Chapter 16

Reid tugged at the suitcase that limply rolled behind him. The right wheel was faulty and made sure that the direction of the case was never the one Reid wanted. He stood in line for a taxi and pinched the bridge of his nose trying to relieve a mind-numbing headache that had been pounding through him since last afternoon. Was it guilt? He had made the right choice. The only choice.

Katie didn't understand. She found him hurriedly packing early that morning and went slightly crazy. Reid couldn't tell her why he had to leave but Katie could guess.

'Who found you making out in your office this time?' Katie asked as Reid ran around his room trying to find his phone charger.
'No one. It's nothing to do with...' Reid couldn't even say his name without the tiny shards of his heart jumping and rattling against each other, 'him. I just need to get out of this godforsaken town.' He zipped up his suitcase and carried it to the front door.
'I'm going to miss you, Reid. I'll ring you every week and send you pictures of Jacob.' Katie said quietly. She couldn't believe he was leaving so soon. She needed to find out why.

A taxi pulled up beside Reid and he was dragged out of his revelry. Katie had been good to him and he hoped she would find someone who could comfort her without feeling extremely awkward. The taxi driver drove slowly through the streets of Dallas. Reid felt the familiarity pang at his heart. He was back. Back to his old self. He had someone to visit.

-

Luke was wrapped up in his duvet with his back leaning against his headboard. He hadn't slept the night before for fear of reliving the previous day in a nightmare. He had checked his phone constantly throughout the night for any messages from Reid.

He was wrung out. Even Ethan had noticed how gormless he had looked that morning. Luke decided to take the day off to wallow. He was hurt and felt like someone had battered him from all angles. His mother had come into his room earlier in the day. She was dressed, as usual, in something entirely inappropriate for a school day but he couldn't drum up the strength to criticise. He just lay there, staring at her as she fawned and preened around him.

'Are you okay, honey? You look a little pale.' She simpered.
'I've got a stomach ache. I think I'll stay at home today.' He croaked.
'If that's what you feel you need to do. I'll see you later.' She kissed his forehead and stroked his hair. She could see her son's perfect complexion marred by tear stains and black rings around his eyes. He looked truly distraught.

'He'll get over it soon enough. It was for the best.' Lily thought. She left the room and Luke burst into fresh tears. He clutched at his covers trying desperately to keep quiet. He didn't think he would ever feel the same again.

He missed Reid's mind, his laughter and his smile. He missed Reid's hot hands running up and down his body. He missed... He missed Reid.

Luke checked his phone again and thanks to another iron weight drop in his stomach as he saw no new messages he fell into an unsettled sleep.

-

Reid knocked on the apartment door in front of him. It was a dark olive green colour with gold fixtures. He hadn't seen this door since he lost his medical license.

'Just a minute!' Reid heard a familiar voice shout. Footsteps sounded from the other side of the door and it swung inwardly open to reveal a ruffled man half dressed in a suit.
'Reid Oliver! That's a face I didn't think I'd see again for another decade or so.' The man smiled and let him in.

The apartment was smart and modern with family photos scattered around on various surfaces. He slumped into the large dark green, leather sofa. The man pushed Reid's feet off the sofa and sat next to him. He turned to face Reid with a glint in his eyes.

'God, you look like shit.' He laughed.
'I know. I know.' Reid rested his feet on top of his suitcase.
'Right. Talk.'

-

Martin Watts was a decent man, in Reid's opinion. He was smart, witty and quick enough to not dwell on Reid's insults for long. He was a fantastic lawyer and was a little older than Reid, in his mid-thirties although Reid never asked specifically. He was married to Reid's older sister, Mia, and he was unmistakably the greatest friend Reid had ever had. Katie was brilliant but Reid had known Martin for decades and
having that amount of history reminded them both how well they worked together.

'Wait, let me get this straight. You slept with your student.' Reid nodded wearily.
'Your seventeen year old student.' Reid nodded again.
'Who is also the son of the headmistress and grandson of the most powerful woman in the area?' Reid nodded and closed his eyes.
'You've got balls, Reid.' Martin chuckled. 'I'm assuming he was worth it considering what an idiotic situation you've found yourself in?'
'He was.'
'Oh god, you fell for him didn't you?' Reid looked away.

'Reid! You utter idiot! And he probably fell for you and your forthcoming charm and gentlemanlike behaviour.' Reid glared at him.
'This is brilliant! I'm always the one making the mistakes in this friendship but look again! I think this is the trump card, sir.' Reid rubbed his forehead.
'I can't get him out of my head, Martin.'
'It's only been a day, mate. You're probably still pining after the sex.' Martin stood up and walked into the kitchen. A few minutes later he came back into the living room with two cups of coffee.

'I still can't believe you shagged a student! Isn't that illegal or something?'
'It wasn't when we first slept together. It was his eighteenth birthday. But then his bio-dad turned up with his birth certificate and we discovered that Luke's actually seventeen. Illegal for me to sleep with him since I'm in a position of authority.'
'Whereas if you were simply a pervy professor shagging his eighteen year old student, it would have been fine.' Martin laughed. Reid threw a pillow at his head.
'We were going to sort something out. I'd move schools. I'd even started looking for other positions. And then his mother found out.'
Reid said quietly knowing the face Martin would have if he turned around.
'This is the best soap-esque story ever! His mom found out? Did she walk in on you two thrusting away in your office or something?'
'No. She saw him leaving my apartment.' Martin had the biggest grin on his face that Reid had ever seen.
'Let me guess, you weren't wearing any clothes...?'
'I was wearing boxers!' Martin laughed out loud.
'Wow. Did you start making out in the hallway as well?' Reid looked sheepishly at him.
'Oh come on now! Why would you do that? In the middle of a corridor?'
'I didn't think his mother was the kind to watch my door, but apparently she does have peeping Tom qualities.'
'I don't think you're in a position to judge, Reid.'
'True. She made me break up with him. She made me hurt him so he would go back to her and not know that anyone else had anything to do with it. I broke him, Martin. She said that if I didn't do it she would turn me in and no doubt ensure that I stay in prison for the rest of my life.'
'Jesus. What a bitch.' Reid laughed.
'She smiled when I told her she had he son back. As though she was victorious in making sure her innocent son stayed away from me.'
'He's not so innocent anymore. I'm sure you've succeeded in giving him enough masturbatory material to last him a lifetime.' Reid ignored that comment.
'So here I am. No job and completely alone. Exactly the way I was when I left Dallas last time.'
'But at least you're not in jail!' Martin reasoned.
'I want you to help me, Martin.'
'What would that entail exactly?'
'Help me appeal my malpractice suit. Let's get me back in the operating room.'
There was a pause.
'Okay.'