Page 24 of Just Is Not Enough

“I’ll help you clean up and then get going. Early riser here,” I say raising my hand.

Luke glances at his watch, “Shit, it is getting late, and I still have to take a shower. I have a long day tomorrow, too.” Without a word he gets up from the couch heading towards his bedroom, coming back with my clothes and his phone in hand.

He unlocks and hands me his phone. “Number. I’m not letting you leave here without it.”

“Bossy much? Geez.” I pretend to be offended albeit taking his phone obeying his order.

Luke brings the plates to the kitchen while I get dressed and order my Uber. He meets me at the door, Fred in tow. Demanding thing he is rubbing himself all over my legs, I bend down to pet him one more time.

“I’ll talk to you soon?” Luke asks with doubt in his tone.

“Yes.” I comfort him further with a passionate kiss, having to hastily pull away before lack of better judgement takes hold of me and I walk straight back to his bed.

The perma-grin that remains on my face lasts until I’m in my bed drifting asleep. My dreams are no longer haunted with unattainable moments with Luke.

The last week since I’ve seen Luke has been full of random texts from him at all hours of the day. I wake up in the morning to 2 am sleep deprived ramblings about his day. Everything from what he had to eat to some silly thing his business partner, Gabe, had said or done that day. He sounds like a spirited character. The current message is a selfie of Luke in bed this morning with Fred’s enormous body lying on his bare tattooed chest, face nuzzled in his neck, with the caption ‘I can’t breathe, send help!’ My grin is back.

“Hello, earth to Kaden. You still with us?” Connor breaks my train of thought snapping his fingers in my direction.

“Sorry, what were you saying?”

“What are you staring at on your phone that has you smiling like it’s Christmas morning? Rather who is it, because that my friend is a dopey lovesick smile happening.” Leave it to Connor to say exactly what’s on his mind.

“It’s not love, hush yourself.” I hit him with a stern look in warning.

“But it issomeone, now spill the tea.” He counters with a smirk knowing he got the response for which he was hoping. “Ender tell him to fess up now or else.”

Ender is lying on the couch arm over his face, his head on Connor’s leg. “Fight your own battles, Connor,” he says, intent on minding his own business. Connor jerks his leg under Ender’s head in retaliation. “Asshole. If Kaden doesn’t want to talk about whoever it is then leave him alone.”

Connor ignores Ender’s grumpiness and widens his eyes, forcefully encouraging me to tell him.

“It’s Luke,” I say, cringing waiting for the lecture.

Ender is suddenly interested in the conversation turning to me with a shocked look on his face.

Connor is of course the first to give his opinion. “That’s the guy from the bathroom at that party you went to around Christmas time. I thought he was straight and off limits?”

“We’ve been talking.”

“Kaden, that doesn’t answer my question. That was not a smile from talking with someone. You fucked him, didn’t you? What happened to no more straight men?”

“I didn’t fuck him.”

Connor sees right through me. “So, he fucked you? Don’t play semantics with me.”

“He’s not Tyler.” I reply indignantly.

“Maybe he’s not and we can’t tell you what to do,”

“Don’t lump me into this,” Ender interrupts.

Connor rolls his eyes at him and continues, “but be careful, please. I don’t want to see you get hurt again.”

I respond with a nod which seems to satisfy him.

“Fine, now let’s see some pictures of this snack that’s giving you those heart eyes.” Connor jumps up with excitement dropping Ender’s head to the couch, and crashes down next to me on the smaller couch.

I laugh at him, “I only have a couple selfies he’s sent me over the past week.” I pick my phone back up and open the photo app where I saved all of them.

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