by Helena Stone
“Your mum sure went all out.”
“She did.” Mitch grimaced. “We’ll be eating leftovers for days.” He looked so cute Cian couldn’t resist and pulled Mitch close for a short but heated kiss, forgetting for a moment that they weren’t alone in the house.
After they parted again, they made short work of transferring the food. When there wasn’t an inch of free space left on the table, Mitch turned to Cian.
“I’m melting.” He pulled his hoodie over his head, revealing the T-shirt he wore underneath. Cian recognized it instantly. It was one of the shirts Mitch had bought during the Pride weekend. Because he was rather warm himself, he followed Mitch’s example.
“Will you look at that! Pauline exclaimed. “Those bracelets are identical. It’s almost like rings.” She giggled. “Do you have something to tell us. Have you set a date?”
Cian glanced at Mitch, not surprised to see his bright red cheeks.
“They’re not the same,” Mitch muttered.
Sarah grinned. “They might as well be. Everybody can see they belong together.”
“Brats,” Cian grumbled under his breath. He glanced at Mitch and saw his lips twitch.
“Girls.” The clear note of warning in his father’s voice took Cian by surprise. “You know what we discussed. Now behave.”
“Ah, but, Da,” Pauline moaned. “What’s the fun in Cian having a boyfriend if we can’t tease him.”
Cian laughed. “What goes around comes around, girlie. It won’t be that much longer before it will be my turn to embarrass you.”
“Yuck.” Pauline looked disgusted at the mere suggestion of being in a relationship.
As the laughter of the others joined Cian’s, Pauline threw him a look that was part defiance and part worry, but she didn’t say another word.
Cian had known his parents were okay with him being gay, and they’d told him they liked Mitch. The knowledge didn’t lessen his delight that his father’s acceptance included defending him. The rest of the world might still need time to accept same-sex relationships as normal, but his family was clearly already there.
Chapter Seven
Mitch strummed his ukulele. When his mother first made the suggestion, he’d been afraid that playing in front of people he actually knew might be too nerve-racking. Now that the party had been on for a few hours and they’d all had a few drinks, it didn’t feel quite so daunting anymore.
“Ready?” He looked at Cian, who seemed to be more nervous than Mitch was.
“As I’ll ever be.”
Mitch played the first chords to “The A-Team” and started singing. Before he finished the first line, Cian joined in softly. By the time he got to the chorus, Cian had apparently overcome his reluctance and sang along without reservation.
“Oh!” Sarah exclaimed when they finished the song. “You are actually good.”
Mitch smirked. He was getting used to Sarah’s backhanded compliments. “Thank you, I think.”
“Do you know any Christmas songs?”
Mitch had prepared for exactly this eventuality and started “Jingle Bells,” smiling broadly when everybody sang along.
“More!” Pauline demanded while excitedly clapping her hands.
Mitch knew just what to play for her. The delighted smile on her face as soon as she recognized “Let It Go” showed him he’d made the right choice.
Next thing he knew, Mitch was taking requests. Which was fine by him, except that nobody took no for an answer, even when they asked for a song he’d never played before. It was a wonderful surprise to discover he was able to make it up as he went along. Nobody commented on the few mistakes he made, and it helped enormously.
His mother’s party was a success, much to Mitch’s relief. He’d stopped himself from saying as much, but he’d worried about Cian’s whole family coming for a visit. Concern that their two families would be uncomfortable and stiff together had played on his mind ever since his ma had first mentioned the idea. He didn’t mind at all that, once again, his mother had known best, and he vowed to himself that he would trust her judgment in the future.
Between songs and conversation, time flew by so fast Mitch was taken by surprise when Cian’s parents announced it was time for them to take the girls home. One glance at the clock told him it was after eleven, which meant that almost seven hours had passed unnoticed.
“We should be going too,” Klaus announced.
Mitch smiled. Nothing ended a party more efficiently than the first person leaving.
“And us,” Oran said as he placed his hand over Cormac’s.
