Chapter 25

“But Uncle Andy—”

“Don’t‘but Uncle Andy’me!”He eased himself onto a bench.“Make this the last one.I’ll sit out here and mind your bags.”

“Is your knee hurting?”Luke asked.

Andy gave said knee a rub.“It’s just a twinge.”

“I promise we won’t be long.”Craig handed over his various bags.

Andy shook his head.“No,take your time.The rest will do me good.”

Luke smiled one of his beautiful smiles at him.

Swallowing,Andy asked,“How are your ribs?I wouldn’t have thought walking all this way would be good for them.”

“They’re starting to hurt.”

“Sorry,Luke.Why didn’t you say anything?”Craig asked.

“Because I was having too much fun.”

Andy shook his head.“And don’t take advantage of Luke’s generosity anymore.You’ve got your own money.Maybe you should buy Luke something to thank him.”

“I wanted to when we were in there,”Craig pointed to the boutique they’d just visited,“but he wouldn’t let me.”

“Go on,the pair of you.”Andy waved them off.

He watched them walk through the crowd of Saturday afternoon shoppers.Craig had a hand on the back of Luke’s camouflage jacket,the other hand moving as he talked animatedly.Just before they entered the store,Luke looked back at Andy and smiled.

Andy smiled back.Careful,he cautioned himself.Too late.You’re already in deep.He sighed.Yes,the more time he spent with Luke,the more he cared for him.He just hoped when Luke found aboyfriend,he’d be able to wish him well and keep his jealousy to himself.

Andy forced his mind to focus on something else.He thought about Jessica.This probably wasn’t the best subject to transfer to because Andy found himself clenching his fists at his sister’s behaviour.Craig needed a stable and loving home.What did the so-called experts call it?A positive male role model?Craig was,despite his happy-go-lucky fa?ade,a sensitive lad who needed to know he was loved.Andy knew Jessica loved her son,but…Andy shook his head.Bringing up a teen wasn’t easy.Part of Andy was grateful he was gay.

He watched the shoppers go past,kids pleading with parents to buy them the latest must-haveitem,mothers with pushchairs,old folk riding in wheelchairs.Above it all was the constant and annoying piped music and safety announcements about not leaving bags unattended.

“Poor old man,he’s ready for an afternoon nap,”Craig told Luke.

Andy opened his eyes.“Piss off.”He didn’t see any more carrier bags.He raised an eyebrow.

“They didn’t have anything I wanted,”Craig told him.“But,Luke’s agreed to let me buy him something.”

“Yeah,he finally twisted my arm.Though I told him it wasn’t necessary.”

Craig ignored Luke,and to Andy said,“Do you mind sitting here a bit longer?It’s just up there.”

Andy nodded.“Good lad.”

They moved off,conversing happily together.They were so like one another.Andy was glad he’dbrought them out.

****

“Do you think they make me look sexy and mysterious?”Luke asked Andy as they sat opposite each other in the seating area of the food court.

“Bit daft wearing them indoors and in winter,too,”Andy said,though the sunglasses did suitLuke and yes,he looked sexy in them.Though he’d look sexy in whatever he wore,the little voice in Andy’s head whispered.

Craig was just coming to the end of the serving line.Luke had been determined to deliver on hispromise to buy Andy a meal.Andy put up a token protest,but with both Luke and Craig ranged against him,he knew he didn’t stand a chance.

“It was good of Craig to offer to queue,”Luke said.

“He’s a good lad,”Andy found himself repeating his words of earlier.“Are your ribs bothering you?”

“Yeah,kinda.”

“Did you bring your tablets?”

“No,forgot.”

Andy sighed.“All right,once we finish here,we’ll go home and you can take your pills and have a lie down.”

“You gonna join me?”Luke smiled and waggled his eyebrows.

Andy’s cock twitched.“Behave.”Though he wasn’t sure if he was talking to Luke,or his awakening penis.

Craig set down the tray.“God,it’s busy in here.”

