“Why are you so nice to me?” Cavan mumbled as he nuzzled closer.
Lucas smirked, “Why indeed, kid. Why indeed.”
Cavan was almost positive he felt the ghost of lips press against his forehead as he drifted off to sleep. He liked to remain positive, at least, and smiled as drifted-off.
Chapter 17
Friday PM
Lucas sighed as he tapped his phone against his thigh. Re-reading through their messages from the previous evening, he felt as though he'd been a little too harsh on Cavan perhaps, in his request to be left alone. He hadn't meant to come off as callous but at the same time he had been so focused on sorting through his wardrobe one final time, as well as double checking all the assignments for his classes has been safely uploaded to the intranet, that he hadn't wanted the distraction.
Now, however, it niggled at him.
'Goddamn, am I really this much of a dick to everyone?' he thought with a frown.
He tossed his phone onto his duvet before turning back to his open wardrobe. Two weeks locked away in his cottage sounded like Heaven.
He wanted to get away from work.
He wanted to get away from the kids.
He wanted to get away from Eleanor.
Although there was another part of him –now that he'd kissed Cavan –that didn't want him to go by himself. However, there was no way he would be able to smuggle Cavan away with him without alerting someone to their current relationship. Cavan had stated that his sister and friend, Arthur, knew but that was it. Above all things, Lucas did not want to cause waves in the brat's life.
Drumming his fingers on his cross arms, he gave his wardrobe one last glare before sighing and sitting own heavily on the edge of his bed. He had packed his case over and over again, fitting as many books as possible into his messenger bag. He knew he could technically take as much as he wanted, but at the same time he didn’t like to leave anything feeling cluttered. Readjusting his glasses, he stood to make a cup of tea. As the kettle was bubbling, a text came through from Cavan.
(17:06) I hope packing (again) is going okay. I wish I were with you right now.
(17:10) I’d like that very much. Any plans for your Easter holidays?
(17:15) Not too much. Video-calling Sophie as much as I can while she’s living it up around Europe.
(17:17) Have you thought more about driving lessons?
(17:20) I tried convincing my dad to let me have a couple over Easter, but he refused. Says I shouldn’t waste money on learning, if I’m just going to forget it as soon as I’m back at Uni.
(17:25) Your dad’s a dick.
(17:30) Aren’t you supposed to WANT to get along with my parents?
(17:33) In theory, yes. In reality; not so much. Besides, it’s not like I have parents for you to meet.
(17:35) You've probably dodged a bullet there. Don’t need any old geezer’s saying that you’re too good or old for me.
(17:39) I’m a teacher, kid. No one was ever going to say that.
(17:43) Sophie would have TRIED.
(17:44) Not that I would have listened.
(17:46) Hey shouldn’t you be heading up to Lincoln soon?
(17:51) I’m just having some tea and then I’ll be off.
(17:54) You and your tea :D
(17:58) You love my tea.
(18:00) I can’t lie, it’s pretty good tea.
(18:02) So that’s why you keep stringing me along. You’re in it for the tea. Scheming brat.
(18:04) What can I say? Your old guy quirks turn me on.
(18:05) Cavan, that’s gross.
(18:06) Oh, Lucas, are you going to do a crossword tonight?
(18:06) No.
(18:07) Are you going to yell at the kids for playing loud music?
(18:08) Don’t be a shit.
(18:10) Have you started getting little grey hairs at your temples? ;)
(18:12) Okay, that’s it! I’m going!
(18:13) Lucas! Don’t leave me hanging!
(18:17) LUCAAAAAAAAAS?!
~
(18:23) Drive safe! ;P
~
23:15PM
The sky was pitch black as he pulled into the driveway. The windows of the converted stable were blacked out and nothing stirred in the shadows. There were some crickets chirping in the meadow across the road. It was the only other noise that filled the air. Lucas opened his car door and stepped out onto the gravel path, stretching his arms and legs. He usually stopped off for something to eat and a walk-about on the drive, but he hadn't bothered this time. He'd wanted to get to his 'cottage' as soon as possible. He was regretting it now though as the prospect of unpacking everything, turning on the amenities and getting the heating on would all take at least half an hour.
Not to mention –he was desperate for a bath.
Sighing, he went to the boot and unloaded his cases and shouldered his laptop bag. He jostled the lot up to the front door and managed to unlock the door and kick the door open, dragging the cases inside. Making sure to lock the car, he shut his front door and flicked the hallway light on.
