My Mistakes: A BxB Story

Chapter 20: The Apparel Oft Proclaims the Man

Chapter 20: The Apparel Oft Proclaims the Man

A week ago...

Luke sat with his back to the couch, his signature long camel coat near the door, the elderly cat purring on his lap. His long dirty blonde bangs, normally sculpted in precisely teased messy waves split over the breaker that was his forehead, hung limply down completely unnoticed. His face, often set into a certain look, a smirk or a smug glance, was relaxed with a small, happy smile playing around his lips.

Noah felt Jamie snuggle against him, already practically asleep, and he placed his hand deep into the golden curls, holding his boyfriend even closer. Jamie's breath on his neck was soothing and warm. The fire crackled and popped. The wind blew outside. The sound of Tabitha's purring was loud in the room free of conversation.

Sometimes it was just like this, zoning out together, no screens for distractions, just holding each other, still overcome with joy and wonder that they were FINALLY together in the way they were always meant to be. He kissed Jamie's temple, breathing in his scent, feeling such an upwelling of gratitude that Jamie was in his arms and would be for the rest of their long long lives to come. There were zero doubts, zero insecurities.

The basketball player was quite surprised at how Luke's presence didn't ruin what had become their normal evenings together. Maybe because he was so quiet, it seemed like he wasn't even there. He wasn't loud or snarky or effusively praising Jamie. He was just sitting there, petting his cat, the flames light reflected on his handsome face.

His handsome face?

Well, so what? Yes, objectively speaking Luke was extremely good looking. He was tall, had good hair, dark brown eyes, and large lips. But even more than that, there was a confidence that was appealing. Luke was extroverted and had a magnetic energy around him, fairly similar to Jamie's truthfully. They both shone very brightly, illuminating everything around them with a glow, something Noah enjoyed. As a quieter, more mellow person, it was invigorating to be around Jamie. Food tasted better. Movies were funnier. His body felt more aroused and excited. His heart felt full of love.

To Noah, the handsome boy in repose, with the cat on his lap, looked like it could be an illustration from one of his favorite childhood books, Wind in the Willows. Or an older, more world weary Christopher Robin. Or a Peter Pan who left Neverland to live with Wendy and the Darlings, finally finding peace and security now that he had a home and a family.

And as he contemplated this silly idea, Luke looked up, his eyes clearly on Jamie, because they were soft and sad and wistful. Noah almost felt bad for him, to be so close to someone you want and not be able to have them. He knew what that was like. But his own arms tightened a trifle around his boyfriend, making it clear to Luke. The blonde boy sighed and kissed Noah's neck, murmuring "I love you," barely half awake.

The senior looked up further and connected with Noah's hazel eyes. They weren't challenging him, he wasn't trying to assert any kind of dominance or anger or jealousy. He was just looking at Noah.

Then Tabitha stretched in his lap and made a kind of garbled yowl. Luke smiled down at her, then back up at Noah, his eyes crinkling at the corners, sharing the cute kitty moment.

Without warning, Noah felt his breath catch a little. It was a powerful smile. And somehow strangely ... disturbing.

Uncomfortable, Noah jostled his dozy boyfriend. "Wake up Jamie. It's late. We need to take Luke back to the lodge."

=

They sat in the staff parking lot. A few outdoor lights were on at the lodge, but no illumination shone in the windows above. It was late. Almost midnight.