El & Em - Chapter 29

Story: El & Em
Rating: NC-17 (in a couple of later chapters only)
Word Count: This part: 3,200. Full story: About 103k.
Summary: Philadelphia, 1972. All Luke wants is to share his music with the world. When an imposing, slightly older trumpet player called Emmett joins his band, Luke is fascinated – and a lifelong friendship is born. Love and loyalty are forged in the slow burn of tours, shows and recording sessions. Over the years, Luke’s curiosity and Emmett’s indulgence slowly push the two of them into complicated new territory. Emmett tries to keep them safe – but Luke wants it all. In this monumental romance spanning more than twenty years, there are no heroes and no villains – just people doing their best in a messed up world.
Previous chapters: 1 || 2 || 3 || 4 || 5 || 6 || 7 || 8 || 9 || 10 || 11 || 12 || 13 || 14 || 15 || 16 || 17 || 18 || 19 || 20 || 21 || 22 || 23 || 24 || 25 || 26 || 27 || 28

Chapter 29

An hour or so later, Emmett made himself a drink and slowly went over to sit on the sofa in his hotel suite. He'd already showered, changed into his pajamas and robe, made a phone call and checked in with Diane, but he wasn't ready to sleep yet. He still felt faintly teary, and couldn't stop thinking of Luke's new song. Hearing it had felt, for the first time, like a validation – as though there might be a reason why he saw things so differently from Luke. As though, perhaps, he hadn't just failed Luke at the critical moment.

There was a knock at the door. Somehow Emmett wasn't surprised. “It's open,” he said.

When Luke came in, Emmett realized he'd been half-expecting this all night. It seemed like they had some unfinished business. He didn't get up, just looked up from where he sat on the couch.

Luke wore his usual post-concert outfit – clean jeans, a t-shirt, bare feet – just like he used to, all those nights on earlier tours – so many nights – when he'd call Emmett to ask if he could come over, then slide to his knees inside the door and wait with that air of stillness and tranquility. Emmett shut his eyes at the memory, and when he opened them again he saw Luke watching him, focused and intent, but with a familiar softening in the lines around his eyes.

( “Were you waiting for me, Em?” )