HIDING FROM THE TRUTH ✔️

CHAPTER 9: CLICHE

9.
A little over an hour went by and the opportunity was too tempting to resist. Gavin stared at him, occasionally looking at the television that was still playing the Teletubbies. Bella was sleeping in Luke's lap and the sight was utterly adorable.

A loud noise came from the TV, causing Luke to stir. His eyes scrunched up from confusion and still not being able to see. He scanned the room, inhaling when he realized Gavin was sitting beside him. That he was still in his apartment.

"Good morning," the older boy teased.

Luke blushed and shifted Bella slightly because his leg fell asleep from her weight. "I didn't mean to fall asleep, sorry," he mumbled bashfully. "I was up late studying."

"It's beyond me why you even bother studying. I bet you could get all A's without even opening a book all year." Gavin gently took Isabella from Luke's embrace. "What's it all for anyway?"

Luke shuddered, horrified by the mere concept of never opening a textbook despite the truth behind Gavin's words. "My father owns a chunk of a big business. He's working his way up to the top but he's getting older and needs me and my siblings to take over for him someday. Elizabeth, Jude, and Harrison all want the main spot but he wants it to be a family thing so I have to be knowledgeable."

Gavin almost laughed at the thought of Luke running a huge corporation. He was too timid and unsure of himself to manage employees. Never mind the deals he'd have to make. Luke didn't seem like the negotiating type. But he figured laughing might hurt his feelings, so he settled for getting to know the boy more instead.

"But you don't want it?" he questioned, hiding Bella's face in his neck with a hand on the back of her head.

Luke bit his lip. "Well, my father wants—"

"I didn't ask what he wants. I asked what you want," Gavin cut him off.

Luke's gaze traveled to the ground and Gavin regretted his words immediately, thinking he upset him.

"Well it's not necessarily my first choice," he reluctantly admitted. "But it's a good job. It's stable and I'd be able to do what I want for the most part if my father achieves his plan."

"Well, what's his plan?" Gavin asked.

"I um, I don't know right now. We don't exactly talk very often these days," Luke murmured. His dad was a bit of a touchy subject for him although he hated to admit it.

"Is it because of the Owen thing?" he prodded curiously. Imagining Luke ignore his parent because of how much he cared for his brother made him want to grin, but he held it back.

"Well... yes and no," he shrugged.

Of course, Owen was a portion of it. Luke idolized his big brother so much it was probably unhealthy. But it was also because of Arthur's blatant homophobia. He didn't know about Luke's sexuality yet and he cared a lot what others thought of him even when he shouldn't.

He couldn't help it. He was a people pleaser. It only resulted in his misery but he took it with a smile and kept on going rather than dwelling on the negatives in life. A quality no one else in the Wilson family had. That's why he was so special to them. Being their last child didn't help though.

Everyone else hated being seen as vulnerable. They didn't want to open up. Luke was different. It wasn't as if he was incapable of opening up about his feelings. He loved being able to share his inner thoughts.

But people rarely asked. Maeve was the only friend he was completely comfortable sharing his feelings with. She was the one person who asked. Well, Micah asked sometimes, but only because he was trying to learn how to read body language.