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Unknown Number

Page 60

by Victoria Hyder


  "Are you okay?" Cavan asked with a frown. He closed the front door and put the chain on before moving to stand beside his lover. "Lucas, what's up?"

  "Why don't we have a Christmas tree?" he asked quietly.

  Cavan blinked in surprise. He hadn't been expecting that. If anything, he was almost certain he remembered Lucas hating the holiday season. "Um … I guess I didn't think you liked it, so I never brought it up."

  Lucas turned to Cavan. "Do you want one?"

  "I … What?"

  "A tree. Do you want a Christmas tree?"

  "S-sure. Lucas you don't have to do this. I –I don't mind that you don't really like Christmas."

  "Look, there have been a lot of things you've had to adjust to just by living with me," Lucas stated, drawing in a deep breath. "If you'd like to celebrate Christmas … I guess it wouldn't be so bad."

  The younger man rubbed the back of his neck as he glanced around the room. The place did look empty. Like it was the one house that Christmas had forgotten about. Cavan already had a gift or two for Lucas … but with no tree to put it under he'd kept it all wrapped and hidden in his bedside drawer.

  Cavan took Lucas's hand in his own, "You don't need to change your entire lifestyle for me, you know. I fell for you just the way you are."

  Sighing, Lucas nodded. "I know. I also know that I can't expect you do everything my way. We won't be able to get much in the way of decorations now but … I can find something."

  Despite himself, Cavan grinned. "Even if it's a miniature tree?"

  "Yes … Even if it's a miniature tree."

  "Sounds good," Cavan stole a kiss with an impish grin.

  Friday PM

  "Come on Fletcher, Lucas said the food will be there soon!"

  Fletcher ignored Bonnie's huffing around as he made sure their front door was safely locked, tucked his keys into his back pockets and followed the redhead down the hall to Lucas's place. Since it had been a while since they'd all gotten together for a proper Chinese take-away, Lucas had been gracious enough to host at his flat. Bonnie was eager for something deep-friend and slathered in grease. Fletcher was content to rock Evie gently in her harness on his chest.

  Cavan opened the door when they knocked.

  He grinned, looking all kinds of young and dopey in his elf hat and obscene Christmas jumper. Lucas looked his usual, strait-laced no-nonsense self –with a Santa hat perched precariously on top of his head.

  Bonnie thought she'd never see the day!

  Despite his scowling, both Bonnie and Fletcher got several snapshots before he threatened to eat Bonnie's duck pancakes.

  The decorations had been a haphazard muddle, but Lucas couldn't deny he enjoyed seeing how excited Cavan had been as he'd bounced from shop-to-shop grabbing any remnants of Christmas decorations. It hadn't worked out too badly, and everything had been reduced to clear, so that was even better. Lucas did feel a twinge of guilt, at having reduced their first Christmas together to something last-minute and hurried, but Bonnie had matter-of-factly stated that men are useless at planning when it came to Christmas time. She even had to remind Fletcher to buy presents for his parents!

  When the Chinese arrived, they spread it all out over the coffee table and sat cross-legged around it. Evie was still on breast-milk so every so often Bonnie would have to disappear into the next room to feed her.

  They had the TV on in the background, but no one was really paying attention to it. Cavan was just giddy for the day when it was both Christmas and his lover's birthday. He knew it was a tough day for Lucas to deal with, however he wanted to make sure the older man knew how adored he was.

  As the evening wore on, Evie started to fuss, and after a few kisses from her godfathers, the proud parents decided to take their little bundle of joy home. Lucas cleared up the takeaway containers, whilst Cavan reorganised the living room; putting blankets and cushions back on the appropriate chairs.

  Stepping into the kitchen, Cavan wrapped his arms around Lucas's shoulders. The older man stiffened as he was rinsing their glasses in the sink. "I'm so excited for Christmas!" Cavan said, barely able to contain his excitement.

  Lucas smirked, "Yeah I can tell."

  "Oh? How so?"

  "Well either that's a candy-cane in your pocket, or someone gets horny when presents are involved."

  Cavan threw his head back and laughed. "Oh, that was so lame but you're adorable for trying!" Lucas reached over his shoulder and palmed soapsuds into Cavan's face, causing the younger man to snort bubbles. "Hey that's not fair!"

  Lucas shrugged with a smirk. Cavan reached over and dipped his hand into the soapy water. The smile left Lucas's face. "Oi brat don't you –Hey!"

  Cavan howled with laughter at how ridiculous Lucas looked in a Santa hat AND a bubble beard! It wasn't long before their antics led to an all-out war of epic, bubbly proportions!

  Eventually, Lucas claimed his victory, stole a kiss, and forced Cavan to do the rest of the tidying up by himself before coming to bed. Cavan pouted but couldn't hold the expression for long. He was soaked through, but there was nothing that could shake his eagerness for Christmas day. Not even Lucas winning a bubble war!

