thirty nine +

"Are you sure?" Luke asked his parents, a little too loud. Matt's concert was playing loudly upstage and the speakers managed to take over all sound waves downstairs as well

Ms. Hemmings nodded as she put Nolan on her hip. "We're getting tired and I'm sure our grandson is, too." She looked down at the black-haired boy, smiling as his head leant on her shoulder.

Luke smiled wider. "Okay. There're a few songs left, but we should be home before midnight. Nolan might not be ready to settle down, though."

Ms. Hemming leant in, kissing Luke's cheek. "We'll see you at home, Sweetie."

Luke watched his parents leave with his kid as he put a hand up to the skin his mother just kissed. He smiled like a small child, quietly giggling to himself. He knew he missed his mother over the last decade, he just didn't realize how much he missed his mother.

Luke would always be his mama's boy, regardless their relationship status. He would constantly cherish the ground she walked on. It was hard when he had to pick Matty over his mother, he just felt it was right.

A decade or so later, Luke is still sure it was the right decision.

There will always be something in his heart pulling him towards Michael, but Luke knows better. He knows that Michael is not for him, and he is not for Michael.

It's hard for him to admit. He was infatuated with Michael, Michael was his first love. Time moves on and people change. That's final.

His love grew strong except for a different boy this time.

Luke was left alone backstage for another half hour before his sweaty husband came barreling down the steps. Matt was hyped up (and a little drunk from red wine), he pulled Luke into a hug then lifted him off the ground, twirling him around a few times.

"Did you see the crowd?!" He asked loudly. Matty's ears were ringing from his failure to put his in-ears in.

"I did!" Luke responded, glad to be back on the ground. He smiled up at Matty, "You were amazing."

"Where's my baby?" He asked, looking around and making grabby hands to the air.

"Mom and Dad took him home a bit ago. They were all tired." Luke wrapped his hands around his lover's shoulders, holding him close. "I think Mom was really proud of you, too."

"Yeah?" Matt asked. His eyes flickered down from Luke's blues eyes down to his soft, pink lips. "You think they like me now? They finally approve?"

Luke leant in, quickly pecking Matty's lips. "I think so. Mom liked your choice in wine which is always a plus."

"I'm a classy man." He took a step back, their entwined bodies falling against the dressing room door. It clicked with a lock as Matty smiled at his husband.

Circa Waves was playing from upstage as the crowd of 16,000 exited. The muffled sounds made the moment perfect. Matty had his hands on Luke's hips, his fingers running underneath his band tee (it was a The 1975 band tee from the merch truck, obviously).

"I hope you realize how lucky I feel every day," Luke whispered. He kicked off his shoes, tossing them somewhere behind their two bodies.

Matty's hands trailed up Luke's sides, squeezing at his warm skin as he pulled the black tee up and over his sloped shoulders. "No, no, I think I'm the lucky one. I'm so lucky you've fallen in love with me."

Matt's white blouse was unbuttoned, already showing off his many torso tattoos—one thing Ms. Hemmings maybe didn't approve of. Luke slid the thin material off easily, letting the fabric fall to a pile upon the dirty carpeted floors.

Luke leant in, his lips attaching to his husbands. Their hands were so fond of each others bodies, fingers crawled over their skin, heating up their veins with pure love.

Matty was quick to get out of his jeans, Luke following next. Matt had him backed up against the wall, his nails scratching down Luke's skin.

There was something so intimate about sex between Luke and Matt. There was something that Luke craved, something that Matty needed. Their love was easily expressed through their bodies moving cautiously against each other.

Right there in a dirty dressing room in the middle of Missouri, they made love.

Calum sat at the end of their bed, moisturizing his skin. "You don't feel anything for Luke anymore, right?"

Michael looked up from his computer screen. "Of course not," he said, not sure if he was assuring Calum or himself, "Why?"

"I don't know. I just," he paused, not sure how to word out his thoughts. "I want to make sure."

Mike closed his laptop, placing it on the ground. He got out from their golden covers, reaching towards his husband and pulling him back against the pillows.

Cal let out a laugh as Michael's cold fingers tickled his side.

"I love you and only you," Michael promised.

Calum straddled his thighs, resting his hands on the seam of Michael's pajama shirt. "I know Luke meant the world to you, and I don't expect you to get over that or anything—."

"He meant the world to me ten years ago, Cal. You're here and you're my forever." Michael wrapped his fingers with Calum's, bringing the soft skin to his lips and kissing each knuckle then the space above his wedding ring. "We've both been through a lot, yeah? But, we ended up together. We get to spend the rest of our lives in love, together, with three beautiful children. There's nothing more I could ever ask for."

Calum nodded, "Things happen for a reason, right?"

I hope the next chapter makes you shit your pants.