Chapter 43
The two went on to have a detailed talk about vitamins and diet.
“Though there’s not many perks to the job,”Tony said,“you can have any of the health foods we sell at cost.Plus you also get a free membership to our facilities.”
“Great.”
The interview continued for a few minutes longer,Luke feeling more and more comfortable with the set up and his expected duties.Tony ended things by asking,“So,when can you start?”
“How about now?”
****
Luke,still excited at finding a job,drove up the farm road.He couldn’t wait to tell Andy hisnews.There was a strange car in place of Andy’s van.
Entering the house,Luke headed for the kitchen for a much needed cuppa.He’d been converted to tea,thanks to Andy’s almost constant drinking of the stuff.He pulled up short when he saw Craig and Dennis sitting at the kitchen table,gloomy expressions on both their faces.
“Er,hi,”Luke said.
“Uncle Andy’s gone out,”Craig said,looking at him briefly before returning his gaze to thetable top.“He got the wrong delivery of pig food or something,so had to go sort it out.”
“Oh,right.”The good news about his job would have to wait.“So,how come you’re here?”Realising the abruptness of his question,Luke quickly added,“Not that you’re not welcome.”Well,Dennis isn’t welcome,he told himself.
“Mum’s got company,and Dennis and me wanted to talk after school.”
Luke was about to come back with‘so that’s what they’re calling it these days,’but stopped himself.Something serious was going on between them.He began to feel he was in the way.
“I’ll go get changed and leave you two to it,then.I’ll be down to start dinner in a bit,okay?”
Craig nodded;Dennis remained stone-faced.
Entering the bedroom he and Andy shared,Luke turned on the radio.Since Andy wasn’t home,he cranked up the volume.There were advantages to living in a farmhouse at least a quarter of a mile from the nearest neighbour.It was possible to turn the volume up without disturbing anyone.Bebopping to his favourite rock station,Luke started to undress.He reflected on how easy it had been to persuade Andy to relinquish his kitchen every other night.Luke thought himself a pretty good cook.On the nights he prepared the food,he could at least be sure Andy ate healthily.And if his partner’s empty plate at the end of each meal was any indication,Andy enjoyed what was being put in front of him.
He’d just stripped down to his underwear when he saw movement out of the corner of his eye.Looking up,Luke saw Dennis entering.“Is anything wrong?”
“Not from where I’m standing.”Dennis’voice was low and gravelly,Luke could only just hear it above the radio.
“Well,like I said,I’ll be down in a minute.”
Dennis continued into the room.Luke found himself walking backwards and soon bumped into the wall.
“Fuck,you’re hot,”Dennis moaned.
“Er,Dennis,you shouldn’t be in here.”Luke knew his voice had gone up an octave.He could feel his heart-rate increasing.Dennis was taller,and though thin,he definitely out-weighed Luke.
“I’ve waited weeks for an opportunity like this.”
Luke moved to one side,hoping he could get away.But Dennis stepped in front of him and put his hands either side of Luke’s shoulders.Judging by the smell rising from the teenager’s armpits,Dennis obviously didn’t put personal hygiene very high on his list of priorities.
“Look,I don’t know what you’re after,but I’m not interested.”Luke hoped his voice wasn’t betraying how nervous he felt.
“I think you know exactly what I’m after.It’s been cute watching you playing hard to get these past few weeks.Really turns me on.”
“What?”
“I only stuck around that prick-tease downstairs for this long so I could get nearer to you.”
“What?”Luke found himself repeating.Showing courage he didn’t think he had,he went on theattack.He pushed at Dennis’chest,but the man didn’t budge.“I’m not interested.I’ve got Andy and you’ve got Craig.”Luke winced.That sounded so pathetic.
Dennis laughed.“He’s just a kid,too fucking scared to do anything with a real man.”
“A real man?You?”Maybe getting Dennis angry might work.
“I love it that you’re fighting back,denying that you think I’m attractive.”
