a bunch, Smallville, or should I say boxers?" she replies in a teasing tone. "By the way, have you ever tried going commando?" stifling a giggle.

Clark lets out an exasperated sigh. "So let me ask you something," he says before gulping down the last of his iced tea. "Have you told your father that we're getting married yet?"

"Not yet," she replies.

"Why not?" he asks. "Lois?" he says when she doesn't immediately reply.

"It's just that…well…I don't know how well he'll take the news."

"Why wouldn't he?" Clark asks with confusion. "I thought he liked me."

"He does like you. He just never figured that you were husband material…considering you're gay and all."

"Well I did my part. Now it's your turn to do your part," he tells her while taking a bite out of his roast beef sandwich.

"You're right. You're right. I know you're right," she sighs once more. "I'll tell him today as soon as he wakes up. Hopefully he'll be lucid enough to understand."

"Good," he replies as he finishes off his sandwich. "I have to go back to the office because I have to prepare for an interview."

"Oh? Who are you interviewing?"

"You wouldn't believe it if I told you."

"Try me."

"Your ex-boyfriend, Oliver Queen."

He could hear her trying to stifle a giggle. "That's not funny!" he snaps back.

"The hell it's not!" letting out the laughter. "How on earth did that happen?" she asks between giggles.

"After our 'meeting' I ended up being a couple hours late for work, so he called Mr. White to let him know that I was doing an interview with him and that's why I was late."

"This is just too funny," still laughing.

"Is not," he retorts. "I really have to go now."

"Alright," she replies.

"Oh, and another thing," he starts to say. "I didn't tell Mr. White about our being engaged because I thought that you'd want us to tell him together."

"Good call," she says. "I'll call you later after I've told my father."

"Talk you later. Bye."

"Bye, Smallville."

He hangs up, then gathers up all his trash and tosses it into the trash bin before exiting the shop. As he's walking down the street he spots a familiar woman sporting a black lace scarf on her head a half a block away. Curious, he quickens his pace and sees her entering a church. Once he arrives at the front door, he pauses a moment before entering.

He starts to walk down the side aisle, looking around until he sees her in one of the pews kneeling down with her hands crossed and her head bent in prayer. He crosses himself from right to left before entering the pew and making his way over to her.

"Hi," he says in a soft voice as he kneels down next to her.

She turns her head. "Where have you been?"

"I don't want to talk about it," looking straight ahead.

"You're just like your father," shaking her head. "I lied to him. I told him you came home last night."

He looks over at her. "Thanks."

She sighs and looks ahead, her hands fiddling with her prayer beads. "What's the matter with you?" Clark asks her.

"Jonathan's cheating on me."

"What?" Clark exclaims softly and rests his hand on her arm. "How do you know this?"

"A wife knows," she gestures with her hand.

"Mom, you don't even know. You're just imagining it. He's too old," he whispers back. When his mother doesn't reply, he stands up. "I have to work late tonight so I won't be home for dinner," leaning over to kiss her cheek.

Martha just sighs as Clark exits the pew and leaves the church. He makes a brief stop at a café that he and Lois frequent to pick up an eggnog milkshake before heading back to the Planet.

Later that afternoon…

Jimmy finishes unpacking a carton of pasta. "I feel great," he says with a big smile on his face. "I didn't get any sleep, but I feel like Orlando Furioso," dropping the empty carton.

"You were a tiger last night," Chloe wiggles her brows and giggles as she goes behind the counter while carrying a large wheel of cheese.

"And you were a lamb, as soft as milk," his voice rising a little.

"Shh!" she hisses at him. "My parents will hear you in the back."

"So what? The pleasure of marriage is that you sleep with the woman. You don't have to worry about anything."

"Be quiet, Jimmy!" she hisses again as she picks up a long two-handed knife.

"How about a date tonight Chloe, huh?" still grinning at her as he walks up to the front of the counter.

"What's the matter with you? Shut up," she retorts as she presses the knife down into the cheese and cuts out a small wedge.

"How about we eat some pasta. We'll roll around a little and-"

"What's gotten into you?" Chloe says as she picks up the wedge of cheese and places it on the scale.

"I don't know. I really don't know," shrugging his shoulders. "That moon. That crazy moon that Mr. K sent over last night," he says as he walks over to one of the tables in the middle of the shop and begins to rearrange some of the items on display.

Just then, the bell rings the door opens. "Hey, Chloe," Clark says with a smile as he comes inside. "I thought that you would both still be at the Planet," he says as he closes the door behind him and walks up to the counter.

"My parents are doing inventory in the back so we offered to help out for a few hours," Chloe replies as she wraps up the cheese and rings it up before handing the package to a young lady. "So what are you doing here?" she asks as Clark takes off his gloves and leans against the counter.

"I thought I'd pick up an antipasto for dinner before I have to do my interview," he replies while looking around. "You know, I never thought that in a million years that the Cappomaggi's would sell this place to your parents."