It was thanks to Craig’s earlier quick thinking that they’d gained their table.He had slipped into his current seat seconds after a family had moved out.

“This is nothing.You should see the shopping centres down in London,”Luke said.

“I’d rather not.”Andy decided he would be mother and dished up the food.“Pizza slice for you,”he said as he set the thick piece of coloured cardboard in front of Craig.“Burger and fries for me,and rabbit food for Luke.”

“Piss off,”Luke said,causing Andy and Craig to burst out laughing.

“You’re a bad influence,”Craig said to Andy through a mouthful of pizza.

Andy grunted and handed out the drinks.

Swallowing,Craig said,“Thanks for today,Uncle Andy,Luke.I wasn’t feeling so good this morning,but you two have really helped cheer me up.”

“It was a pleasure.”Luke put his good arm round Craig’s neck.“And if you need me to come round and sort your dad out,I’ll…I’ll hit him with my cast.”Luke raised his right arm and waved the cast around.

Craig laughed,“Thanks.”

“But seriously,”Andy said,“You know that if you need to,you’ll always have a home at the farm with Luke and me.”Then he realised what he’d said and didn’t dare look at the man in question,to witness his reaction.“Though I hope your mother will come to her senses and tellyour dad to pack the rest of his stuff.”

“Hope so,”Craig mumbled.

“Hey,come on!We’ve just spent the past couple of hours cheering you up.Don’t start getting all sad on us now.”Luke,who still had his left arm around Craig’s back,gave him a squeeze.

“Thanks,Luke.Uncle Andy’s really lucky to have a boyfriend like you.”

Andy opened his mouth to correct Craig,but from the corner of his eye,he saw Luke biting his lip.“Uh,well,I’m,uh,if Luke was my boyfriend,then I’d be the lucky one.”

All eyes turned to Luke,who squirmed,but his gaze remained fixed on Andy.“I think we’re both lucky.”

“What does that mean?”Craig looked from one man to the other.“Are you two boyfriends,or what?

Andy thought his heart would explode in his chest,it was beating so hard.He couldn’t speak,and judging by Luke’s silence,he couldn’t either.

After what seemed like an age of staring at Luke,Andy turned to Craig.“You shouldn’t put people in situations like that.It’s not fair.”The more he spoke,the more his sadness and self-pity washed over him.“I think I’m a bit too old for Luke.There are hundreds of guys younger,more,um…”Andy searched for an appropriate word.“Handsome,”he finally said.“Luke could have any man he wanted.”

“But what if I want you?”Luke’s voice was so quiet,Andy wasn’t sure he’d heard it above the level of conversation and noise of the food court.

“YES!”Craig pumped a fist into the air,causing those around them to stare.

Andy ignored the stares and focussed totally on Luke.“I’m…”He felt all his old defences rushing back.“I’m—”he reached up and touched his damaged cheek.

“Oh,Andy.”Luke’s voice was clear,sincere.“I’ve told you,I don’t care about your scars.They’re part of what makes you,well,you.”

“Are you sure?”Andy still found it difficult to believe that someone as perfect…as beautiful as Luke could…would…

“Never been more sure of anything.You’re kind,strong,protective,and you don’t care about what I do for a living.”

Andy wasn’t sure that last was entirely true,but he chose not to say anything.

“So,yes,Andrew Johnson,I’d really like to be your boyfriend,that is,if you’ll have me?”

Andy felt a lump form in his throat and his heart was fit to bounce out of his chest.However,hemanaged to nod and croak out,“I will.”

Luke’s resultant smile was angelic.

“Look,let’s get out of here before…well,this is too public,”Andy said,getting shakily to his feet.

Andy’s heart continued to beat heavily.Would he wake up in a minute and find out this had all been a dream?But Luke’s shoulders felt solid enough when Andy gave him a one-armed hug beforepicking up some of their shopping bags.

“This is so awesome,”Craig kept repeating as they left the food court,Andy guiding them to the closest exit.