The drive home was silent, which actually felt uncomfortable for both of them after the evening they'd just had. Luke was driving and they were about halfway home when he stopped for a red light, the glow of street lamps gently illuminating the small town around them. Luke half expected Reid to say something, the moment just begging for someone to speak, but it never happened.
A short while later they walked up to the house, not surprised to find the kitchen light on. They both knew what they would find once they walked in; Meg, Holden and Emma sitting around the kitchen table, talking easily amongst themselves but fully prepared to grill them with questions about their dinner with Lucinda. Luke wasn't sure he could take that right then, and so he suggested they go for a walk. Reid nodded, standing close and following Luke around the side the house.
"I didn't mean for tonight to go the way it did," said Reid after a few minutes of not talking. Luke, walking with both hands in his pockets, didn't look up, but Reid did notice an easy smile on his face.
"I know. I think my grandmother did, though," he grinned. Reid looked at him, confused. "I could never prove it in court but I'm pretty sure this entire dinner was a set-up to give you an option for staying in Oakdale, with me."
"Ah," said Reid. Everything suddenly made a bit more sense and despite himself, he started grinning. "Your grandmother certainly is something else."
"Tell me about it," laughed Luke. He paused. "So were you serious?"
"About the offer?" verified Reid. Luke nodded. Reid took a deep breath, looking straight ahead and wishing his shoulders weren't so tight. "I don't know. I got caught in the moment, it seemed like the right answer at the time. But I don't know if I meant it."
Luke nodded. "Makes sense."
"Sure it does," laughed Reid mockingly, reaching for Luke's arm and stopping them both just outside the barn. He could hear the horses moving inside and the low rumble of thunder in the distance, but it didn't worry him yet. "I freaked you out tonight, just admit it," he began. "I know we haven't finished talking, we haven't completely worked out everything going on with us now, so I know that talking about something that concerns our future together had to throw you off."
For a minute or two, Luke said nothing, then silently he nodded. "Yeah, it did," he admitted, smiling wearily. "I'm not going to lie, the idea of you working at Memorial, of you moving to Oakdale and being here all the time⦠it's wonderful to me. I love the idea of you being here, of not having to split my time between you and my family and work, of just having everything I love and everything I need right here."
Luke stood standing close now, gently gripping the collar of Reid's light jacket. He released his hold and laid his hands flat on Reid's chest, looking up at him happily but with an unspoken sadness in his eyes.
"But I don't know if that's where we are right now. I don't know if it's something you'd want, or what it would mean for you, for us. I want whatever we decide to be something we both want, something that makes us both happy."
"That's what I want, too, Luke," Reid said firmly, taking Luke by both arms and holding him tightly. "I don't have the answers, either, but I'm willing to figure it out with you. I honestly can't say either way if this is something I would want or not, I just don't know right now, but like you said, it could be a perfect opportunity for us. I think it's worth talking about. At the very least, maybe it will help us to figure out where we do want this go."
Just then the clouds broke. White light illuminated the sky and a few seconds later thunder crackled above them. The rain started to fall, slow and scarce at first. Without really thinking about it Luke reached for Reid's hand and led him into the barn, just as it began to pour.
Laughing, they made their way to one of the wooden benches sitting along the stalls and sat down. They sat with their bodies turned toward each other, hands tangled together on their knees.
"You've got to love the Midwest in May," Luke joked.
"The weather here is ridiculous," cursed Reid, though looking amused. "One point for Dallas."
"Oh, so we're rating Dallas versus Oakdale, huh?" grinned Luke. Reid smiled almost childishly.
"What, I thought you liked point systems?"
Their conversation continued in the barn, ignoring the sounds of the storm as it passed overhead. There were only three horses in the barn right now and only one seemed to be spooked by the storm. Luke had to leave the conversation twice to calm him down, but Reid didn't mind. He liked to watch Luke, calmly stroking the horses nose and speaking soothingly to him until he quieted and laid down again. After the second time Luke turned to find Reid standing up beside the bench. He grinned and cast him a curious look, which Reid just smiled at in return.
"I'm all talked out," he said as Luke stepped close, wrapping his arms around Luke's waist. Luke's hands gripped Reid's upper arms, smiling up at him.
"Are you now?"
Reid nodded. "Very much so," he laughed. "I think we've made some good progress though, don't you?" Reid was grinning. Luke bit his lip and nodded.
"Yeah. We did," he smiled knowingly.
Reid knew he was being sappy again, and silently he blamed Luke for it, but he didn't care. That smile on Luke's face made him melt and he couldn't help but reach up and brush away some of the blond hair from Luke's handsome face before gently pressing a cool kiss to Luke's temple. Luke made an appreciative humming sound.
"So we're really going to do this?" Luke asked, his voice heavy with excitement. Reid looked nervous, but in a good way, just like Luke.
"I think so," said Reid. Luke laughed and smiled brightly at him, shaking his head and trying to keep his excitement under control, but it was no use. He through his arms around Reid's neck, falling into him and holding him tightly. Reid's arms strongly pressed against Luke's back, smiling into his neck and reveling in how fast their hearts were beating.
