Chapter 34

“I love you,Andy.I needed to show you how much.”

“Thanks.Uh.You’re all right?Your ribs,they’re not hurting?”

At Andy’s concern,Luke fell that bit more deeply in love.Andy’s first thoughts had been of his partner,even though Luke knew his brain must still be melted.

“I’m fine.”Luke felt his ribs protest as he got to his feet.

Andy stood,none too steadily.“God,Luke.You’re…you’re—”Andy pulled Luke into his arms and hugged him.

Luke’s ribs might have been protesting,but he’d be damned if he’d tell Andy to loosen his hold.Andy gave the best hugs.

Andy kissed the top of Luke’s head.“But,uh,you.Let me take care of your problem.”Andy pressed his hand to the swelling in Luke’s jeans.

Luke kissed him.“No,love,that was just for you;I don’t need you to return the favour.It’s not that I don’t want you to—it’s just Craig will be sending out a search party.”He reluctantly disengaged from Andy and began to straighten up his man’s clothing.

“As soon as we get to your flat,you’re mine,all right?”

Luke smiled.“Don’t go getting a speeding ticket.I’ve waited weeks for this;a few more minutes won’t make any difference.”

Andy kissed him.

They left the cubicle,turned right and almost walked into Craig,who had his arms crossed overhis chest and a knowing smirk on his face.

Glaring at Craig,Andy said,“Not one word,understand?”Andy’s voice was commanding;Luke was glad it wasn’t aimed at him.

Andy’s tone didn’t seem to affect Craig as much;he just made a zipping motion across his lips.He didn’t lose his smirk however.

“Remind me why we brought him?”Andy asked Luke,heading for the sinks.

Luke knew full well why Andy had allowed Craig to come with them to London.Even though he had reminded Andy that there was just the one bed in his flat.

To both Luke and Andy’s dismay,Craig’s relationship with“Dennis the Menace,”as Andy privately dubbed him,was still going strong.Andy thought if Craig was with them during the Easter holidays,he couldn’t be with Dennis.The matter of the sleeping arrangements had been dealt with by Andy suggesting they take an air mattress.

****

“Oh,cool,”Craig said as they descended the area steps outside Luke’s flat.“It’s so Upstairs Downstairs.”

“Huh?”Luke said.

“Even I’m not old enough to remember that programme,”Andy said.

“Really?I thought you were old enough to—”

Andy glared and made to swipe at Craig,who deftly moved out of reach.

“There you are.I’ve not seen hide nor hair of you for weeks.”Mr Jenkins—Luke’s neighbourfrom upstairs—sprung out of his flat.If Luke didn’t know better,he’d have sworn the old bastard had been lurking behind his front door.“Though that shifty looking boyfriend of yours has come sniffing around a time or two.”

Luke froze at the mention of Roger.He’d changed the locks.Sam had insisted.So there was little chance Roger had got further than the front door.Mr Jenkins would have spotted any signs of a break in,Luke was sure of that.

Andy immediately went into protective mode,putting himself between Luke and the old codger.Luke had to smile.Mr Jenkins was hardly a threat.

“Hello,Mr J.Nice to see you,too.How’s your arthritis?”

He scowled.“Letter came for you.I had to sign for it.The postman woke me up.No consideration for old folk who need their sleep.”

Luke knew the old fart hardly ever slept.He seemed to always have one hand on the side of his net curtains,ready to twitch them the moment anyone came past.

“Official looking,too.”The old fart didn’t seem in any hurry to go get the letter.

“Could I have it then,please?”Luke tried to stay happy.One wrong word to Mr Jenkins and he’d complain for days about how the young had no respect.

“Kids today,always in a hurry,”Mr Jenkins grumbled as he hobbled indoors.

“You go in where it’s warm,”Andy said.

“It’s okay.He might not let you have it anyway.Even though he probably knows who you are.”

Andy looked at him.

“Trust me,he knows everything.More than MI-5.Wouldn’t surprise me if he hasn’t steamed the letter open and read it.”

Craig chuckled.

The old man soon reappeared,the envelope held in the gnarled fingers of his left hand.“Thankyou.”Andy plucked the letter away from him and turned to face Luke.“Come on,let’s get inside.You’re starting to shiver.”

Andy ushered them down the steps,leaving Mr Jenkins to glare after them.

“Right,first things first,”Andy said,picking up the mail from the doormat and putting it,along with the recorded envelope,on the table in the living room.“I’ll turn the heating on.”

It was cold and damp in the flat.“No,I’ll do it,”Luke said.“It can be a bit temperamental.”

Luke followed Andy into the tiny kitchen and started pressing buttons on the gas boiler while Andy filled the kettle to make tea.

“Shit,”Andy said.“There’s no milk.”

“Sorry.”Luke paused his pressing of the ignition.“There’s some powdered skimmed milk in the cupboard,I think.”

Andy gave Luke a look that made him think he’d asked Andy to take a dose of poison.Luke turned back to the boiler and bit his lip to stop himself from laughing.Andy was so old-fashioned.Luke loved him for it.

“I’ll go down the shops.We’ll need a few things for breakfast tomorrow,anyway.”

“Uh,okay.”Luke was relieved to hear a small whoosh and see little blue flames leap into life through the inspection window.

“Craig,you coming?”Andy said,leaving the kitchen and heading for the hallway.

“No,I’ll stay here.”

“Suit yourself.I’ll be back in a bit.”

“Here,I’ll give you some money.”Luke reached for his wallet,but Andy was already closing the front door.

“He doesn’t like anyone else paying,”Craig observed,coming into the kitchen.

Luke knew that if they were to have any future,he’d have to put his foot down about Andy always paying for everything.If necessary,he would mention Sandy,and how Andy’s stubbornness had contributed to that relationship failing.

“Yeah.”

“Luke,can I ask you something?”

Uh oh.That sounds ominous,Luke thought.“Of course.”

“You and Uncle Andy.It’s,uh,serious between you then?I mean the toilets—”

Shit!Luke thought.“Let’s go sit down.”

Luke needed a few seconds to collect his thoughts.Parking himself on the sofa,he expected Craig to take the armchair.But the teen sat next to him.

“What we did in…in the toilets shouldn’t have happened.It was…well,your uncle was stressed and—”

“I know.”Craig held up a hand.“It’s just…oh,shit.”

Luke put an arm around Craig’s shoulder.The kid looked upset.He didn’t think Craig was bothered by the thought of his uncle having had sex within his hearing,but the minds of teenagers worked in mysterious ways.

“So,it is serious,between you and Uncle Andy,then?”

“Yes,”Luke nodded.“You were there when we said that we wanted to be boyfriends.You kinda pushed us together,remember?Not that we wouldn’t have made it on our own,eventually.”

“Yes,I know.It’s good that Uncle Andy has got someone,but—”

“But?”Luke didn’t know where this was heading.

Craig twisted to face him and moved his face closer.Luke turned his head to the side;Craig’s lips brushed his cheek.

“I’m sorry.I’ve messed it all up.I’m sorry.”

“Hey,it’s all right.But you shouldn’t be kissing me.”

“I know,sorry.I sorta wondered,hoped—”Craig buried his head in his hands.Luke just stayed quiet and waited.“I sorta hoped that maybe you liked me…that you might sorta be interested in me.But when I heard you in the toilets I knew that I didn’t have a chance.”

Luke closed his eyes.“Craig,”he swallowed.“You’re a great guy—”

“There’s a‘but’coming.”