"I know," Chloe remarks as she pulls out some provolone and salami. "I guess running this place became too hard for them when Mr. Cappomaggi got sick," she says as she takes out a container for the salad.

"Yeah," Clark sighs as he watches Chloe prepare the salad.

Jimmy spots Clark and comes on over. "Hey there!" Jimmy gestures with his arms. "You with the stars in your eyes," he sings.

Clark turns to Chloe. "What's the matter with him?"

"I have no idea," rolling her eyes.

"Did you see that moon last night?"

Clark looks up at Jimmy. "What moon?"

"Did you see it?" he asks again.

"No," Clark lies while checking out the items in the display case.

"Oh," a small hint of disappointment in his voice.

"Here you go," Chloe says as she hands the container to Clark. He starts to take out some money from his wallet but she pushes his hand away. "It's on the house," she says with a smile. "By the way, your Mom's order should be ready tomorrow morning."

"Thanks, Chloe," smiling back at her. "I'll stop by tomorrow on my lunch hour and pick it up."

"Oh sure. You've got a date," Jimmy smiles back at him.

"What are you talking about, you fool?" Chloe glares back at him. "Lois is in Washington! What date?"

"Oh, right," he sighs.

"I just have a lot of things to do. You know, wedding stuff and all that," Clark replies.

"Hey!" Jimmy exclaims. "That's romantic too! Isn't it romantic?" starting to sing again as he turns away. "Hey, Pete, make me a bowl of minestrone!" he calls out while some of the customers laugh as he heads for the back of the shop.

"That man drives me crazy sometimes," Chloe rolls her eyes again before turning to Clark. "So are you okay?" she asks him suddenly. "You seem somewhat distracted."

"I got a lot on my mind," he replies as he puts his gloves back on.

"What?"

"I don't want to talk about it," he answers back.

"Don't tell me that! What's the matter?"

"I don't want to talk about it!" Clark raises his voice slightly.

"You look like you're nuts," Chloe persists.

He gives her a peck on the cheek. "I don't want to talk about it," he says one more time as he leaves the shop.

He heads back for the Planet and grabs a bottle of Snapple from the refrigerator in the break room before going back to his office. He goes over his interview questions as he's eating his salad, pausing occasionally to drink some of his iced tea. Once he's finished eating, he clears his desk of both the container and bottle, tossing the container in the wastebasket and the glass bottle in the recyclable bin in the corner.

He walks over to the closet and opens the door, his eyes scanning over the contents before picking out a new shirt and a fresh pair of jeans. As he's changing his clothes, he wonders again why he's even bothering meeting with Oliver.

I could just kill him, he frowns while taking off his dress shoes and putting on his boots before pulling on his red jacket.

After locking the door, he leaves the office and walks over to the men's room to splash some cold water on his face. He catches his reflection in the mirror while patting his face dry with a paper towel. His eyes squeeze tightly shut, his fingers gripping the edge of the sink while the lustful expressions in Oliver's eyes from when they made love the night before plays over and over again in his head. When his jeans start to feel a little tight in his groin, he once again starts to chant something in his head.

He breathes a sigh of relief when he starts feeling soft once more and opens his eyes. I still can't believe chanting that always seems to do the trick, he chuckles wryly as he throws away the paper towel and leaves the restroom.

He starts to head towards the elevator when a man carrying a bag comes up to him. "I have a delivery for a Mr. Clark Kent. Do you know if he's still here by any chance?"

"I'm Clark Kent," looking curiously at him.

"Can you sign here please?" extending the stylus towards Clark. He takes it and signs his name on the hand-held device, then hands it back to the guy.

"Here you go," handing Clark a bag. "Have a nice evening."

"You too," Clark replies as the guy turns around and walks away. He checks the bag for a hint as to who it came from, but he can't find anything. He shrugs his shoulders and carries it into the elevator, pressing the button for the lobby.

Let's see what this is, parting the tissue paper as the doors close and the elevator begins to descend. His jaw drops as he reaches into the bag and lifts out a deep red silk shirt, the bag falling to the floor of the elevator.

He didn't, shaking his head in disbelief as he continues to look at the shirt. Out of the corner of his eye he spots an envelope in the bag. He stoops down and retrieves it, setting the shirt back in the bag and standing up. He opens the envelope and extracts a folded piece of paper and begins to read it.

Clark,

I thought this color would look amazing on you. I've also included a little extra something in the bag as well. The image I have of taking them off your sexy body is turning me on big time.

Enjoy!

Oliver

Clark stoops down again and checks below the tissue paper. Whoa, his cheeks flushing as he pulls out several pairs of silk boxer shorts in the colors of red, black, and blue.

He gulps thickly as his fingers caress the silky fabric. Does he really think that I'm gonna wear these? shoving them back in the bag along with the shirt and covering them both with the tissue paper. Before he knows it, the elevator has stopped and the doors have opened.

He takes a deep cleansing breath, then slowly exhales. You can do this, he tells himself. You can get through this interview without thinking about how much you want him, picking up the bag and stepping out of the elevator…

TO BE CONTINUED…