Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 90672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Luke chuckles. “Relax. When you went downstairs to grab the Asian fusion, I may have mentioned I thought I was straight before I met you. But now I know I’m definitely not.”
“You don’t have to call your bi hookup Straight Boy in secret anymore,” Matteo says with a wink.
So clearly Luke told him about the nickname too.
“He’s not a hookup,” I snap.
“Ooh, careful,” Matteo says. “I was just gauging where you’re at, but you need to cool it down around this guy, or he’s gonna know you caught some serious feels.”
“Shut up,” I say, but Luke’s smirking.
Like he doesn’t already know.
“Okay, I’m done ragging on you,” Matteo says. “I’m gonna head out. If I stick around much longer, you might use your evil powers to rope me into a threesome.”
We all laugh, and he tosses his bag over his shoulder, leaving Luke and me to ourselves.
“You told him about Straight Boy?”
He shrugs. “Just as a funny thing. I’m sorry. I didn’t know you’d be uncomfortable with that.”
“I’m not,” I assure him. “Just not something I thought you’d be chatting with Matteo about. When he said that about magical powers, I was worried I’d said something—”
“Oh, trust me, I knew what you were thinking, and I was trying to psychically project to you not to blurt anything out.”
I let out a nervous chuckle. “Well, I like that you and Matteo get along. Wish Alexei was this cool about us hanging at your place.”
“Guess I’m more likable than you,” Luke says with a shrug. “Or maybe it has something to do with when you were an asshat to me during those pickup games.”
“Yeah, but Alexei and I have always been cool with each other. We’ve hung out because of the games, and also had some classes together. It’s weird suddenly being on his shit list.”
“He’s nice when you come over.”
“He’s polite,” I clarify. “But he feels off, and like he wants to go somewhere else, and not in the way Matteo is trying to get out of our hair.”
“I’m confident that if you guys hang out enough, after a while, he’ll get used to you again. And he’ll realize you’re really good to me.”
“I am really good to you,” I say, which makes him smile, but just as quickly it fades and he groans.
“This sucks. I don’t want to train tonight. I want to just lie here and watch a movie.”
Meditating has been far from relaxing for Luke. I feel for him.
“Maybe tonight we could stay in.”
Seth and Cody wouldn’t be happy with that, but Luke’s only human. We’ve been trying since last week, and if Luke’s really this frustrated, maybe it will be a waste of time anyway.
“No, I need to go,” Luke says, fishing at his pad thai with his chopsticks.
“Hey,” I say, reaching over and resting my hand on his shoulder. “I’ll be right there with you.”
His lips twist into a smirk, and he nods. “Just not how I figured I’d be spending the first semester at St. Lawrence.”
I trail my hand to the back of his neck and offer a gentle rub, leaning close and kissing his cheek.
After we finish up dinner, we prep, then head out to the old church.
While we assume our usual positions, I receive a text from Seth: Good luck tonight. Keep us posted. I’ve been getting these sorts of texts since we started Luke’s sessions.
“That Seth?”
I nod, and I can see the frustration in his expression, like he already knows tonight is gonna be another failure.
“Wish me luck,” he says.
I get out of my meditation pose and crawl close to him so that my lips are right in front of his. “Good luck,” I say before planting a kiss on his lips.
I can feel his tension and uneasiness, but the more we kiss, the more he relaxes, and once I feel he’s eased up enough, I pull back, enjoying his smile as I cross my legs.
Luke closes his eyes, and I direct him through his breathing to start, like I usually do. He’s not cracking any jokes or shifting around, just obeys my instructions, and once he’s into it, I close my eyes and try to quiet my mind.
It’s not easy. I have plenty of my own bullshit rattling around in here…memories of my dad being an ass to me.
“You’re just like your mother.”
“The world’s not gonna be nice to you just because you’re my son.”
“Such a waste that you’re the one to carry my family name.”
Words that are always there, in the back of my mind, haunting me.
“Fuck,” Luke mutters, and I open my eyes. His eyes are closed, his expression twisted up, his cross floating up near his chin. He’s using his powers without touching me, seemingly without even realizing it. He raises his hand and hits his palm against his head. “Fuck, fuck, fuck,” he mutters.