I have been informed that it would be a good idea to state a few warning comments. There may be graphic sexual scenes between men in this story, so please, if this offends you, or it is illegal or you are underaged to read such, stop here and hit your "back" button. If it is okay with you read on and enjoy.
From Chapter 33:
The trip home seemed so much longer than the flight out. As we boarded the escalator down to the luggage area, There was Seth, Eddie and Mel. When we got to the bottom of the escalator, Seth was transfixed on Craig's head., with a concerned expression. That was all but forgotten as I said, "Seth, this is Luke. We picked him up in a market in Hawaii!"
Seth and Luke stood eye to eye, each one looking up and down. At once they both said, involuntarily, in a whisper, "Wow!"
Chapter 34
Luke looked at me, flustered and embarrassed. "Uh, oh, uh, he - uh - Seth - really looks a lot like you, doesn't he?!"
Seth looks nothing like me. We all laughed and Luke turned scarlet! In fairness to Luke, maybe Seth and I do have a family resemblance. Seth was quick to give Luke some needed relief. "I'm sure we both move alike, even if he is 5" taller than I am." He reached out with his right hand. They shook hands as Seth added, "Nice to meet you, Luke. I'll be interested to know how you came to meet my brother!"
"They were in the Asian market - a sort of open air market at Waikiki Beach." Luke started. "They looked lost and they both looked so," he paused a moment and again turned bright red, "so striking - I - uh - ahem!" Luke looked at me, smiled, and said, "I'm not handling this too well am I?"
"I think you are doing quite well! Striking? I thought sure you were going to say, `hot'!" I said, beaming.
"Well, anyway, we became friends and your brother thought I should come home and meet you!" Now it was Seth who turned red! And it was I who started to stutter!
"I - oh! Uh, - I never said that - uh -"
"You DID say that. You didn't say it was the reason for bringing me back here, but -"
"No kidding, Christy! You brought me a friend? When do you graduate, Luke?"
"I - well, I am working and taking some night classes next semester. I hope to get into the university in a couple years."
"Oh! Did you quit school?"
My God! Seth can be so naïve sometimes!
"What? OH! Were you talking about high school? Heh! I graduated four years ago!"
"No kidding! Dude! That's awesome! How old were you?"
Luke looked at me. I shrugged my shoulders. "I was 18 when I graduated. I'm almost 22 now." He said, eyes rolling back.
Seth's mouth dropped about a foot! "Oh! I thought - I mean - Shit! Sorry!
I should be the one to talk! I look about 14!"
"How old are you?" Luke queried a smile quivering at his mouth.
"Eighteen - barely!"
"No kidding!" Luke said, looking all serious. "I would have guessed at least - um - eighteen-and-a-half!"
"Touché!" Seth said, and we all laughed.
"Well," Seth said, "let's get your bags and get out of here!" As he walked past Luke, his hand touched Luke's arm. I saw the fine hair on his arm stand up on end. Uncharacteristic of me, I showed enough class not to check to see if anything else might be trying to stand up! But I did notice the very pleased smile on Seth's face, and it was duplicated on Luke's. The thought occurred to me - "Wow! I can't believe I am fixing my little brother up with a guy more than two years older than myself!" I looked at Craig, and he had the cutest crooked smile on his face! God! I loved that boy!
One disadvantage of surprising Seth with our tag-along was that his car was a mite crowded driving back to Santa Barbara. "I'll drive, Seth, and the two smaller kids need to be in the back seat. They can jump in back with Craig." I said. "You and Luke will have to share the other seat belt up front!" The bucket seat was too small for both to sit side by side, so Seth got in first and he raised up so Luke could slide in half under him. They must have been very uncomfortable, but neither uttered a word of complaint! When we started out, Luke's arm was around Seth's back, and then they switched, as (and I can't even to begin to tell you how this was accomplished!) Seth was still on top, but his arm was around Luke's shoulders.
I stopped at a rest stop about half way, and they switched positions. Then before we got started, Luke said, "Wait a minute! This may be better." He repositioned himself fully on Seth's lap, sitting across diagonally, closed the door and then put a pillow behind himself, buckled the seat belt and leaned on the door. About a half-hour from home, I asked Seth if he was alright.
"Shhh!" he said, motioning to Luke with his head. Luke was sound asleep, his head laying on the pillow and his arms around both the back and front of Seth's shoulders and neck. Seth smiled at me.
By the time we pulled into the driveway, I was the only one still awake. Etta met us in the driveway, and insisted we come in for a late snack. Seth, Luke and Craig woke up as we bumped over the curb. We first carried the boys upstairs. They were going to have to sleep on the living room floor in sleeping bags. "Sorry, Seth, I'm afraid we will have to give the bedroom to Luke. You will have to sleep on the couch.
"It's okay." Luke said. "I think I better stay up here with them, in case they wake up. Bring me back something to eat!"
When we came back up, I brought Seth a sandwich, and some good news. "Rob is at his parents for the next week, so his room is free."
"Let the boys sleep in there." He said. "I'll sleep here on the couch." Luke looked perplexed.
"I can sleep on the couch! You have done enough for me!"
"Nope!" Seth said. "I'm used to this couch! I can sleep here just fine." No one volunteered that Seth usually ended up either in our bed or with Rob or Colin and Jake!
Everyone was so tired, that as soon as Seth had eaten his sandwich we all hit the sack. I woke up first, hearing noises in the living room. I went in the bathroom and peed away my woody, then went into see who was awake. The first thing I saw was the television. Cartoons! Both the younger boys were curled up on the couch together. "Where's Seth?" I asked. Both shrugged quickly and returned their attention to the TV. I peeked into Rob's room and it was empty. Then I cracked open Luke's room. There were Luke and Seth, spooned up close, and breathing deeply. Only they knew what they were wearing under that blanket!
I was still tired, so I went back into bed. Craig opened his eyes, moaned a little, kissed me and turned over and I climbed in behind him and held him as we went back to sleep for another hour. We woke up with Seth gently shaking my shoulder. Speaking softly, "Etta says breakfast in a half hour, Christy."
"K. Thanks." I turned back to Craig, who had turned toward me.
"Welcome home, my sweet Chris!" he said. We both had morning mouth, but it was still sweet to kiss my guy - my partner for life! It seemed ever so much sweeter now that he had been so close to being taken away from me.
I clung to him and said, "I love you so much!" Then I got up and offered him my hand. He grimaced a little as I pulled him across the bed and up into my arms. "Where do you have to go for your next checkup?"
"St. Francis Hospital. I don't know if - what?" He looked at me and from my look, he could tell that I was thinking something nice. He grinned and repeated, "WHAT?"
"I don't know. You are just such a package! How was I lucky enough to deserve you?" Tears were now coursing down my face.
"Wow!" He said. "What brought that on?"
"I wonder if you could possibly love me as much as I do you.. You are my life - my reason for living.!"
"I don't - don't know if I love you the same, Christy. I know I've never loved anyone like this. Maybe I've never really loved anyone. All I know is that I have no desire to ever be with anyone else. I think I understand what you're telling me. You seem to be able to feel - or emote - or something better than I - but I think I feel just as much love for you as you do for me. I love you - and only you!
We embraced. This was indeed the start of our life together.
Notes: This is not the end of Chris and Craig, but it is the conclusion of this story. You will hear more about Chris and Craig, Colin and Jake, and Rob and Carrie, and the others if you read my story about Seth, coming soon, probably in the young relationships, or maybe the college section, since they both will be planning to go. Thanks for all your support and love while I have written and worked out some of my own "stuff". See yah in the Nifty stories! Steve s4d@hotmail.com