“That’s because you aren’t and I don’t.Now,come on;get out of my way.This has gone far enough.”
“Oh,I’ve only just started.”Dennis began to rub his crotch on Luke’s belly.Luke turned to the side.
“What the hell makes you think I want it?And from you!”Luke’s fear was turning to anger.“Now get off!”
“God,you turn me on.”Dennis started to slobber on Luke’s neck,making Luke’s skin crawl.“I’ve been wanking off to your films and finally I’ve got the chance to be with you for real.”
“Get the fuck off of me!”Luke jabbed his elbow into Dennis’stomach and yelled,“Craig!”
Dennis,only partially winded,put his hand over Luke’s mouth to shut him up.Luke opened his mouth and clamped down on Dennis’palm.
“You bit me,you fucking bastard!!”
Dennis stepped back and shook his hand.Using the momentum,Luke pushed Dennis,causing him to fall backward.He sprang back to his feet and advanced on Luke,fists raised.
Craig came thundering into the room.
“Craig!”both Luke and Dennis said at the same time.
Then Dennis continued,“Jesus,he just came on to me.Then when I told him I had you…he started to get nasty.Even pushed me over.”
“What?”Luke couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“God,he was all over me.”Dennis put his arms around Craig and tilted his head to kiss him.“He wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
Before Luke could blink,Dennis was bent double,cupping his balls.Craig must have brought hisknee up between Dennis’legs.Luke was too stunned to react.
“You fucking,lying bastard!”Craig shouted.
Dennis gasped,“It was him,he—”
“Save it.I don’t believe you!”
Dennis straightened and shot hateful glances at Luke and Craig.“Fucking cock-teases,the pair of you.Saying you want it,and then at the last minute changing your minds.You two fucking deserve each other.”
“Shut up!”Craig advanced on Dennis,who backed away.
“I’m going.Fucking fairies.You wouldn’t know what to do with a real man,anyway.”
Dennis left,and a few seconds later,above the noise of the radio,they heard the front door slam.
“Fuck!”Craig said.“Are you all right?”
Luke didn’t know what to say.He ought to have been the one asking that question—after all,Craig had just found his boyfriend with another man in a compromising position.
“Dennis said he needed to use the toilet.When he didn’t come back,and then when I heard you shout,I—”
“Thanks.”Luke couldn’t find anything else to say.
“God,how could he do that to me?”Craig looked at Luke and added,“Or to you?”
Luke shook his head.
Craig seemed to deflate.Luke could tell the teenager’s adrenaline was dissipating,leaving shock in its wake.“I think I’ve known for a while that he wasn’t…well,what I wanted.”
“Take it from someone who knows,you’ve got to kiss a hell of a lot of frogs before you find your prince.”
Craig treated him to a weak smile before his face crumpled.“It’s not fair.I wish I had someone good,someone who understands,someone who—”
“I know.”
Despite his own still-racing emotions,Luke knew he needed to offer comfort to Craig.The two came together in the centre of the room.Luke put his arms around the teenager and felt him trembling.Luke knew he wasn’t in much better shape.
“Uncle Andy’s so lucky.I wish you were my boyfriend.”Craig stared down at Luke before lowering his lips to kiss him.
“What the—”Andy’s voice from the doorway had them springing apart.
****
Luke enjoyed his job at the gym.A handful of the members had obviously recognised who he was,but only a couple had plucked up the courage to say anything to him.He’d been there for a little over three weeks and felt he’d settled in nicely.He’d suggested to Tony they expand the range of health supplements they sold,Luke recommending some that he used.Tony had agreedand sales were going well.
The only slight down-side was how one of the personal trainers would often give him odd looks as he passed through reception.Luke ignored it,but promised himself he’d speak to Tony if things got worse.
Luke leaned on the counter.Wednesday afternoons were always slow.He knew he ought to be getting on with printing out reminder letters to members whose subscriptions were about to lapse.