Someone to Love Him

Chapter 2-2

Jourdain suggested they sit on the patio outside the coffee shop when he saw an empty table there. Leaving Luke there so no one would grab their spot, he went inside to get their coffees and a pastry for Luke.

He looked out the window while he waited, studying Luke. What a beautiful young man. If I told him, though, he’d undoubtedly run as fast as possible. It’s what he’s expecting, if I don’t miss my guess. That I’m going to try to seduce him in some fashion. Not that he’d be wrong, but I won’t rush things.

After paying for his purchases, Jourdain returned to the table, setting Luke’s coffee and pastry down in front of him.

“Thank you,” Luke said. “You didn’t have to…” He pointed at the scone.

“I wanted to. You’re too thin by far,” Jourdain replied.

“It comes with the territory,” Luke said with a rueful smile before taking a bite. “This is good. I don’t often have sweets, unless you count granola bars.”

Jourdain shuddered, then said, “Tell me a bit about yourself. Like, why or how did you end up homeless?”

Luke shrugged. “The usual story. Or one of them. My father wouldn’t accept I’m gay. He did his best to try and convince me it was a passing fad and I’d get over it as soon as I started dating. Of course he meant girls.”

From the way Luke was watching him, Jourdain had the feeling the young man expected him to reply with some scathing comment about how being gay was a sin, or some such. Instead, he said, “You father was a fool.”

“True, but that didn’t stop him from asking me to leave when I told him I was gay and that wouldn’t, couldn’t, change.” Luke sighed. “It was all very civilized, but he made it clear he didn’t want me around infecting—” Luke made finger quotes, “—my younger brothers with my strange ideas. So the day I hit sixteen, I packed up and left.”

“Meaning you’ve been living hand-to-mouth for…” Jourdain c****d his head, studying Luke. “For three years?”

“Yes.”

“Not good.”

“No kidding. Before you start feeling sorry for me, I’m used to it now, like a lot of street kids. It’s our life and we deal as best we can.”

“Don’t you have any desire to do something with your life?”

Luke took a bite of the scone before saying, “Of course I do. I want to become a rocket scientist.” When Jourdain looked at him in disbelief, Luke laughed. “Not really. I’d like to be a counselor for kids like me, but that takes an education and I didn’t even graduate high school.”

“It’s never too late…”

“In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not really in a position to go back to school, even if I could. It takes all my energy to survive.”

“I could help—”

Before Jourdain could finish his sentence Luke was on his feet. “Right. And what would you want in return? s*x? An unpaid houseboy to polish the silverware and—”

“I thought it was my shoes,” Jourdain interrupted, smiling.

“Whatever. I’m not interested. Thanks for the scone, and the coffee. Have a good life, and stay out of mine.” Angrily, Luke strode away, almost running when he got to the sidewalk.

Not happening, Luke. I want you in my life, and one way or another you will be. I just have to figure out how.

Pushing away his untouched coffee, Jourdain tracked Luke’s progress down the street, wondering where he was heading. Only one way to find out. He stood, and followed at a discreet distance, keeping to the shadows until he saw Luke arrive at a bridge over the river and climb up to a small space on top of one of the concrete pillars. Now I know where to find him, when I want to. Returning to the sidewalk, he headed home.

* * * *

Was I crazy, not taking him up on his…well, offer I suppose, although he never stated it in so many words, Luke asked himself as he settled down for the night. If I knew what he had in mind…He chuckled dryly. As if I don’t know. I wonder how many kids he’s offered to help, for a price. And how many accepted. Well, he’s s**t out of luck with me. I’d rather starve than become his plaything. Putting his hands behind his head, he stared up at the ceiling of his tiny sleeping area. It was only a couple of feet above him, although he couldn’t actually see it, as dark as it was.

At least he’s not some unattractive dude, like half the guys I service. In fact, he’s damned good-looking. He’s got the whole tall, dark, and dangerous thing going for him. Well, not tall. He’s only about my height. But sexy, and dangerous? Oh, yeah. I should have picked up on that the second he started talking to me. Didn’t though. Not until we got to the coffee shop. Not even then, really. He still came across as a decent guy, maybe, until he started quizzing me on what I wanted out of life. Like it’s any of his business. I told him anyway, giving him the in he needed to…to proposition me in his own, weird fashion. That’s where he started looking dangerous. When I told him I wasn’t interested. Damn good thing I got out of there while I could. Now I have to stay away from anywhere close to where he said he lives. If that was the truth.

Luke shivered, and it wasn’t because he was cold.