Read Ink & Flowers for Free Online Page A

not gay. It's disgusting."
    Cooper chuckled, and turned his head away. "I'm not really helping that at all, am I?" he said, his voice soft.
    Luke stared at him, unsure of what to say. No, Cooper wasn't helping. If anything, he'd made Luke more confused than ever.
    Cooper took another drag on his cigarette and blew it out slowly, staring off into the distance. It smelled disgusting; Luke felt his nose crinkling. Cooper noticed and rolled his eyes. "Been thinking about quitting," he said.
    "You should," said Luke, and it came out louder than he meant it to.
    Cooper's eyes narrowed. "I know that, you little bitch," he snapped.
    Luke recoiled. With a sob, he leapt from the bed and tore from the room.
    "Luke!" he heard Cooper call. "That was a joke, I didn't mean to—" He broke off with a frustrated growl.
    Luke threw himself onto the couch, the leather cold on his bare skin, and pulled the blanket around himself. He had tried to keep from crying, but he couldn't any longer. The sobs forced themselves from his body, loud and defiant. He pulled the blanket up and buried his face in it, trying to muffle his sobs.
    "Luke ..." Cooper had emerged from the bedroom. Luke forced himself away from him as he sat down on the couch. Cooper's presence made his sobbing much worse. He could hardly breathe.
    It seemed like Cooper sat there forever, letting him cry. When Luke glanced at him, he was bent over, his forearms resting on his knees, his eyes distant. Finally Luke's sobs dwindled, and Cooper spoke. "Wow, I really am an asshole, aren't I?" He laughed as he said it, but Luke didn't think he was joking. "Look, Luke, I ..." He turned to Luke, who recoiled automatically. Cooper's mouth twitched, almost as if he was in pain for a moment. "I don't ... I don't care if you have sex with me or not, okay?" He sighed. "I'm not some sadist who wants to get off on hurting you."
    "Really." Luke couldn't believe that was true. Everything Cooper had done so far suggested otherwise.
    "I ..." Cooper breathed out through his nose and then leaned forward, cupping his hands over his mouth. He was still looking away from Luke. "I just ... I only did it because I wanted someone here with me. Living with me."
    "Why?"
    "Because I'm lonely, okay?"
    Luke felt his brow furrow in disbelief. "Why are you lonely? Don't you have any friends?"
    "Nope. Scared them all off."
    Luke secretly thought that made sense, but it felt rude to say as much. "Why?" he asked instead.
    Cooper grimaced and then stood. "Listen, it's late. You can stay here, okay? And you don't have to do anything for me. Just ... you know, be here."
    Luke stared at him, trying to think. He felt as if he was missing some vital part of the equation. "I don't understand why," he said finally, "but thank you."
    "Yeah." Cooper shook his head. "Goodnight, Luke."
    "Goodnight," replied Luke automatically, and then Cooper disappeared into the bedroom.
    Luke lay back on the cold leather of the couch, trying to get comfortable. His mind was racing, his body jumpy and confused.  He'd been so ready. He'd been going to go through with it. And part of him had wanted to, although he wasn't sure if it was to reassure himself that he wasn't gay, or if he'd wanted it for a completely different reason. He didn't know which one was right, either. They both felt so horribly wrong. He wished the guilt would leave him. Just for a moment. It clouded all his judgement, made him unsure of what he wanted at all. He wished Brody's face would leave his mind, wished he could stop thinking about what his aunts would think. They were like ever present demons, and he just wanted it all to go away, just for one second.
    And, even more confusing than everything else was the fact that Cooper apparently wanted Luke for company. Luke definitely couldn't fathom why anyone would want his company. But he was drifting off now, his body sinking into the couch, his mind fuzzy and confused as he went into a restless sleep.
    *~*~*
    Luke was awoken by