Free Sawyer (Torey Hope: The Later Years #2) by A. D. Ellis Page B

Luke used everything inside himself to avoid looking at the other man’s ass as he strode past. He failed. Miserably.
     
    ***********
     
    “So, what made you decide to come out to your family tonight?” Luke asked Sawyer as they both waited on their piping hot coffee to cool.
    “Well, I had already told my brother and cousins a while back, but I just knew it was time to stop hiding it from everyone else. Honestly, I should have admitted it to them years ago, but I’ve been too afraid of rocking the boat and causing trouble.” Sawyer stirred a packet of sugar into his coffee and stared thoughtfully at the brown liquid as it swirled in the cup.
    “And, from the way you were beating the shit out of that bag, I’m guessing it didn’t go well?” Luke asked quietly.
    “Nah, it didn’t go well. The majority of my family is supportive, but there are three or four who made their disgust and displeasure clear. I think my grandpa calling me hurtful names was the hardest part to take. I’ve idolized that man since I took my first step, maybe even before, so to hear those words spill from his mouth in reference to me…I guess I just felt betrayed.” As he spoke he wondered at how easy it was to talk to Luke.
    Luke was quiet for a short time as he let the cruel words from his brothers and father steam roll through his head. Sawyer’s question shook him from his thoughts.
    “How were your family and friends when you came out to them?”
    “I’m not gay.” Luke’s vehement denial had Sawyer sitting back in shocked silence. He stared at the man sitting across the table from him. Just stared. Because that was all he could do. A million thoughts ran through his head. No way he’s straight. I felt his reaction to me in the gym. My gay-dar can’t be THAT rusty. Shit, he seriously thinks he’s not gay? Just my luck.
    As Sawyer continued to stare at him, Luke shifted uncomfortably. “Okay, maybe that’s not entirely true. I am attracted to men. I always have been, ever since my earliest memories. But I can’t ever act on those feelings. Ever. End of story.” Luke’s words and the set of his jaw told Sawyer that he was very serious.
    But, a flicker of hope burned in Sawyer’s chest and a cheesy quote from an old comedy movie played on repeat through his head, “ So you’re telling me there’s a chance…” A chance, that’s all Sawyer wanted. He wanted Luke in his life, and for now he’d take him in whatever capacity he could get him.
    Over the next hour, with coffee drained and long since forgotten, Sawyer and Luke talked and laughed as they got to know each other.
    “Favorite food?” Sawyer cocked his head to the side and waited on Luke’s answer.
    “Pizza. Cliché I know, but the truth. Honestly, pepperoni pizza is my favorite, and I love cold pizza for breakfast.” Luke blushed. “You?”
    “Cold pizza? Sure, I’m a guy, aren’t I?” Sawyer’s grin brought a soft glow to his warm brown eyes. “But, as far as favorite foods go, I’d have to say my grandma’s baked potato bar. We load up these huge potatoes with every topping you can imagine; sometimes it’s hard to even find the potato. You’ll have to come over some night and let me show you how we eat potatoes here in Torey Hope.” As Sawyer made the statement, he felt a flutter in his heart thinking of Luke coming to dinner at his grandparents’ house. He wanted to bring him to meet his family, but he knew that scenario was light years away both because of his recent announcement and because of Luke’s staunch denial of his sexuality.
    “I’ll take your word on it for now,” Luke replied after he let the words soak in. He appeared touched at the quasi-invitation, and panicked at the same time. Quickly switching to another topic, Luke cleared his throat, “Favorite childhood memory?” As the words were spoken, Sawyer noticed that Luke seemed to regret them.
    “I have almost all happy memories growing up. Decker and I had Zach and