Reid says it's okay and at first Luke thinks he's talking about the bruises on his face. He already has his mouth open to argue that of course it's not okay, it's not at all okay that he's been hurt when he realizes Reid is talking about the way Luke had touched him and his mouth snaps shut with an almost comedic sound. Being a werewolf has its advantages, not the least of which is being able to sense the subtle changes in a person's body when their mood shifts. Luke has heard the slightly increased heart rate when people have tried to shake Reid's hand, he's felt the way something in Reid just sort of shifts one way or the other, trying to find away around the unwelcome touch and although he does his best not to use his abilities when they might not be welcome, he does it almost without thinking now. Reid is smiling, he's saying he doesn't bite, and Luke smiles in response to that, but there it is. That telltale sign of his heart beating just a little faster.
This time, though, Luke doesn't know if it's because he's uncomfortable or for some other reason. He knows every time he's anywhere near Reid, his own heart begins to pick up. He knows his chest tightens with nerves and his hands grow clammy just as his throat goes dry. The last time he'd felt anything like this had been the night he'd met Alaric for the first time and there are times when Luke still wonders why he hadn't made more of an effort there. His feelings had been returned, he's sure of it, but there had been Jocelyn to consider. Always Jocelyn. Ever the unintentional roadblock in his life. She never would have wanted him to put off finding someone he could care about, but he hadn't been able to help it. Seeing her every day had always made it difficult for him to see anyone else, but she isn't here.
With Mindy, he had thought he simply wasn't prepared to move on, but it's more than that. They hadn't been right for each other, they're only meant to be friends, but he had thought it was still Jocelyn getting in the way. She isn't. She never has. He's allowed her to because he'd been holding onto a hope he long since should have let go and the more time that passes, the more he realizes just how unfair he's been to them both. To give her his friendship in that manner, always waiting for her, he can't imagine the incredible pressure that had placed on her. And to refuse to allow himself to feel anything else in hopes she might one day change her mind had been just as damaging.
It's time for him to move on. He's ready. And all he can do is hope he isn't going to mess any of this up too badly. All he can do is hope Reid might be interested in the same.
Luke smiles again and closes the door gently behind Reid before he leads him over to the small kitchen. It's spotless with the exception of the dish rag and he narrows his eyes at it before he snatches it up and folds it carefully over the tap to let it dry. "Here," he says, opening the freezer for Reid to put the cake inside and he can't pretend he doesn't feel a little flutter of pleasure knowing he's brought something just for him. For his birthday. No one has ever done something like this before, not someone he's felt himself very rapidly developing feelings for. "Do you need some ice for your face? I make an excellent ice pack."
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This time, though, Luke doesn't know if it's because he's uncomfortable or for some other reason. He knows every time he's anywhere near Reid, his own heart begins to pick up. He knows his chest tightens with nerves and his hands grow clammy just as his throat goes dry. The last time he'd felt anything like this had been the night he'd met Alaric for the first time and there are times when Luke still wonders why he hadn't made more of an effort there. His feelings had been returned, he's sure of it, but there had been Jocelyn to consider. Always Jocelyn. Ever the unintentional roadblock in his life. She never would have wanted him to put off finding someone he could care about, but he hadn't been able to help it. Seeing her every day had always made it difficult for him to see anyone else, but she isn't here.
With Mindy, he had thought he simply wasn't prepared to move on, but it's more than that. They hadn't been right for each other, they're only meant to be friends, but he had thought it was still Jocelyn getting in the way. She isn't. She never has. He's allowed her to because he'd been holding onto a hope he long since should have let go and the more time that passes, the more he realizes just how unfair he's been to them both. To give her his friendship in that manner, always waiting for her, he can't imagine the incredible pressure that had placed on her. And to refuse to allow himself to feel anything else in hopes she might one day change her mind had been just as damaging.
It's time for him to move on. He's ready. And all he can do is hope he isn't going to mess any of this up too badly. All he can do is hope Reid might be interested in the same.
Luke smiles again and closes the door gently behind Reid before he leads him over to the small kitchen. It's spotless with the exception of the dish rag and he narrows his eyes at it before he snatches it up and folds it carefully over the tap to let it dry. "Here," he says, opening the freezer for Reid to put the cake inside and he can't pretend he doesn't feel a little flutter of pleasure knowing he's brought something just for him. For his birthday. No one has ever done something like this before, not someone he's felt himself very rapidly developing feelings for. "Do you need some ice for your face? I make an excellent ice pack."