  Christmas Day

  Cavan was buzzing with energy. He'd barely slept longer than 4AM. He knew his phone was going to start vibrating with Christmas well-wishers within the next hour or so. The sky was pitch black outside and there was a chill in the air, despite the low hum of the radiator working its magic. He was itching to dig out Lucas's Christmas presents. The older man always woke up before 6AM, like clockwork. It didn't matter if it was term-time or not, he'd wake up almost on the dot every morning.

  Today, however, Cavan beat him to it.

  By the time Lucas yawned, stretched and glanced over at his lover, said bundle of energy was already sitting cross-legged in bed with a huge grin splitting his face in half.

  Cocking a dark eyebrow, Lucas drawled, "Someone's excited."

  "Damn right I'm excited!" Cavan grinned. "We have a long day of Christmas cheer to get through before we can even think of having anyone else round!"

  Lucas pushed himself higher in the bed and fetched his glasses off the nightstand. "How are you so energetic?" he asked with a wry smirk.

  "I really just want you to like your presents."

  "No pressure then, eh?" Lucas smirked as he ruffled Cavan's hair. "Do you want to open them in here, or do you want to go into the living-room and have some tea?"

  Cavan shrugged. "I don't mind."

  Lucas gave Cavan a deadpan look. "You're only saying that because you want to stay in bed, aren't you?"

  "Maybe."

  "Little shit."

  Cavan grinned, "Okay, you stay cosy in bed, I'll grab the presents!" He bounced off the bed and raced for the door.

  "And the tea!" Lucas called after him.

  "AND THE TEA!"

  It took Cavan about twenty minutes to do all the things he'd taken upon himself. He didn't mind, he was all too happy to run back and forth to the lounge in order to grab the presents. It was a fairly small pile compared to the one he was used to seeing back at his parents' house, but that didn't deter him from enjoying the day.

  Once all the presents were piled up on the bed, Cavan wriggled back under the covers, closer to Lucas to absorb his warmth, and then snatched the first present off the top of the pile.

  "This one's for y-o-o-o-u," he chimed, handing the brightly coloured monstrosity to Lucas. "And this one's for me!"

  Lucas took the present with a wry smirk. "Who're these from?"

  "These ones are from my mum."

  Lucas opened the present and was pleasantly surprised to find a pair of real leather gloves. They'd be great for riding his bike. "That was thoughtful of her," he said, slipping his hand into the glove. He was even more surprised to feel how soft the lining was inside. "What did she get you?"

  "A set of socks, underwear and a smart jumper for work."

  "Cute. Next one?"

  Cav
an swiped up the next two. "These are from … Bonnie and Fletcher." He tore open the wrapping paper with childlike gusto and Lucas just had to chuckle. "Awww Lucas look! Bonnie got a little canvas with the photo of you and Evie! Oh, it's so cute!"

  Lucas leaned his chin on Cavan's shoulder and smiled at the photo, "It really is adorable."

  "Can we hang it on the wall? Above the bed?"

  "I don't see why not."

  Cavan pressed a light, buzzing kiss to Lucas's lips. "What did they get you?"

  Turning to his own gift, Lucas pried the wrapping away. Glaring back at him, printed on the front cover of a book were the words;

  'HOW TO PLEASE YOUR LOVER THE GAY WAY! 101 TOP SEXUAL POSITIONS FOR GAY MEN!'

  "Lucas?" Cavan frowned. He snuck a look at the cover and gasped. Then he dropped back onto the pillows, howling with laughter. "Oh my God that's insane!"

  "This is ludicrous," Lucas grunted, still in shock.

  "I can only imagine what their amazon will start suggesting for Fletcher!"

  "Well, looks like I don't regret getting Fletcher that giant glow-in-the-dark dildo."

  Cavan's eyes went wise, "Tell me you didn't!"

  "I did."

  "This is why you're the best." He grabbed another present and dumped it onto Lucas's lap. "This is one of the one's from me."

  Lucas took the smaller gift in his hands. It rattled. Opening the paper, he frowned down at the box in his hands. "Er … What's this?"

  Cavan averted his gaze, his cheeks going pink. "It's er … It's an e-cigarette. I thought that, you know, your health and stuff … and with the baby you wouldn't want her sniffing smoke off you … you don't have to keep it, I just thought it was something you could do maybe. Wean you off cigarettes and stuff."

  "Cavan."

  "Y-yes?"

  "You're rambling."

  Cavan's cheeks went redder.

  "This is very thoughtful of you," Lucas said, "No one's really taken much interest in my health. It's kind of you to care."

  Cavan shrugged as nonchalantly as possible. "I kind of want you to stick around for a long time so … it's entirely selfish."

  Lucas chuckled and drew Cavan against his chest. He pressed kisses to the younger man's forehead. "I do love you. I'll give this a try. Hopefully it works."

