Luca shrugged. “Six months maybe, nine if I’m really lucky, or I could be gone next week under the right circumstances.”
“Fuck.” Vic watched people weaving through the maze of parked cars. Luca had seen the same lost expression on his parents many times.
“Don’t.” Luca bumped Vic with his elbow.
“What?”
“Don’t overthink it.”
“Kind of hard not to.”
“Yeah, but it’s a waste of time, and you don’t want to do that.”
“I guess I never really had to think about it before. I’ve never known anyone who’s…”
“Dying?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, with the way the world is today, everyone could be gone tomorrow. Plague, nuclear war, alien invasion.”
Vic chuckled, then fell silent.
Luca leaned against the table next to him. Vic brushed his fingers over Luca’s. He didn’t resist when the guy held on.
Wind tossed an empty cup across the parking lot. Laughter echoed from around the corner. A group of women held each other up as they staggered to a cab.
“How long are you going to be here? I mean at the motel?”
“I might leave tomorrow, not sure yet.” It all depended on Nox and whether or not he could stand being close to Luca.
“Do you want to go back to my room?” Vic’s voice was rough.
Luca might have been inexperienced, but Vic’s intention was obvious. “Sure.”
Vic tugged Luca closer and slid his touch down Luca’s cheek. A thrill danced along Luca’s spine. To feel that all over could only be good.
Vic led the way across the parking lot. The closer they got to the motel, the pull in Luca’s chest grew heavier. Vic stepped up on the sidewalk.
“Wait.” Luca stopped, and so did Vic. They’d passed Luca’s room and were almost to the hallway. The skin on the back of Luca’s neck tingled. Nox was in the room. Luca wasn’t sure how he knew. “I’m sorry.” Luca dropped his shoulders. “I probably shouldn’t…”
Vic put a finger over Luca’s lips. “You don’t have to explain.”
“I want to…”
“Luca, you don’t have to explain, I promise.” Vic smiled a little as he pulled his hand free of Luca’s. “You know where to find me if you decide you want to shoot pool again.” Vic stepped back. When he turned away, Luca’s chest ached.
Vic disappeared around the corner, and Luca returned to his room. He slid the key card, turned the knob, then stood there for a moment before going inside.
Nox jerked his head up. Tracks flattened the carpet running from the far corner of one bed to the other.
Luca passed Nox to get to the bed where he’d left the computer.
Nox flared his nostrils, and the muscles in his arms tightened. “You were at the bar.”
“Yeah.”
“You’ve been drinking.”