Page 42 of The Long Way Found

Luke bought him some ground coffee beans and a small pour-over pot from the roaster who’d been at the same spot for fifteen years. “I can’t let you keep drinking that instant stuff Patty provides.”

Luke introduced Jack to Mrs. Henderson, the woman who sold honey and slipped him an extra jar; the guy with sourdough bread and Harry Potter glasses; and the young couple who made goat cheese.

“You know everyone,” Jack observed.

“Small town.”

“No, it’s more than that. They light up when they see you.”

Luke said he needed to take his produce home before meeting his sponsor. Jack said he was going to hit The Ridge for a workout.

“Don’t forget to stretch,” Luke said.

“I survived combat. I can survive tight hamstrings.”

“Famous last words of the 42-year-old warrior,” Luke said. “Do it.”

The more small, ordinary moments Luke shared with Jack, the more he wondered whether things could really be different, whether the timing was finally right for them.

By late afternoon, Luke was at Suze’s place. They almost always met on Sunday afternoons. When she’d texted earlier to ask if he wanted to come over, Luke realized he needed to talk.

Suze handed him a cup of tea and settled into her favorite chair. “So. How was yesterday?”

“Good. Really good.” Luke smiled. “We went to the kids’ soccer practice, fucked like bunnies, and then went to Mara’s for pizza and Uno.”

“Jack and the whole family?”

“Yep. The kids, Julio. Mara giving him the protective best friend look.”

Suze arched an eyebrow. “And?”

“And he was great. Sweet with Nita, patient with Marco. But…” Luke trailed off.

“But?”

“But I could tell it was a lot for him. All of it. He needed space after.”

“Did he say that?”

“He didn’t have to. I invited him in when I dropped him off, and he said, ‘Rain check.’”

Suze sipped her tea. “How are you with that?”

Luke thought about it. He looked out Suze’s window at the snow-covered yard and the bird feeder where chickadees were landing and taking off. He thought about how to put it into words.

“To be honest, I was let down,” he said eventually. “I mean, the fundraiser is falling apart, and I needed some support.”

Suze waited.

“No. No, it’s not falling apart, but I am stressed about losing a major donor—and then, ‘Rain check.’”

She asked, “What did you expect?”

He thought for a moment, then said, “Yeah. That’s it, right? Expectations. We had a great day, we fooled around… and I still want him to give me more.”

“We can’t control other people.”

“Yep.” Luke set his tea down. “I feel like I’m 16 again, wondering if the boy I like actually likes me back.”