Mitch was still coming to terms with Cormac having a boyfriend. They’d been in the same class in school for six years, and never once had he suspected that Cormac might be gay too. Even after Mitch had stopped hiding, Cormac hadn’t felt safe enough to talk to him. It made him wonder if he’d been too self-centered. Maybe he would have picked up on Cormac’s sexuality if he’d paid more attention. But he’d been so caught up in Cian and trying to get ready for his exams he’d mostly ignored the rest of the world.
He remembered what Klaus had said, that everybody came out in their own good time, and that was the way it should be. Besides, whatever reservations Cormac might have had in the past, they’d obviously vanished, considering he’d brought his boyfriend to a party in a house where he barely knew his hosts.
After everybody had thanked his mother and said their good-byes, Mitch and Cian accompanied them to the front door.
“I’ll stay for a while and help with the cleanup,” Cian said as the rest of his family put on their coats.
“I don’t know—” his mother started before his father interrupted her. “That’s a good idea, son. We’ll see you in the morning. Don’t be too late.” He herded the clearly very tired girls out the door before taking his wife’s arm and following.
Klaus and Rudy were next to leave, but not until Klaus had made Mitch and Cian promise that they’d call into the library whenever they were in town. The request made Mitch smile. He’d loved that place and the man running it since the first moment he’d fled into it to escape his bullies. He couldn’t imagine there would ever be a day when he didn’t want to visit. If only to revisit those magical days he’d spent there.
Cormac, who’d relaxed over the course of the evening, seemed tense again. “Thank you for inviting us.”
“No bother. I’m delighted you came.” Mitch turned to Oran. “It was good meeting you.”
“Cheers.” Oran grabbed Cormac’s hand and pulled him forward.
Mitch watched them until they were halfway down the garden path. “Cormac, wait a sec.” He rushed after them, shivering as soon as the cold night air touched his bare arms.
“Yes?” Cormac gave him a wary look.
For a moment, Mitch was offended. What had he ever done to make Cormac feel bad or insecure? Then he remembered how suspicious he’d been of other people after he’d first come out.
“I just wanted to say that if you’re ever in Dublin, you should come and visit. We have space, so if you’d want to sleep over…”
Cormac’s expression cleared. “Thanks. I’d like that.”
Mitch yearned to say more, to tell Cormac that he knew exactly how scary it was but that it would get better. Having no idea how to say that without sounding patronizing, he kept his thoughts to himself and just smiled at Cormac.
“See you.” He turned back and rushed to the warmth. As soon as he closed the door behind him, Cian spun him around and captured his mouth in a ferocious kiss, as if he’d been starved of Mitch’s taste for days.
Mitch melted into his boyfriend’s arms, surrendering to the onslaught and responding with equal fervor.
“Hmmmm.”
The humming sound slowly penetrated Mitch’s fevered brain.
Ma!
Cian abruptly jumped back, just when Mitch pulled away, and it was all Mitch could do not to lose his balance and fall into the door. He wasn’t sure how, but he’d managed t
o forget they were not alone in the house.
“As much as you two are adorable together”—his mother smirked at them—“I thought Cian was staying to help us clean up?”
Blood rushed to Mitch’s cheeks, and when he glanced at Cian, he noticed his boyfriend didn’t fare much better.
“Sorry. We’ll do it now.” He kept his gaze fixed firmly on the floor.
His mother laughed. “Will you grow up? It’s nothing I haven’t seen before.”
Mitch gaped at his mother.
“I know it’s hard to believe, but I’m neither ignorant nor innocent,” she continued. “What’s more, I used to be young once, and it’s not so long ago that I don’t remember what it’s like when the hormones take over.” She turned and walked to the living room. “Now, let’s get this done and over with.”
Mitch struggled to find his composure. His mother had made it perfectly clear she had no problem with him being gay from the start, but having her witness them making out and being amused by the display was disconcerting.
