Page 98 of A Hard Sell

Hmm, I’ll guess you’ll have to wait and see. Night.

Luka fanned his face, thinking about all the favors he would like to do for Thomas. Unfortunately, with his parents next door, he couldn’t do much more than think.

He had a lot of trouble falling asleep that night.

* * * *

There was a sharp rap on the door at two o’clock the next day. True to his word, Thomas arrived for Easter dinner nice and early. Luka held the door wide, admiring Thomas’ light gray slacks and crisp white dress shirt. His hair was back in its customary knot again.

“Hi,” Thomas said as he came in. This time he carried a pale blue box, with a brown paper gift bag hanging from one hand.

“Hey.” Luka gazed at him, wavering for a moment as the air grew hazy around him. He so badly wanted this tiny, innocuous moment to be real. Just greeting his boyfriend at the door. For a second, the hurt was too much to take. For a second, his heart was in a million pieces.

Then Marta came bustling in from the kitchen. “Thomas!” She had Luka’s red apron over her pink pants and flowered blouse.

“Marta. You look lovely.” He let her squish him for a long hug, holding the box to one side. Then Thomas handed it to her. “I brought dessert.”

Marta took the box from him with an excited “Ooh” and peeked inside. “Eclairs! My favorite!”

Thomas grinned. “Luka may have mentioned something.”

“Oh, you!” She let out what could only be described as a girlish giggle.

“And this is for you.” Thomas held the bag out to Luka.

“For me?” Luka took it, their fingers brushing for longer than necessary again. He reached inside to remove a rectangle wrapped in brown paper, and peeled it off to discover the driftwood picture frame from the market. He turned it over and found one of the pictures he had taken of him and Thomas under the cherry blossoms. They were both smiling, Luka at the camera, but Thomas’ eyes were shifting over to look at Luka. The smiles were soft, and, Luka knew, a little sad.

He felt that ache, that hazy feeling, wash over him again. “This is for you.” He blinked quickly and looked up at Thomas. “Thank you. I love it.” He stepped closer, slipped an arm around Thomas’ back and leaned in to kiss him on the cheek. Thomas’ eyes fluttered closed as he took a deep breath. There was a tightness in Luka’s own chest.

“You’re welcome.” Thomas cleared his throat and turned to Marta. “What can I help with?”

“No, no. Luka and I have it under control. You keep Oscar company. He’s got the game on.”

“That I can do.” Thomas’ smile shifted from Marta over to Luka. His eyes softened. Luka didn’t think he was imagining the sadness reflected in them now. “Let me know if you need me.”

Luka wasn’t sure if he was about to laugh or cry. “Will do.” Marta gave him a strange look as they headed back into the kitchen. Luka put the picture frame out of the way on the counter where he could see it as he worked.

* * * *

“This looks incredible,” Thomas said in awe, taking in the spread.

Marta waved a hand. “It’s nothing.”

A ham sat glistening on the island, next to a bowl of steaming scalloped potatoes. There was a tray of asparagus and a dish of roasted onions, snow peas and carrots, plus a salad and rolls.

They sat down, all four in a row along the counter, and served themselves. It took Marta about three seconds to turn the conversation over to their relationship.

“Luka gave us so few details at Christmas, he would barely talk about it.” Marta shook her head. “Like you’re in the CIA.”

Thomas chucked. “This guy, not talking? That doesn’t sound like him.”

Luka gasped in mock outrage.

Thomas slid a hand onto Luka’s knee and squeezed, and Luka forgot what he was offended about.

Marta laughed. “You can say that again! I wish I had known, though. We would have loved to have had you over for Christmas.”

A tiny warning bell began jangling in the back of Luka’s brain, but it was hard to follow the sound with the heat of Thomas’ palm still lingering on his leg.

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