Dancing In His Arms

Chapter 31

It's the third of December and Luke is spending his day off preparing for his and Arias second date. Sticking to their silent agreement, Luke is in his place of solace, the kitchen, cooking up mushroom risotto for two.

"Ay, yo Luke, what smells so good?" yells Jack as he, Tim and Ace let themselves into his house.

Waiting for them to walk into the kitchen, he begins to have a one sided conversation. "Ding dong, oh who could that be? Hey guys what are you doing here? Oh we just came to annoy you like we love to do, can we come in? Well since you asked so nicely instead of barging in on your own..." sparing them a look to glare at them, Luke sees his friends scoff and roll their eyes at him.

"Oh please, you usually would beg us to come over." claims Ace

"Ok true but that was to have someone actually try my food." concedes Luke

"So what's up? Got another date with the girl from the mystery gang?"Asks Tim

Setting the food off to cook, Luke leans against the counter with his arms crossed staring at his friends raiding his fridge. "Yes, I have a date with Aria, what's it to you?"

Holding their hands up in defense Jack is the first to talk. "Hey, we got no beef there. Hell we were wondering when you were finally gunna grow some balls and make a move on her. We're happy you're opening up to someone. I mean you've dated a little bit since your mom passed but they never made you happy like this chick does and you haven't even kissed her yet. And you've had sex before for christs sake!"

Slightly looking away pretending to check on tonight's meal, Luke catches Tims observant attention. "You two have done something." Coming out more of a statement than a question, he gains curious stares from the others.

Coughing to hide his slight discomfort from their intrusive stares he readies himself to say 'I have no idea what you're talking about' but Ace beats him to the punch "Holy shit something did happen! What? What happened between you guys? Clearly it was something good if she agreed to a date with you."

"Second date, the first one was about 2 weeks ago. Not really my best moment though" Knowing it would be pointless to try and keep it to himself, he decides to let them know what happen. To a certain extent of course.

"Two weeks?!" they exclaim in unison

"Dude what the hell! I know we ain't girls but this is shit you tell your friends. What happened, how far did you guys go?"

Sighing Luke runs a hand down his face "I took her on a nighttime picnic-"

"Where at?" interrupts Jack

"You wouldn't know the place...it's one of me and moms secret places" speaking the last part as a soft whisper, still reeling from the pain of his loss 6 almost 7 years ago.

Sitting stunned that he would share something so dear to his heart, something of his mother, with this girl, his friends don't know what to say. Ignoring their silence he covers the rest of the night in a rush.

"Anyway we ate, I told her about mom and Arabella. Why I hate my dad, we kissed, I took her home with the promise of another date. Now if she likes this meal I get another one so if you will excuse me.." Trailing off as he places the finished meal in two separate containers, Luke attempts to head to his room to change.

"Hold up" Placing a hand on Lukes chest as he tries to pass him, Ace continues to talk. "Come again? You talked to her about your mom?" he asks incredulously. "You barely talk about her with us, and I grew up with you. Now you're getting your shrink on with her? Don't tell me you cried on her shoulder....Holy shit he did."

Steering the conversation in another direction Jack asks "Ok, but how did you balling your eyes out end with a kiss?"

"I didn't ball my eyes out." Snapping at his friends even though they were right. Sighing he gives them a little more detail. "I don't really know. One minute I'm telling her how crappy my father was after mom died and the next thing I know I'm kissing her. Now can I go get ready?"

Letting him pass, his friends follow him up the stairs into his room after him. After processing his words, Tim decides to speak. "Ok...so, you have your Dr. Phil moment, kiss and take her home. Now were here. Clearly you care for her so what's the plan?"

"I take it one date at a time."