One look at Cian’s face showed Mitch he was somewhat shell-shocked too. Mitch shrugged at Cian before following his mother. Chances were she would never stop surprising him. He smiled. And maybe that was a good thing.
“Why don’t you go to bed, Ma? You’ve done enough today. We’ll deal with this.”
She turned to him, a smile tugging at her lips. “Can’t wait to get rid of me, can you?”
Mitch tried to recall how many gin and tonics his mother had drunk that evening. He was used to her teasing, but this was taking things to a whole new level.
“But maybe you’re right. It’s probably been enough for one day.” She approached him and pulled him into a hug. “Don’t mind me. I love you even more than I love teasing you.” She stepped back. “And you were brilliant on that guitar.”
“Ukulele,” Mitch corrected automatically.
“Uku-whatever.”
His mother turned to Cian and hugged him too, much to Cian’s obvious surprise. “You’re a good lad,” she murmured before releasing him and walking to the stairs. “Good night.”
They didn’t move or speak until Mitch heard his mother’s bedroom door close behind her.
“Is it me, or was today a bit weird?” Cian asked.
“Not you. Nothing about this party went as I thought it would.” Mitch relaxed. “But you know what? It was all good.”
Mitch walked to the dining table and filled a tray with bowls, plates, and empty glasses.
“Let’s get this sorted. The quicker we finish, the quicker we can get back to where we were before my mother so rudely interrupted us.”
Cian picked up an empty tray and tackled the items sitting on the coffee table.
“I like how you think. I wonder if there’s a record for clearing a room.” He looked at Mitch over his shoulder. “Wanna try breaking it?”
Chapter Eight
“What else do we need to do?” Mitch looked and sounded agitated.
Cian smiled. “Will you relax? We’re good. It’s all done. We’re ready.” Which was just as well, since it was half past eight, and their guests were due to arrive at any minute.
“Are you sure? Should we move the couch back so we have more space?” He turned on his spot, clearly too excited to stand still. “When are they coming again?” Mitch picked up his phone and checked the screen for the third time in five minutes.
“Stop it.” Cian grabbed Mitch and pulled him close, wrapping his arms tightly around him to make sure Mitch stayed still. “It’s not as if this is our first party. Remember, we had a fabulous one in your mother’s house only days ago.”
Far from relaxing Mitch, Cian’s words appeared to put him further on edge.
“We’ve never thrown a party in our own place. We’ve never had as many guests here at the same time as we will tonight. What if we don’t have enough food or drink?”
Cian was all out of arguments and both charmed and frustrated by Mitch’s attack of nerves. If he couldn’t stop him from worrying and shut him up with words, Cian had other means to bring Mitch down from the edge he’d so inexplicably perched himself on. He kissed him, pushing his tongue into Mitch’s mouth.
The magic worked. As it always does. Cian smiled without breaking their mouth-lock. They’d had one or two, mostly minor, ups and downs over their year together. The one thing that had never let them down was the way their bodies reacted to each other. Everything involving their heads needed work, communication, and thought. When it came to their bodies and—Cian could, at last, admit it to himself—their hearts, the connection was automatic.
It took a few more heartbeats than Cian had expected, but soon Mitch relaxed in his arms and surrendered to the kiss, returning each caress of Cian’s tongue with his own. Mitch ground against him, and a soft moan slipped from his mouth, arousing a familiar need, deep inside Cian.
He cupped Mitch’s arse and pulled him closer, increasing the friction and enjoying the sensation of his cock filling.
The sound of their doorbell ringing forced them apart. Mitch looked deliciously flushed, and for a moment, Cian resented the interruption and almost wished they weren’t awaiting their friends. But he’d achieved his goal. Mitch was obviously less stressed, and the time for worrying was well and truly behind them. Prepared or not—and Cian was sure they were more than ready— their party kicked off now.
Leaving a still flustered-looking Mitch in the living room, Cian opened the door and smiled broadly when he found the rest of UkeTunes, Mitch’s band, on the other side, accompanied by one man he didn’t think he’d met before.
