Tinder Boy » [cake] √

0.8

Over the past few months, their budding friendship had blossomed. Luke had introduced Calum to Michael, and the three had hung out on quite a few occasions getting on really well. Michael and Calum had developed a nice friendship between just the two of them as well. Luke still hadn't been seeing anyone though, if he were honest his feelings for Calum had only intensified, now that he actually knew the boy he knew that there was a lot worth loving about him. 

No that didn't mean Luke was in love with him,  you can't be in love with someone who isn't in love with you. The other person has to give something of themselves, something beyond what one gives to their friends and family. Luke imagined he would spend the rest of his life wondering what it was that Calum had that nobody else could give. He was already far too infatuated with the other boy, and even if by some miracle he was able to move on he imagined that Calum would always remain a fixture in his heart. He couldn't imagine a future where he didn't still care about this amazing human being he was beginning to understand. 

Luke had thought these thoughts over and over and now sitting in his own living room watching Calum at his kitchen counter cutting cheeses they had returned. 

"So the wine is kind of cheap and shit because I overspent on cheeses," Calum said finally looking up from the platter he was arranging, a cheeky smile on his face. 

"Once we're drunk it'll taste fine," Luke laughed getting up from his spot on the couch to investigate the other boy's handy work. There was a large plastic plate (that Calum must have brought with him because Luke had never seen it before), completely covered, three types of cheeses,  two types of crackers, sundried tomatoes, olives, and two types of dip in the centre. "You really did go all out with the platter," 

"Yeah I went to this independent grocery store and they had so much stuff I just couldn't help myself, all sounded so yum," Luke just nodded and took a seat on one of the stools, Calum sat down too but as soon as Luke went to pick up a biscuit the other boy stopped him. "Can I pick it out? I have the best combo I want you to try," 

The tall boy chuckled lowly, "Yeah sure," 

Calum took one of the blander crackers, sundried tomato and then a cube of the cheese from the smallest group before handing it to Luke proudly, he took it happily and put it whole into his mouth chewing slowly to taste the flavours as best he could. It was perfect the cheese was the tiniest bit sweet which worked well with the tart flavours of the tomato, the biscuit wasn't too salty and added a nice texture. 

With Calum watching him though, all Luke could manage to get out was "Ugh fuck that's good," and a low groan. 

It took the tan boy a moment to respond but when he did it was to let out a small laugh, "I didn't think you'd like it that much,"

"I must be hungrier than I originally thought,"  he chuckled before taking another biscuit this time with an olive and a different type of cheese.

Calum took something for himself as well, "Oh shit! I forgot the wine," he moved to stand before Luke put a hand on the counter in front of him. 

"No, you did all the food prep, I think I can manage to get a bottle of wine. I actually think I have a" Luke paused for a moment giving Calum an apologetic look, " nicer bottle in the pantry." Luke looked through his pantry right to the bottom where behind a bag of potatoes (Luke wasn't sure how long they'd been there honestly) was a bottle of red wine he was almost certain Jack had given him as a gift. "Found it, got this as a gift a while ago," he held the bottle out toward Calum before going back to look for glasses. 

"Is it still in date?"

Luke nearly spilled as he poured, "You're joking right?" he looked over his shoulder giving the other boy a raised brow look.

Calum shrugged, "Mostly, you did pull it out from behind a bag of mouldy potatoes," 

"Leave my potatoes alone," he turned back to the other boy holding two overly full glasses of red wine in his hands before Luke could set the glasses down though the Calum picked up the cheese tray and gave a nod toward the couch where they sat for the next few hours laughing and drinking their way through both of the bottles of wine, falling into a state where they were both dissolving into giggles at every anecdote. 

Until Calum sobered and said to Luke, "I'm so glad that we ended up being friends, we always have so much fun," Luke's stomach did flips because he'd thought these months of seeing Calum in a friend light would wash away any fantasy of them. It had only made things worse, he knew now all the things that made him exactly what he wanted, and so the stab to his heart was worse than all the months ago when Calum hadn't tried to make him stay when he hadn't said exactly what Luke had wanted to hear. When Luke looked up to give a nod, he saw the warm smile stretched across the other boys face that he fucking loved, but when he saw the seriousness on Luke's own face the smile dropped and his eyebrows furrowed. 

Without thinking he reached up and rubbed his thumb between Calum's eyebrows until the creases disappeared and his eyebrows sat where they were supposed to. He realised the tenderness of his action and moved to pull his hand back, but the shorter boy caught it in his own. He brought the hand to his lips with a shaking hand before pressing his lips gently to the palm, their eyes still locked. 

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Dedicated to dukeirwin