The place smelled damp.
That's what happened when you didn't visit a place and live in it for a few months. It twisted his insides. If all went according to plan, in thirty years he'd move in permanently. He loved the cottage. The old oak floorboards were well worn but seldom creaked under his weight. To the left of the main door there was a small bathroom, to the right there was a corridor with a door carved into it, edged with thick wooden beams. Behind that door there was a steep staircase that led up to the two large bedrooms that were situated down opposite ends of the hallway. There was a huge kitchen and an open-plan living room. Dotted here and there were large rugs in solid colours. It wasn't monochromatic like everyone accused him of. There was a deep maroon one in the living room and a deep blue one in his bedroom. The second bedroom was used mainly for storage, but he was sure there was a purple rug in there … somewhere.
"Goddamn damp," he groused, shuffling his way down the hall and into the main body of the cottage. He made his way into the kitchen, opened the small cupboard in the corner of the counter, and started flicking switches on. The boiler rumbled to life, water, and gas rushing to flood through the pipes and heat the place. He kept his coat on as retreated to the door for his cases.
It was always awkward dragging them up the staircase –it seemed to grow narrower every time –Lucas wrestled his way down the hall towards the main bedroom. He was eager to get to bed. He'd saved up and spent a decent amount of money on his bed and mattress and he had to admit, it was the best bed he'd ever slept in. Flicking the light on, he barely cast the rest of the room a glance as he opened both cases and started to unpack. It was only for two weeks but the weather was still sharp and cold. Thick jumpers were essential!
He took his time hanging things up and folding them away into drawers. By the time he was done the heating had warmed the cottage up and he had to shed his multiple layers just to breathe out. It was almost 1AM by the time he had eaten and fully settled into bed with his book and a cup of tea within arm’s reach.
That's when he remembered; his phone was still on silent.
Turning the screen on, he grimaced as he saw the alerts; 13 missed calls, and 27 texts from Bonnie, Fletcher and a few from Cavan.
'Goddamn them all,' he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. He opted to reply to no one but Cavan. He didn't need the kid to worry about him getting stuck in a ditch or on the shoulder of the motorway with a flat tyre.
(00:54) Hey kid, sorry I didn't reply right away. Just wanted to let you know I got here safe.
(00:59) Oh hey. I was starting to worry. As you can tell.
(1:03) I noticed. 9 messages? You're getting better.
(1:06) Don't be mean :(
(1:07) Sorry.
(1:10) So when did you arrive?
(1:13) Half eleven, I think? It took a while to get the place warmed up, then I had to unpack, shower, and eat.
(1:18) It wasn't a conscious decision. I had it on silent and just completely forgot about it until now.
(1:20) I see. So, you didn’t replace me with some hot hitchhiker?
(1:22) Don't be absurd.
(1:24) You know I don’t like dirt.
(1:27) So if they were clean, they’d have a chance? Lucas you're awful!
(1:29) Come on now, not once did I pretend to be anything else.
(1:31) You're not usually awful to me :3
(1:33) Mmm well. The fact that you like me surely says enough. I've corrupted you!
(1:35) Maybe I like being corrupted ;)
(1:37) ENOUGH with the emoticons! You're not five years old.
(1:40) And you're not in your eighties so stop griping!
Lucas chuckled to himself as he stared at Cavan's message. It was hard to believe that just over three months ago he'd had a full-on conversation with a random person on his birthday. Now? Now he felt as though his entire world had been knocked off kilter and for the first time ever, it didn't bother him.
Well, not that much at least.
Running his thumb down the side of his phone he quickly typed out another message. His eyes were starting to feel tired and he wanted to curl up and read his book. He didn't plan on sleeping, unless by some miracle it crept up on him out of the blue, however he wanted to shut his mind off.
(1:47) I should probably get some sleep, kid. It's been a long day.
(1:49) I wish I were with you. Then at least then, I wouldn't miss you as much.
(1:50) Even if I stuck you in the spare room?
(1:53) Especially then, because at least I'd get to see you at breakfast!
(1:56) You're a cheeky shit, you know that?
(1:58) Yeah but … you love it!
(2:03) If I was used to sleeping AT ALL you would exhaust the shit out of me.
(2:05) As it stands, I do actually feel tired right now. So, I'll ask you nicely; will you PLEASE let me sleep you incessant little shit?
