Eddy already regretted it even though he knew he had done the right thing. Maybe if Luke had insisted, had batted those big grey eyes and said pretty please, Eddy's resolve might have crumpled. But Luke hadn't, and Eddy figured himself lucky because he's been tested enough these last few hours.<br/><br/>Had this strange night gone any longer something just might have give.<br/><br/>But still, it was a sad thing to see Luke weather through the rejection. He did it admirably, but then literally stumbled in his retreat. Eddy held up a hand to catch him but Luke recovered on his own.<br/><br/>Eddy stood there and gently smiled back, a silent<i>sorry </i>and<i>I wish I could </i>written in the craggy lines of his face.<br/><br/>"Goodnight," he said back. It was all he allowed himself to say. He might have stopped the boy and invited himself in if he said anymore.<br/><br/>Eddy watched the door close and then let out a long, rueful sigh. He stayed there until he saw the lights of Luke's apartment turn on, and then there was Luke himself at the window.<br/><br/>Eddy smiled and waved back, glad the kid had made it up alright. Then Eddy went back to the bar to finish the abandoned half glass of vodka, his heart strangely buoyant with the cautious hope that Freckles might come back for another drink.