Luke sat on the steps to his unit tapping his foot and chewing his tongue. The latter was a strange habit he picked up as a child, a habit he always reverted to when he was concentrating but more so when he was nervous. Luke would be lying if he said he wasn't nervous. He would also be lying if he said he didn't know why. There were two reasons actually. One would be Reid and the other would be Cameron.
He was always peaking on some sort of emotion when around Reid. What he was focused on recently was anger. Maybe this was some sort of very delayed grieving process – something he should have gone through years ago when Reid broke his heart. Maybe he just stuffed it down and never dealt with it. Well, there was no maybe about it. He never dealt with it. He never moved on from Reid. Reid was the only man he ever loved. So if it is anger now - is it disinterest next?
But things have changed now. He can't dwell on the history that he and Reid had. Reid sure as hell isn't. Reid moved on. So it is about time Luke did. Now to the other reason Luke was anxious. Cameron. He had no idea who he was or anything about him. But it was kind of exciting. He kept trying to tell himself to chill out – he probably had a monobrow or wore crocs or was a boring accountant. That didn't change the fact that he was a little nervous to meet him. He hadn't really been on a date for years. They were always short lived boyfriends – if you could call them that – or hook ups. Nothing or no one worthwhile remembering.
So here he was, sitting on his steps waiting for his ride to arrive to go on a weekend away with the guy he has loved for years but whom he is determined to move on from and the potential guy he could be moving on with.
Hmm. Could be better.
Just then Maddie's car pulled up and she honked madly then jumped out of the car. The rest happened in slow motion. Well at least it felt like it did. The passenger door opened and out stepped the person that must be Cameron.
Luke felt his mouth drop open. He walked towards Luke with his hand outstretched. He had wavy brown hair and huge green eyes. He was tanned and the check short sleeved short he wore showed how incredibly cut he was. He paired those with khaki shorts and a pair of tigers. Luke felt himself salivate.
"Luke? Hi. I'm Cameron." Cameron shook Luke's hand firmly.
"Uh, Hi Cameron. Uh, nice to meet you."
"Yeah, you too. Maddie has been going on about you for months. But she left one important detail out."
Luke panicked for a second. Oh god, he thinks I am a loser. "Ah, what's that?"
Cameron laughed at Luke's grimace. "That you are hot."
Luke blushed a ridiculous red. "Come on, let's get this show on the road."
They loaded up the car with bags then their bodies. Luke mouthing to Maddie "He is gorgeous." Maddie the smart arse just smirked.
Luke realised this was going to be a great weekend.
The drive was a lot of fun. The three of them got on really well. Luke and Cameron had a lot in common – same taste in music, large full on family, and they both seemed as outgoing as the other. Cameron was more outdoorsy. The way Luke used to be – but Cameron was more intense with it. He spent the last part of the trip talking about skydiving and trying to persuade Luke and Maddie to go with him.
They got to the cabin quickly and were unloading the car when the awkward started.
Maddie was blathering about natural hot spas and how good they were for your pores and wandering if there would be one here. Cameron was laughing about this not quite being the right area and Luke was staring at Cameron. He had an incredible smile.
They did not notice their audience above. The rest of the group were sitting on the deck having lunch. Jenny, Casey, Katie and Reid – and of course Jacob – were all watching the others arrive.
Jenny elbowed Katie and said "God, Maddie's boyfriend is hot!"
Just at that minute Cameron leant forward and lowered his voice so Maddie couldn't hear. "Why are you staring at me Luke?"
"I wasn't, I was just looking at… I wasn't."
Cameron just laughed.
"Fine! I was staring." He then looked down at his feet and started chewing his lip. This is so fucking awkward.
Cameron picked up his bag and as he walked passed Luke he again leant in close "I don't mind, you think I'm not staring back?"
Luke spun around with a smile, which then faltered as he saw their audience.
That said audience was showing a mix of emotions.
"That's not Maddie's boyfriend – he's gay." Katie said.
Casey didn't seem to care and Jenny seemed excited.
As Katie stared at Reid, he simply stared at Luke for a moment too long. His rapid blinking the only sign that the display below affected him at all.
Luke felt the awkward get more awkward.
As Luke threw his bag onto his bed he realized what a bad idea this was. He might just hide out in his room all weekend. Pretend he is sick. Just as he was deciding that was stupid Casey knocked on his door then walked in.
"Lets go play some soccer. We haven't done that in years."
"Sure Case."
"Do you reckon we can recruit the others? Maybe not Reid. What about Cameron?"
Jenny walked in on the tail end and chimed in with "Cameron? Definitely! He looks very sporty."
