Page 101 of The Long Way Found

“A trophy wife.”

Screw ‘em, he thought with a touch of pride. He IS hot. And I ain’t even worried about it.

Twenty minutes later, another knock.

Jack looked up to see Luke in the doorway, holding two coffee cups and a paper bag.

"Thought you might need sustenance," Luke said, stepping in and setting a cup on Jack's desk.

Jack's face broke into a grin. "You're a lifesaver. What's in the bag?"

"Mara sent scones and sandwiches. Apparently, she made too many this morning."

"Apparently." Jack took a sip of the coffee, strong and hot. Perfect. "How did you know I'd need this right now?"

"I know how you get when you’re deep into grading papers. And I wanted to give you the plant I promised the last time I was here,” Luke said, presenting a two-foot snake plant in a blue ceramic pot.

“Thank you,” Jack said. “This place needs it.”

They enjoyed the quiet for a moment, sipping their coffee. Through the window, students crossed the quad in pairs and groups, spring sunshine washing everything in gold.

"Martinez stopped by earlier?" Jack said, gesturing to the essay on his desk. "Finished his personal essay and asked me to read it about a week ago. Now his teacher wants to publish it in the campus magazine.”

"That's great. You've put in a lot of time with him.”

"He did the work. I just asked questions."

Luke smiled. "You're good at this, you know. Teaching. Mentoring. Being there for these kids."

"You think?"

"I know." Luke stood, brushing crumbs from his jeans. "I'll let you get back to it."

"Thank you. For this. For knowing I'd need it."

Luke crossed back to him and leaned in, kissing him—quick, sweet, tasting of coffee and cinnamon. "Anytime."

That evening, Jack found his jeep taking him toward The Ridge on his way home. He'd been heading straight there after work two or three nights a week, either to work out or to visit with Luke for a while.

When Jack arrived, Luke was at the front desk with Amir, both looking at a clipboard.

"Hey," Jack said.

Luke looked up and smiled, a casual gesture that struck Jack with surprising warmth. "Hey, yourself. Done for the day?"

"Yeah. You?"

"Almost. I’m reviewing this week's schedule with Amir." Luke made a note on the clipboard. "Making sure we're ready for the weekend rush."

Jack leaned against the desk. "I was thinking about dinner at my place tonight. Nothing fancy."

"Sounds perfect." Luke turned to Amir. "We're good here, right?"

"Yeah, go. Get out of here." Amir took the clipboard. "I'll finish this up."

As they walked to their cars in the parking lot, the evening sun caught Luke's hair, turning it almost white. Jack felt it again—that sense of rightness.

"See you in twenty?" Luke asked, unlocking his truck.