Chapter 12: Chapter 12

“Do you need to come, too? Do you know Dale?” Gio met Luke’s eyes with suspicion.

“I don’t need to.” Luke grinned at the man. Gio opened his car door with an unsettled expression.

River glanced over his shoulder at Luke unsuspectingly as he got in Gio’s passenger’s seat. “Afterwards I’ll just be sitting at home by myself. The cat will be napping by then, too.”

Luke smirked at the invitation.

* * * *

When Luke arrived at his house that evening, River dug out a fat bottle of rum from deep behind the cat food. They drank it in soda like children, had sex like teens, watched a rom-com murder mystery like adults, then went to sleep early like grandpas. When they got up the next morning, Luke cancelled the rest of his hotel nights and River drove him to get his bag and guitar to bring back to the house. Luke only had four more nights booked, but he wouldn’t give a definite day he was leaving town. River didn’t press him because he was scared to know.