Disconnected | Luke Hemmings

chapter twenty

"But I don't actually like double dates. You know that!" Luke whined, slumped over dejectedly on my bed.

"I take no responsibility for the things you say when you're drunk, Luke Hemmings," I answered simply. The morning after our little campfire party, once the hangovers had begun to wear off, Amy started chattering nonstop about the proposed double date. Michael seemed pumped up about it, and it was only on the car ride home that Luke had sputtered about not remembering saying anything about a double date and that Michael must be pranking him, but I could only persist with the truth of the matter and smile at his silliness.

I now stood in front of my open closet, trying to choose what to wear to the double date Luke had—involuntarily, it would seem—suggested. "Now, are you going to help me decide what to wear, or are you going to sit there and mope?"

Luke slid his palms down his jean-clad legs and sighed, rising up off the bed to walk over to stand next to me. "Take my drink away before I start spouting nonsense next time, okay?"

I shook my head at him, lips pressed together into a tight smile. "You're hopeless," I muttered.

"Hopelessly in love," he murmured, sliding an arm around my waist and pulling me in for a quick kiss.

"More like hopelessly cheesy," I corrected. "But it's a good thing I find that cute."

He beamed, pleased with himself. Seconds later, though, he curled his bottom lip into a pout. "Do we really have to go out? Can't we just stay in and watch a movie or something?"

"Come on, it's Amy and Michael! It's my best friend and your best friend, it'll be fun. And, if I haven't pointed it out enough already, it was your idea."

"Okay, okay. All right," he said, rubbing the back of his neck and nodding. His head snapped up suddenly. "But," he continued, "you have to promise we can have a sleepover tonight."

I chuckled at him. "That's not a difficult promise to make."

***

Once I was ready, Luke and I picked up Amy and Michael at Amy's house. Normally I would insist on driving as per usual, but for one thing, we were taking Luke's car, and for another, Luke had said that him driving would be "the gentlemanly thing to do, since, you know, this is a date and all." So that was that. Luke drove, I sat in the passenger seat, and Michael and Amy climbed into the back. We went for dinner at a local pub downtown, one of the boys' favorite spots, actually. While Luke and Michael approached the server to get a table for us, I nudged Amy's arm and smiled at her.

"So? This is new, huh?" I prodded.

She nodded excitedly. "Yeah, this is great! You know, a few months ago, I never would have expected this for a minute. On a double date with you and Luke, with Michael as my date." She shook her head back and forth slightly, as if marveling at the circumstances.

I laughed. "Yeah, me neither. Guess life has a way of surprising you sometimes."

"It sure does," she said softly, but with a smile so subtle and personal that I knew she was glad that life had thrown this particular surprise her way.

The boys rejoined us so that the server could lead us to our table. He started us off with a round of drinks, taking our individual orders and then returning a few minutes later with them. Beers for Luke and Michael and cocktails for me and Amy. Typical. We ordered our meals, and by the time they arrived, I noticed that Luke had relaxed significantly, which made me smile to myself when I realized it. As we ate, we laughed about familiar stories and memories and chatted about music and life and the tour and the new album. Everything was comfortable and easy. It made me happy to see how smooth and simple it was to transition from hanging out with Amy and Michael: my friends, to Amy and Michael: the couple.

When we finished eating, Michael and Luke paid for their own bills plus mine and Amy's—true double date fashion, of course—and we stepped outside to figure out what to do for the rest of the evening.

"It's only nine," Luke commented, pulling his phone out of his pocket to check the time. "What should we do?"

"Let's go for a walk on the beach!" Amy suggested, her arm looped through Michael's. She bounced up and down excitedly as she voiced her suggestion.

"Sounds good to me," Michael agreed. "You guys in?"

"Sure," Luke said. I nodded with him in agreement. "Let's go."

We headed over to the nearby boardwalk to walk under the light of the moon and the tiny lights that glittered along the wooden path. The water lapped against the shore, creating a steady and calm beat. In the distance, the sound of a guitar could be heard as someone probably busked near the food stands and bars. The air was warm, and even when the breeze blew, it carried only the smell of nearby food, the music, and the feeling of contentment. I leaned my head against Luke's shoulder, our fingers laced together and our joined palms swinging lazily between us.

"Thanks for tonight," I told him. "This is really nice."

"You're welcome," he replied. "You know, this double date thing is actually fun."

I laughed next to him. "I don't understand why you didn't think so in the first place!"

He shrugged. "I don't know, I guess I just thought it was dumb. Or awkward. I don't know," he said again.

I raised an eyebrow at him doubtfully. "You and Michael have seen each other naked how many times? How could this, of all things, possibly be awkward for either of you?"

Luke laughed shamelessly and bit down on his bottom lip, playing with his lip ring for a minute before answering. "We just don't do stuff like this together often, I guess. Me and the boys. But, if I'm being honest, I'm having a good time."

I swung our hands up so that I could plant a kiss on the back of his. "Good. I'm glad."

Amy and Michael had wandered ahead of us as we talked, immersed in their own conversation. He had his arm loosely draped around her waist and she was leaning into him, their shadows dancing in the light of the moon. Michael removed his arm from around her so that he could take her hand. She kissed him quickly on the cheek, and then laughed in response to something he said that neither Luke or I could hear from where we were walking.

"It's nice seeing them so happy together," I commented, looking ahead at the two of them walking hand-in-hand.

"Yeah," Luke admitted easily. "It kind of is. Michael's had a huge crush on her forever, you know. Never wanted to admit to it, the cheeky bastard, but I knew. Oh, I knew."

"You're kidding! Really?"

"Oh yeah. We chirped him about it all the time. 'Bout time something good finally came of it, honestly." Luke glanced ahead at Michael and then sheepishly added, "But you didn't hear that from me."

"Why, whatever are you talking about, Mr. Hemmings?" I said with false innocence, batting my eyelashes at him.

Luke chuckled and slung his arm around my shoulders as we continued to walk along the boardwalk, gazing peacefully at the night sky and hearing the giggles of Amy and Michael drifting toward us on the light breeze. It was one of the last warm nights we would have before the weather grew colder. Not unbearably cold, mind you—it was Sydney, after all—but the summertime warmth was coming to an end.

After we had made it to the other side of the boardwalk, and caught up with Michael and Amy in the process, we agreed it was time to head home. Luke dropped Amy and Michael off at Michael's house, and I made Amy promise to text me the following day. She agreed quickly before Michael grabbed her by the hand and ran with her in tow to his front door, their laughter echoing into the nighttime. Luke backed out of Michael's driveway and pulled out onto the main road once we left Michael's neighborhood.

"So," he began,swinging one arm around the back of my seat. "Your place or mine?"