Thanks again for your feedback. Everyone has some great stories out there - so I get easily distracted with reading rather than writing!
Luke was sitting at his desk at the foundation the following Monday day trying to sort through some work. He couldn't concentrate, but he wasn't going to deny that the primary reason was Reid Oliver returning to Oakdale. He couldn't deny that when he saw Reid he felt something. He felt panic wondering what Reid still thought of him – did he still think he cheated on him. But more likely did he even think of him at all - not likely. He felt sad that Reid wasn't around years ago when he needed someone, when he needed him. He felt angry that Reid treated him like a stranger, worse than that, like an acquaintance that he didn't even like. But more than anything else he felt his heart quicken when he saw him, felt his neck flush when he stared at him. He wondered if he still had such gentle hands that always seemed like a contradiction to his voice. He wondered what he would feel if they kissed again.
"Focus idiot" Luke snapped at himself. All of this is not productive. In reality, he just needed to speak to Reid. However, he snorted to himself, that's not quite something Luke was looking forward to.
"Mr Snyder" His intercom buzzed.
"Yes Alice?"
"I have two people here to see you and I have told them you do NOT want to be disturbed but they insist on me asking you."
"Who are they Alice?"
"A Ms Katie Snyder and a Mr Casey Hughes"
Luke chuckled to himself. Alice had met his friends hundreds of times but she was a stickler to the rules and he did say he didn't want to be disturbed. He also knew she was fussing about him today. He heard her mumbling something about bags under his eyes and no sleep again when she wandered out after giving him his coffee. She really was amazing, the only assistant he had ever had and a life saver.
Luke was laughing as the other two entered, Katie looking humble and Casey looking outraged.
"Luke, she is a bulldog! She really doesn't like me does she?"
"Casey, that's not it, she was just doing what I asked."
"Luke, I actually really like her. She is so protective of you. Like having a mum at work."
"Katie, I don't need a mum at work for gods sake."
"No, don't get me wrong, I like it. I know you – you get into work mode and think of nothing else – I know she feeds you and all that. Its good."
"Oh well, good. What are you both doing here? Why aren't you at work?"
"Luke, its seven o'clock at night! I rest my case about Alice!"
"Hang on Katie" Luke picked up his phone and buzzed Alice. "Alice I didn't realise the time. Please go home, I'm sorry. No, no, I am fine. I will see you tomorrow."
Casey walked over and started fiddling with Luke's chess set, then stretched out on the lounge. Katie sat opposite Luke, folded her hands in her lap and stared at Luke. Luke wondered what she was thinking. He didn't have to wait long to find out.
"What are you doing on the weekend? Wait, I will re-phrase that, you are coming camping this weekend. It's not really camping, it's a great cabin a parent of one of my childcare kids owns. Its huge. Five rooms. With us. And some other friends."
Casey piped in then. "Well, me and Jenny. Maddie and her boyfriend – she said his name was Giles or something. Katie, not Chris cause he is working and also Jacob will come. I think Ali is working."
Luke waited expectantly, knowing what was coming.
"and Reid."
Camping with Reid. Camping with his friends – Reid just happened to be going too. If Casey and Katie both came today it would be a fight to not go. Maybe he would have fun.
"Sure."
Casey looked over sharply "What?"
"Sounds good guys."
Katie jumped up then. "Right. Well, I have to get home to Jacob, Reid will probably be crying tears of blood while he minds my poor son!"
"Yeah, I have to meet Jenny. See you later Luke." Casey rose too and they both left his office.
Which left Luke sitting at his desk. He continued to stare aimlessly at the papers in front of him. Deciding it was pointless he packed up and headed to Al's for some take out.
"I don't care Katie, he vomited on my journal article so I think that you owe me. Big time."
"Fine. I owe you Reid. I will make it up to you."
"I know you will. Like right now. With food. From Al's."
"Fine! But you know you are just as much a child as Jacob is."
"Less talk, more walk. C'mon lets go."
As they took their seats in a booth, Reid continued to bait Katie whilst she complained about being dragged out to dinner with Reid but she was having her revenge – not that Reid knew it – as she had organised for Chris to meet them later. Reid was not a great fan of Chris – or Doogie as he continue to call him. But too bad - Reid was her friend and Chris was her husband - they needed to get along.
Reid was reading the menu and tickling Jacob at the same time when he overhead the conversation from a few booths away.
"Luke, why not? He is really hot. He is smart –"
"Maddie no! I don't want to be set up with him! I know him already anyway so if I want to go out with him I will ask him."
Reid wondered who they were talking about. Him? Luke sounded very outraged.
"He is really sweet too." Maddie continued.
Reid then knew they weren't talking about him. Good. Being set up with Luke is not what he needs. Definitely not.
"I don't want a sweet guy."
Katie kicked him under the table, it was obvious that both of them were eavesdropping. "He doesn't want a sweet guy Reid."
"Shut up."
"I don't want to be set up on a date at all."
"You know what, I am just going to bring him along when we all go out. Maybe he can come camping?"
"You didn't tell me Luke was coming camping Katie. I am not going."
"What, are you scared to come away with a group of friends including Luke? I thought you felt nothing for him?"
"I feel something – it's a bit of nausea and a lot of irritation."
"Whatever you say and you are coming."
"Maddie, no. No dates."
"Luke, you have been 'no dates' for years. And you know what – don't think I want you all loved up, I just want you to get laid and crack a smile."
"Christ Maddie, my sex life is my business and no one else."
"Well I know you are alone in your sex life sweetie."
Reid smirked to himself. So its been a while for him huh?
"What are you smirking at Reid? How long since you got laid?" Katie whispered furiously.
"About a month actually miss smarty pants. Cute intern that talked too much. Taught him what better things he could do with his mouth!"
"Hello – child here – ear muffs warning next time!"
"Sorry."
Reid then thought about sex with Luke. He will never forget how it felt to get a blow job from Luke. He used to do this thing where he put his tongue –
"Hello – that vision went visual. But I am wondering who you were actually thinking of?"
"Don't get mad Luke, you always do when people try to sort out your love life. Its only because we care. You used to be happy. You rarely smile and its always now only when other people are happy, not you"
"Seriously Maddie, I am having too many of these deep conversations. My life has sucked. A lot. But if I am living with it why cant you and everyone else. And you all need to stop acting like my pimp and setting me up. The guys you set me up with are all wrong. And this nurse you are talking about, Maddie, he talks too much, he is always singing and, and. And I really don't like his shoes."
"That's pathetic Luke."
Reid smirked again. Luke always had a thing about shoes.
"More so, when I want to get laid I will sort it out myself and not go through a pimp!" Just then he stood up. And looked straight into a pair of blue eyes.
"What do you want?" he snapped.
"Nothing Luke, not like you so it seems."
"Fuck off Reid." He sighed then and stormed out of the café.
"That's Dr Oliver to you" he shouted to Luke's back as he left the cafe.
Ha, Reid thought, he was probably off to "sort himself out" as we speak.
"What did I say to you?"
"I don't remember – you say a lot and I often don't listen. But all that was very interesting."
"Its only interesting if you still feel something for him. Which you don't, isn't that right Reid?"
"That's right Katie. Can we not order yet anyway?"