(2:07) Awww and it started out so well!
(2:08) CAVAN!
(2:10) Fine! Go to sleep! Leave me to wallow in my own loneliness!
(2:13) Goodnight.
(2:14) …
(2:14) You heartless bastard.
(2:16) Only for you.
Chapter 18
Wednesday PM
Cavan fidgeted with his hands in his lap.
Tonight was the night. He'd been psyching himself up for it for the last week since before the holidays began, and he was finally going to sit his parents down over dinner and tell them about Lucas. At least, that was the plan. For all he knew, he wouldn't even be able to get the words out. He tried to take deep calming breaths, but nothing seemed to settle his mind.
His leg kept jiggling.
If Sophie were there, she'd have swatted something over his head by now. He hadn't told Lucas about his plans but now he was kicking himself for not doing so. He craved the older man's nonchalant attitude to cut through the muddle buzzing in his mind. He'd have calmed Cavan without even meaning to, and that was one of the things that Cavan adored about the older man.
'Do I really need to do this?' he thought to himself as he flopped back onto his bed. 'It's not like we're officially a couple. Lucas made that clear before he left.'
That was a dilemma in itself. Maybe he could just mention to his parents that he liked someone? At least then that would give them ample warning for when he'd bring Lucas home to meet them one day. He could picture that dinner all too clearly, the good way and the bad way. On the one hand his parents could be civil and even open-up to getting on with Lucas, even if the older man were overly serious at the best of times. On the flipside they could easily fire uncomfortable questions at Lucas and get to the point where either his dad would storm out, or Lucas would.
Obviously, he wouldn't want that.
'Maybe I should talk to Lucas about it,' he thought, fingering the phone on his stomach.
There wouldn't be any bad side to letting Lucas know what was going on in his mind. He needed to pave the way for when they were a couple. He didn't want to suddenly freak his parents out and have them treat him like a silly teenager just discovering the 'dangers' of the internet’.
He had yet to dial Lucas's number.
The whole notion still made him feel anxious. To have someone as amazing as Lucas in his life just -it made his heart ache. The sheer distance between them had quadrupled in size since the older man had relocated to his little cottage for the Easter break. Even though it had only been two days, Cavan was keenly aware of the distance. It was no longer just a one-hour train ride away, and that thought ate at him from the inside.
'Should I call him?'
What if he was busy? What if he was out having a walk and enjoying the fresh air? His insides were fizzing awkwardly inside him. What was the big deal? It wasn't even that big a deal when he'd come-out to his parents -at least it didn't compare in the same way. He almost wished he were a girl.
Sophie hadn't had these issues.
Even though Jordan turned out to be a brute who needed a restraining order, Cavan didn't believe Lucas would ever put or be put in a similar position. He had established a career for himself, a career that he loved, and had gone through Hell and back in order to achieve a stable lifestyle. He was ambitious and persistent, and he could only hope that his parents could look past the age-gap and appreciate all those good qualities.
'It'll be fine!' his brain soothed. 'You're over-thinking!'
Well, if that wasn't the understatement of the century!
Cavan groaned and tossed over onto his front, burrowing his head into his pillows, and screaming. The frustration was like a volcano inside his belly. Why was this so hard? He'd never stressed this much over any test before. Why did this one matter so much?
'Because Lucas is important to you.'
The thought had him whimper again into the pillow. None of this was news to him! The only reason he could come to as to why it was causing him this much mental exhaustion, was because his parents were important, and Lucas was important, and to both of them he was just some stupid kid.
Did … Lucas really believe he was stupid?
A fleeting memory of them curled up in bed, so close, so shrouded in sleep and their own kisses -the way Lucas had looked at him -touched him ...
No. Lucas had been sincere.
"Lucas …" he sighed, raking a hand through his hair. "I wish you could bottle that cool confidence and give it to me. Could really use some right now."
He ran a hand down his face. 'Suppose I should get this over with.’
The sky outside was darkening ever-so-slightly. He'd heard his mum come home a little while ago; she was shuffling about doing whatever she did when she thought she was alone. Reading, probably. Dad wouldn't be home for another hour at least. Cavan had never known the house to be so quiet and still. He was used to having Arthur and Sophie around most of the time, watching films, doing homework, or going out on bike rides. True, they hadn't done the latter for at least two years, but he would have liked to have the option.
Unknown Number Page 26