“Come in.” He stepped back as the group of five filed past, making the rather spacious hallway look cramped instantly. “Drop your coats in the spare bedroom, there.” He pointed.
“Spare bedroom. Who can afford such a luxury these days?” the new face muttered loud enough for Cian to catch them.
“Don’t mind Dara,” Patrick said. “He’s a snarky bastard, but he’ll improve after a few drinks.” The warm glow in Patrick’s eyes when he looked at Dara took any harshness out of his words.
Dara smiled. “Right. Sorry. Don’t mind me. I often forget to think before I speak.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Cian said. He couldn’t deny he and Mitch had been ridiculously lucky and didn’t blame anyone for being at least a little jealous. Having a large apartment, with room to spare, was pretty close to a miracle these days.
“Don’t you want to leave those here too?” He pointed at the bags Ro, Cora, and Harry still held after they’d taken off their coats.
“Nope,” Ro said. “We need these. Now, where’s this party happening?”
Cian laughed. He’d grown to like Ro very much over the two months since he’d first met her, especially because she always said exactly what she thought.
“In the living room. You know the way.”
“I sure do.” Ro strode off, closely followed by the rest of the gang with Cian making up the rear.
“Mitch!” Ro approached him and pulled him into a one-armed hug. “Thank you for inviting us.” She pulled back and held out one of the bags she carried. “Here.” She glanced at the island separating the kitchen from the living space. “I don’t think you’re going to need it, but that’s my contribution.” She placed her other bag and the one Cora had been carrying behind the couch.
“And mine.” Harry shoved his carrier at Mitch too.
Mitch glanced inside the bags and threw an embarrassed smile in Cian’s direction.
Cian winked at Mitch and bit back the words “I told you so.” As tempting as it was to tease his boyfriend, he didn’t want to risk upsetting Mitch just now he’d relaxed for the first time in hours. The doorbell going off again ensured that he wouldn’t give in to the temptation to torment Mitch.
Minutes later, Conor, John, Ray, Peter, and Gary—or as Cian liked to think of them, the Rainbow Warrior contingent—had also added a selection of alcoholic beverages and snacks to t
he already laden bar, and all guests were settled with drinks.
“Town’s mad,” Cora said. “Every single pub we passed was bursting at the seams. This is a much better way to celebrate New Year’s Eve. I’m all for socializing, but I prefer to be able to breathe while I’m at it.”
Cian, who’d managed to find a spot on the couch squeezed in between Peter on one side and Ro on the other, wrapped his arms Mitch, who sat on the floor between his feet. He couldn’t help himself after all and leaned forward to whisper into Mitch’s ear.
“Told you so.”
He chuckled when Mitch pinched his arm in response. The reaction didn’t matter because it was obvious Mitch was happy and relaxed now that the wait was over and their friends had arrived.
“Did you have a good Christmas?” Ro asked, aiming her question at no one in particular.
“It was great.” Mitch smiled brightly at her. “My mother gave me an IKEA gift card.”
“Why?” Cora asked, studying the room at the same time. “This place looks fully furnished to me.”
Because Mitch turned his head to the other side to address Cora, Cian got a good look at his bright red cheeks.
“It’s so I can buy a bigger bed for my room in Castleforest.” Mitch’s soft voice couldn’t hide his delight.
“Your ma did what?” Cian couldn’t believe his ears. “How come you didn’t tell me?”
“I didn’t?” Mitch turned and knelt in front of Cian. “I could have sworn I did.” He shrugged. “No matter. You’ll get to help me pick it out.”
Cian stared at Mitch while silently wishing they were on their own. This was huge, and he wasn’t sure how Mitch could have forgotten to mention the gift. Of course, both their families had been supportive from the start, and Mitch’s mother giving them permission to spend the night together while she was gone had shown she accepted all the implications of their relationship. Her gift was a sign that she also took them and their relationship seriously and that any doubts she might have had about them living together had now been squashed.