Page 52 of Hittin' the Right Note
“I’m sorry about this. I was just sitting here and he jumped up on me. I hope you don’t mind.”
Luke rolled his eyes.
“I’m not that sensitive,” he said. “You think I’m gonna be jealous because of a dog?”
Mikey gave him a level look.
“I have met you before, you know, and yeah, I think you’re actually quite likely to get jealous because of a dog.”
Luke barked a laugh. “You’re probably right, I guess I don’t mind it so much. Do you mind if we keep talking?”
Mikey got a guarded look on his face. “Um…sure, yes, that would be good. I guess we should talk about the concert, right?”
It wasn’t really what Luke wanted to talk about at all, but since Mikey was offering him the out–and since he was clearly sending Luke a message about his lack of interest in anything romantic–he was just going to roll with it.
“Okay,” he said.
“Well,” Mikey went on, “I really do think you’re right about the music history angle. We want something to really hook people here. The real question, though, is how many songs we’re going to include, as well as what types. I hate to admit it, but I think we might want to lean more into your type of music than mine for this event.”
Luke mimed putting a hand to his ear. “Could you repeat that, please? I’m not sure that I heard you properly.”.
“You know,” Mikey said, “you literally did the same thing in the car. And it wasn’t funny then, either.”
Before Luke could respond, Mikey picked up one of the throw pillows–a present from Katrina, of course–and threw it at him. Luke dodged it easily.
“I hope you’ve never thought of quitting your job and taking up baseball,” he quipped, which prompted Mikey to give him the middle finger.
Luke couldn’t help but laugh at how nice it was for the two of them to be joking like this again.
Maybe miracles do happen,Luke thought.Maybe, just maybe, it’ll all work out.
“Okay,” he went on. “If you’re serious about the whole focusing on tradition thing, then I think we should spend some time actually working outside.” He gestured toward the outdoors. “As you noticed when you drove up here, I’ve got some horses, and there’s a whole bunch of stuff that needs done with them. Do you think you’re up for it?”
He could tell from the way Mikey’s eyes were getting wider with every word out of his mouth that no, in fact, he wasn’t at all ready for any of this. Luke would be lying if he said it didn’t give him a little bit of pleasure, but he wasn’t going to rub it in, not when Mikey was being such a good sport. Besides, he couldn’t expect him to become a country boy right away.
Instead, he said, “You’re going to have to earn your keep one way or another, and there’s no time like the present to learn what it’s like to live in the country. You should be glad I don’t live on a big farm, or there’d be even more to do.”
Mikey groaned. “I don’t know why I have to actuallydothe whole country thing. I’m a pop star, remember."
Luke actually found his fake whining rather endearing. It reminded him that more than a little of the young man he’d been when the two of them were together.
“The only way to be authentic is to do the thing,” Luke said. “You know?”
Mikey looked very skeptical, but he still got to his feet.
“Fine,” he said. “Let’s do this, then.”
“Okay,” Luke said. “But we’re going to have to get you some better clothes. You can’t take care of horses in what you’re wearing. I’m also guessing you didn’t bring anything better.” He sighed and shook his head before Mikey could answer. “Okay, come on. I think I have some things you can wear.”
A short time later they were both dressed in some grungy old clothes Luke kept for when he was doing chores, and he had to admit Mikey looked even more adorable wearing a set of overalls and boots.
“Nowyou look like someone who’s ready to take care of some horses,” he said.
Mikey rolled his eyes.
“Can we just get this over with?” he asked.
“All right then, come on,” Luke said. “Let’s get to work. I promise you won’t regret it.”
