Babe For The Weekend

Chapter 6 - all too well

"I left a towel for you at the shower-," Joss paused from tousling his hair after noticing Luke in the open balcony.

Ever since they got off the elevator, Luke hasn't uttered a word but the fact that he's got his hand all over Joss all the way to their room lets him know that they were okay.

The cold air welcomed Joss as it pricks his the skin of his bare chest. Luke didn't even turned to face him, but Joss could have sworn he noticed Luke's eyes wander momentarily in his direction.

"Psst.." Joss threw his arm over Luke's shoulder and the other held it closer to him. His touches leaving a burning sensation where it had been.
"What a day, huh?"
Luke nodded while taking in a deep breath.
"What's with the silence, man?"
Again, Joss was met with silence as Luke was busy gently caressing his hands.

Joss lets him and he watches Luke intensely, letting his eyes roam over him, analyzing every inch of his face and every cut in his body when he moves.

"Stop staring at me like that." Luke chuckled.
"Like what"
"Like you're going to eat me alive or something."
Joss smirked at the thought.
"Well, maybe I will."
Luke punched him playfully.
And just when Joss thought that they were back in their regular program, Luke instead went south.
"Joss, what happened at the marina earlier-"
"You asked me to kiss you." Joss interrupted him before he could finish what he was about to say.
"Y-yes." Luke averted his gaze from Joss. "I spotted Inka from the distance so I thought it was a good timing to.. do that."
If this would have been an ordinary day, Joss would have been relieved at what he was hearing from Luke but somehow he feels upset at the fact that it wasn't real, angry at the feelings of being used.
"What about at the elevator, when you kept kissing my neck, was she there too?"

Luke could hear the rage in his voice. He had seen Joss get angry before but never like this, never at him. He followed Joss inside their room even though he didn't know what to do or how to appease the situation.

"That- that was my bad. I was just goofing around, bro."
"Oh so it's bro, now?"
"What?"
"If I kiss you now, would that count as just goofing off too?"
Luke's strength was bending at the thundering sound of Joss' voice. His chest was pounding so loud he could hear it in his head.
"Be cool, Joss. Chill out. Let's talk about this."
"No. It's only fair I do the same to you, right?Let's see how you like it." Joss forcibly grabbed Luke and attempted to kiss him in the neck.
"F*cking stop, bro. I said, chill." Luke elbowed him by the jaw before Joss could do anything.

That seemed to slapped him back to his senses. Joss stood with his left hand on his right jaw, clutching the sting from the blow from Luke's elbow. They are both heaving in silence as the reality of what happened sets in.

"I'm sorry." Joss uttered softly, looking down. His eyes brimming with tears and guilt. The sight had pulled Luke's heartstrings in all directions.
"Come here," Luke pulled him closer. "Let me look at your jaw."
He lead Joss to the bed for a closer inspection.
"Does it still hurt?"
"A little."
"It didn't bled, did it? No bones were broken?"
Joss shook his head.
"Okay. I'll call for an ice pack. Just stay still and don't move around too much."
"I don't have a concussion."
"You'll never know."
"It wasn't that strong." Joss teased.
"I'll do better next time." Luke responded before leaving to call for his ice pack.

Luke tended to him and Joss watched him closely. He was so close to him that Joss could feel the warmth of his skin.

"I'm sorry."
"You said that already." Luke was focused on the ice pack in his hands. "I guess we were both jerks today."

"I'm sorry too."
Joss froze and not from the cold ice pack in his jaw.
"This was all because of my dumb idea and I shouldn't have taken it this far. You're still injured, this is the last thing that you need. Now that I am saying it out loud, it feels like I've really taken advantaged of you. I'm so sorry, Joss."
It wasn't what he was expecting to hear from Luke. He thought he'd say something funny and they'd just never talk about it again.
"Don't worry, I'll tell everyone tomorrow. You can leave in the morning to avoid the truth bomb. I created this mess so I'll handle it."
Luke smiled at Joss but he knew it was forced, he'd seen his smile a thousand times to tell them apart. He remembers it all too well.
"I like it."
"What?"
Luke put the ice pack down on the tray.
"I like being here with you. I liked sailing just like you said I would. I like the way that you are with your family. I like seeing this part of you that I never had access before." Joss took a deep breath. "I like it when you hold my hand. I even liked the kisses you gave me on the neck earlier."
Luke's eyes were wide in surprise.
"W-why are you telling me this?"
Joss smiled. "Because I thought you should know.. Because it's the truth, and I think when you tell them about us tomorrow, all of this won't matter anymore so I'm telling you now while it still does."

This was it. The final lap of their run. He didn't even knew they'd reach it this fast. This morning's events felt like a different year, like it had been a distant memory of the past now that the end was in sight.

The question that hangs above Joss the most is "Will we still be friends after all this?" The uncertainty of the answer reduced his nerves to a bunch of faulty wirings running on anxiety.

"I have to tell them, don't I?" Luke finally asked.
Joss nodded.
"When you love someone, you owe it to them to be fully honest even if it meant you'll get hurt in the process."
They both looked at each other, unable to read through one another.
"I wish you never told me.." Luke whispered.

Joss smiled at him, one that seems to bid him goodbye.