Chapter 4
Luke was standing behind the counter, fiddling with the out-dated cash register because the place was closed and there wasn't much left to do, when his nephew came in. He just knew it was him; just another reminder of how he failed. Of course, he didn't apologise – but there was an unspoken forgiveness; certainly suiting the two most monosyllable men in the world. He looked up and frowned.
"What the hell happened to you?"
Jess shrugged the tiniest of shrugs. "Nothin'."
"Nothin'?"
"Do I need to spell it out for you?" Jess wiped dripping water away from his mouth.
"Nope," Luke said, attempting to withhold a grin. He turned back to the ancient machine but he was still fully aware of Jess standing there; dripping on the floor. He glanced up, but didn't push him. Just wait, he thought, he'll ask for help if he needs it... He'll need it.
"Luke?"
A grunt.
"Can I...?" Can I stay here, please? He wanted to ask. But being the cool guy, he chickened out. "...Never mind."
Luke tossed a cloth at his head. Jess looked down at it in his hands. "You are aware that I'm not three inches tall, right?"
"Wipe your face; you're a damn mess." Jess stared at him, waiting, posing. "There are towels upstairs along with a decent shower. You should be familiar with it; you practically tried to mat the tub with your hair."
Jess's lips twitched into a smile. He threw the pointless cloth on the counter, ignoring his uncle's words, and walked up a step, leaving a track of muddy footprints behind him.
"You can stay tonight, if you want."
Jess extended his neck, looking back at Luke. "You sure?"
"Do what you wanna do," he grunted, turning to the coffee maker for god knows what reason.
Jess bobbed his head. "Ok."
A beat.
"Thank you, Luke... For the towel..." He didn't mean for the towel. Luke knew that, and Jess was too embarrassed to admit it.
"No problem, kid."
Jess's lips quivered into a smile then he headed upstairs.