Page 47 of Friendly Skies
“Won’t get an argument from me,” Luis whispered back. “Not unless you knock me up.”
That comment made Darius grin. “Want me to start using protection, chico?”
“Not on your life, cariño.”
Their joking was interrupted by more indistinct sounds of adult voices, and then Ry’s muffled voice said, “Okay, hon, thank you.” A deep exhale. “All right. The children have been wrangled. Let’s talk about this shitstorm you’ve landed in the middle of.”
“Thank you for taking my call,” Darius said. He reached out for Luis’ hand and squeezed hard as soon as Luis took hold of it.
“Jake said you’ll be able to help,” Luis blurted.
“What I’ll be able to do is make sure Darius isn’t forced into an agreement that goes against his best interests,” Ry said. “But am I right in assuming that I’m also speaking with Luis Herrera?”
“That’s correct.”
“No offense, Luis, but it would be best if Darius and I speak privately first.”
“What?” Luis protested. “Why?”
“It’s okay, chico,” Darius murmured at the same time Ry explained that he needed to find out what Darius had said toother people, and then he’d talk to Luis about what Darius had told him about the incident.
Darius got up from the table, kissed Luis, and walked toward the bedroom as he told Ry he was going to another room. Luis’ anxiety spiked again as he watched Darius walk away, and he hated that this special time between them was being polluted by this issue. Of course, Luis reminded himself, he also had something to talk to Darius about that might very well poison their relationship as well. He’d promised Paul that he’d tell Darius everything about the night of Marissa’s party and what Andrés had done, but how could he do that with everything Darius had on his shoulders?
Luis was so deep in his thoughts and worry that he didn’t notice Greg sliding into a chair at the table until he took a slice of pizza from the box.
“You doing okay?” Greg asked.
“Not really.” Luis put his elbows on the table and rested his forehead in his hands. “I hate that this is happening to him. It’s freaking me out. It’s been such a roller coaster for the past couple of days, and I’m doing my best to hold it together, to be strong for him because he’s always been the one who’s taken care of me, and—” A sob broke from Luis’ mouth as tears welled in his eyes.
Greg was out of his seat in a flash and kneeling in front of Luis, hands on Luis’ knees. “Breathe, honey. Just breathe.”
Taking deep breaths helped calm him slightly.
“Better?” Greg asked, and Luis nodded. “I know you think you’re not strong, but no one else thinks that at all. I definitely don’t. You’re one of the bravest, strongest people I know.”
Luis wiped at his eyes and blinked at Greg. Only a few years separated them in age, but Greg had always seemed more mature than Luis could imagine being. Case in point: Greg’s beautiful silver fox of a boyfriend, who worked for the frickingmilitary teaching fighter pilots how to fly billion-dollar planes. Someone like Holden didn’t fall in love with a guy who didn’t have it all together.
“I’m not,” Luis said. “What Darius did was brave. That woman could have hurt him, or he could have gotten injured because of the turbulence. But he did it.”
“Bravery isn’t about physical risk, sweetheart. I see you being brave every day because you are out there being who you are, no matter what anyone says to you. You own your sexuality in a way I’m just learning to. And taking a risk with Darius? That’s fighting for what you want.”
Drawing in a shaky breath, Luis let it out with a rueful laugh. “I didn’t mean to tell him. I was so scared when I saw those videos and then so relieved he was okay that I blurted it out. It was an accident.”
There was a momentary pause as they met each other’s gaze, and then they started laughing for real. Greg rose up on his knees and hugged Luis. “Oh, honey, that’s still being brave because you didn’t back away from it. You owned it because it was what you wanted. Tell me I’m wrong.”
“I don’t feel very brave right now. Or strong,” Luis whispered. “I’m scared shitless. I love him so much, and I don’t want to lose him. Not now. Not when we’re finally together.”
“I know. The timing sucks, but I know it’ll work out in the end.”
“I wish I felt that sure. Maybe then I could be the rock Darius needs me to be for him.”
“I don’t think Darius needs you to be anything other than what you’ve always been.”
Greg stroked Luis’ hair, and Luis found it comforting. It wasn’t the same as when Darius held him—not even when they’d been pretending their relationship was platonic—but it helped.Eventually, Luis felt like he could breathe again and told Greg he could let go.
“You sure, sweetheart?”
“I am. Thanks.”
