Luke crossed his arms over his chest, suddenly uncomfortable. “I’m not using him,” he repeated, though he was aware he no longer sounded so certain. It was true that he’d chosen Dominic with his mind, not his heart, but was that such a bad thing? He was sick of getting his dreams crushed again and again. Clearly his heart had no clue what was good for him. And it wasn’t like he had misled Dominic at any point: he’d told Dominic he would become his boyfriend only when he was absolutely sure that was what he wanted. Until then, they were just casually dating.
“Aren’t you?” Sam said, arching his dark-red eyebrows. “Are you claiming you have, like, feelings for him? Please.”
Luke gave him a flat look. Who did this kid think he was? “No, I’m not saying I have any deep feelings, but I really doubt he has deep feelings for me, either. We like each other, we’ve been dating for a month, but with the death of my father, we’ve barely had time to date properly and fall in love. That’s not how adult relationships work, Sam.”
The boy huffed. “So you’ve never wanted anyone badly enough that you didn’t care how long you’d known them?”
Averting his eyes, Luke rubbed the back of his neck. “Physical attraction and love aren’t the same thing.”
“Unless you’re asexual, and I know you aren’t, there can’t be romantic love without physical attraction,” Sam countered. “And if you really wanted him, you wouldn’t string him along for a month. Nick is a catch.” The kid looked offended on Dominic’s behalf. It was oddly adorable.
Before Luke could say anything, there was the sound of a car pulling over.
Sam’s entire face lit up, his green eyes sparkling—fucking sparkling. Luke didn’t have to guess who had just arrived.
“Nick!” Sam sprang to his feet and ran toward the tall man who was getting out of the car. Sam stumbled, his long legs endearingly clumsy, reminding Luke of a baby giraffe.
Dominic took his sunglasses off and grinned, opening his arms just as Sam collided into him and hugged the older man enthusiastically.
“Okay, let me look at you,” Dominic said, pulling back to look at the boy. “Have you grown another inch in a week? At this rate, you’ll be taller than me soon.”
“I missed you!” Sam announced, giving him another hug.
A soft smile curled Dominic’s sensual lips. He hugged back, dropping a kiss on top of the boy’s head. “Me, too, Sammy,” he said, his voice brimming with affection.
Luke watched them with a tight feeling growing in the pit of his stomach. It wasn’t jealousy. It was worse. It was disappointment and envy.
Dominic finally noticed Luke and smiled at him over Sam’s shoulder. It was a different smile from the one he’d given Sam. He was clearly pleased to see Luke and appreciated what he was seeing, but that was about it.
Luke smiled back faintly. “Hi.”
Dominic let go of the boy in his arms and strode toward him. “Hey. I was planning to call you. Didn’t expect you to meet me here. Not that I’m unhappy to see you.” He leaned down to brush Luke’s lips with his, but Luke turned his head so the kiss landed on his cheek. Dominic pulled back, frowning slightly. “All right?”
Luke wrapped his arms around his own chest. “I…I don’t think I want to be your boyfriend.”
A crease formed between Dominic’s brows. “Can I ask why?”
Pushing his fringe out of his eyes, Luke shrugged uncomfortably. “I just…I’ve had a share of bad relationships. My first boyfriend turned out to be married with kids. My second boyfriend ditched me for someone kinkier when I refused to do some of the things he wanted to do. The third freaked out and ditched me when I told him I didn’t really do casual and wanted a family at some point. The fourth freaked out when he found out who my father was.” He gave Dominic a crooked smile. “And my father always had far more important things to do than to be a dad for me. You probably get the picture now.”
Dominic’s dark eyes were pensive. “You want a man completely committed to you,” he said.
“I want a man who will listen and hear my thoughts, a man who will put me first in his life and take care of me,” Luke said quietly, feeling a pang of regret. “ I really like you, Dominic, but it looks like you aren’t that man, either.”
Dominic glanced toward Sam, who was watching them with badly hidden concern. “Is this about Sammy? It’s not what it looks like. He’s just a child.”
“He isn’t a child,” Luke said with a laugh. “Open your eyes. He’s only about five or six years younger than me.” He shook his head. “And it doesn’t matter, anyway. Even if it really isn’t what it looks like, he’s extremely important to you. And maybe it’s selfish of me, but I’m sick of getting crumbs of someone’s attention and affections. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt. I think I deserve better. Everyone does. You, too.” And I’m not sure I can give you that. Maybe Sam was right, after all.