"Pipe down – you are my girlfriend and he is gay!"
"I don't know – lets find out. Are you jealous of a gay man? You have never been jealous of me." Luke said.
"Ah. Mate's code of honour you see. I know you. You would never break it. That's just who you are."
Then Cameron walked into his room and also joined the conversation. "Mates code! Good work lads. The only rule I never break. Maybe also wearing socks with thongs too. Foul."
"Oh god, you are just like Luke! He once dumped a guy for wearing crocs!"
The group thought this was just a little too funny for Luke's liking.
"Alright alright out of my room. Onto the grass. Let me get changed."
They all trudged outside.
As he was about to pull a polo on, someone coughed in the doorway.
"I said I was coming! Give me a minute!" Luke said as he spun around.
He just stood there as Reid raised his eyebrows. "Only a minute?"
Luke hurriedly put his shirt on as he noticed Reid was staring at his chest. He flushed but secretly was pleased that he got Reid's attention and tried to ignore his blantantly sexual comment.
"Are you coming down to play soccer Reid?"
"Doubt it. I don't want to break my livelihood." He started waving his fingers around.
"Oh well, everyone else is." Luke just brushed past him, no longer wanting to be alone with him in his room.
"Wait Luke, can we talk later?"
"What about?"
"Just can we make some time to talk over the weekend?"
"We will be here for three days, I am sure we can talk in three days"
"Luke, you know I mean alone. Anyway, we will sort it later." Reid then left Luke in the room, feeling a bit confused and just a little more anxious.
Talk, about what? Shit.
Luke walked outside to see Casey chanting the Brazil anthem, taunting Jenny, Maddie and Katie as they tried to get the ball from him. Cameron was clutching his ribs laughing and looking oh so hot in a bonds singlet that was way too tight. Luke realized he didn't mind that his own polo was a little tight too. He knew he was pretty fit and all of a sudden was very glad for it.
They had been fooling around for about 10 minutes when Reid came out also. What shocked Luke was that he was wearing combat shorts and a singlet also. He seemed ready to play soccer too.
He walked passed Luke and took in his stare of surprise.
"What, I like sport. All sports. Its been years Luke. You don't know that much about me anymore."
"Did I even then?" Luke turned and walked in the opposite direction.
Katie decided she needed to supervise Jacob – but it also made the teams even.
Casey decided he was the most skilled followed by Cameron. So they decided to split themselves up – with Katie and Luke in a team with Casey – whom the latter titled the locals and with Reid and Jenny in a team with Cameron – whom Casey called the imposters.
It was actually a kind of even mix of skills. Both Maddie and Jenny were useless. Reid and Luke weren't too bad and Casey and Cameron were, unfortunately for everyone that had to put up with Casey's ego, the best.
Every time Casey scored a goal he pulled his shirt over his head and ran around in circles whistling and chanting Brazil. Which only succeeded in annoying Maddie and Jenny. Jacob also seemed annoyed as he kept throwing cheese cubes at him.
Luke found he wasn't really concentrating. He couldn't take his eyes off both his opponents – Reid and Cameron. Luke knew he hadn't hid this from Reid – who pretended he didn't notice. Cameron on the other hand – whether he noticed or not – just took every opportunity to touch Luke. He would nudge him with his shoulders when he ran passed, trip him intentionally then turn and smile, tackle him then help him up. He was helping him up after the last tackle when Cameron decided to not let go of Luke's hand. Then with the other hand he wiped some dirt off his face.
Luke could feel his heart race a little. This guy was so fucking hot and he actually wants me.
"Hello! Get a room!" Casey shouted then further interrupted them by throwing a cheese cube that was already thrown at him by Jacob, at them.
They both laughed and as he ran off, Cameron nudged Luke again. Luke felt himself smiling. He turned, slowly chewing his bottom lip and ended up facing Reid. He was staring at Luke and wouldn't look away. He didn't say a thing. He had no expression on his face. Yet he wouldn't stop staring.
For some reason, this made Luke furious. He felt the anger pool in his stomach. He marched up to Reid. "What?" he barked at him.
Reid then reacted, sort of. He did that blinking thing again.
That angered Luke even more. Why can't he just react like a normal person.
"What, that's all I get? Would it kill you to show an emotion Reid?" with that Luke turned his back and stormed away back to the game. When he turned around he saw Reid had left the field. He saw Katie grab Jacob and run after Reid. What the hell was that about.
You know what? Luke thought to himself? I don't care. This is the summer of Luke. Only its winter. Thats ok, point still applies. I am going to think about myself and make myself happy. And right now there is a hot man in a singlet flirting outrageously with me. And you know what? I am in.