  Cavan beamed at him. He leaned in, nestling his head against Lucas's chest. It always bewildered the older man how someone almost double his height, could make themselves so small so as to fit perfectly with his body. Lucas would never stop finding new and endearing ways that he and Cavan fit together, how they made each other better and how well they complimented one another, in spite of their differences.

  That was all surface level bullshit.

  These moments were the ones that mattered, the ones that defined themselves and their relationship. It was one of the key ingredients that would make sure their relationship lasted for years to come.

  Hugging the kid closer, Lucas stroked his thumb along the e-cigarette packet and felt his heart swell. "Merry Christmas, kid."

  "Merry Christmas you grumpy sod."

  Chapter 38

  Bonnie raked her hair out of her eyes as she scanned the back garden. Cavan had been kind enough to offer up his parent's house for a little anniversary BBQ, and she couldn't have been more grateful. It was a huge ask, but Cavan's mum, Camilla, had insisted she didn't mind. It still felt a little tense, having to physically tiptoe around Georg, but from what Bonnie had heard, she wasn't missing much.

  Over at the barbecue, Fletcher was merrily flipping burgers, chicken and sausages while his other hand held a beer. Lucas was standing next to him, looking as statuesque as he always did. Cavan's sister and a few friends had joined in, Sophie and Sidney having lots of fun in cooing over Evie. It warmed Bonnie's heart to see her little girl so happy.

  Yet she was sure she was forgetting something.

  Cavan jolted her out of her musings by handing her the lemonade she'd asked for fifteen minutes ago. She smiled and accepted the drink. "Thanks, kiddo," she took a long, loud slurp through the straw and sighed with relief. "How's things?"

  "You mean other than how awkward it's going to be with Lucas and me sharing my single, childhood bed tonight? Pretty good."

  Bonnie frowned. "Why're you staying here tonight?"

  "Mum wanted us to go out for brunch in the morning. More to avoid my dad, but you know," he shrugged, taking a sip from his own beer bottle. "Evie looks like she's having fun," Cavan stated, waving over at the girls and his goddaughter.

  Evie was too busy plucking daisies out of the grass to pay any attention, her little flowery dress ballooning out over her nappy.

  "She's an angel," Cavan smiled.

  Bonnie looked up at him and frowned a little, her gaze darting back to where Lucas stood, laughing with Fletcher, his shades obscuring his face. "Don't you think you two will ever …?" she let the question hang in the air between them.

  "Nah," Cavan shook his head. "It's not for us. I love Evie don't get me wrong, and I'm always happy to look after her. I don't know that I could do what you do, though. The midnight feeding, staying home all day, the baby screaming bloody murder …" he sighed and shook his head. "You poor women go through so much. You're lucky you have a guy like Fletcher who appreciates you."

  Bonnie snorted a little into her drink. If Cavan knew just how much she had to kick and scream at Fletcher to change Evie's nappy, he'd run a mile. "Yeah," she said with a laugh. "I've got myself a prized pig there."

  Cavan chuckled.

  Sophie edged over to them; Evie balanced on her hip. It looked like such a natural pose for her that it shocked Cavan for a moment. Sophie hadn't seemed the most maternal person in the world, but apparently Evie had brought out those qualities in a lot of unexpected people. Cavan knew his sister would never admit it, but she adored Evie whenever she got to spend time with the little one. She'd get attached and would need to be wrestled to let the little girl go.

  "Cavan!" Evie chimed making grabby fists at her godfather. "Cavan, upsie!"

  Rolling her eyes Sophie dropped a kiss on the little girl’s head. "Traitor," she whispered affectionately before handing her over to Cavan. "Take care of my disciple," she said.

  "Yes captain!" Cavan grinned, giving his sister a mock salute. If he hadn't been holding the baby, she would have flipped him off.

  "I'm amazed at how much your sister has taken to Evie," Bonnie said. "She didn't really seem like the type."

  "Trust me, it's freaking us all out," Cavan agreed. "Mum can't wait until she has a boyfriend again. Then it'll be full-steam ahead on the baby-wagon."

  "Hey, don't judge!" Bonnie nudged him. "No one thought I was the type to be mature enough to handle a child. Now look at me!"

  Cavan rolled his eyes. "Would you like to hold your child?"

  Bonnie grinned wolfishly before trading her drink for her baby. Cavan watched as the older woman smoothed her daughter’s hair back, kissed her forehead and then proceeded to rock her gently against her chest. Evie accepted all the attention, her bright eyes gazing up at her mum. Cavan smiled before leaving the two to their little moment and heading back over to Lucas.

  Lucas scanned the garden with all the people standing in little groups. It irked him to be here. He didn't really know that many people. There was that one guy, Austin, from Fletcher's work that he'd met that one time several years ago, but the rest were a mystery to him. He'd opted to hang out with his friend by the barbecue in case of any fire related incidents.

 

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