“He should. You’re very likable.”
Loren laughed. “You’re in a goofy mood. And thanks for covering my shift at the store, by the way.”
“No problem.”
“We had a long talk about a lot of things. And we kissed.”
“Mmm. But then why are you here and not there? I thought Ian had a sleepover tonight.”
Loren picked up Mia’s mug and sipped, then hastily put it down. “Ugh. Cold cocoa. We’ve decided to take it slow. For Ian’s sake. I think Gabe wants to be sure about this not being just a casual thing before we go any further.”
“And how do you feel about that?”
“I totally agree. Ian doesn’t need to get attached to another parent figure before we know what we’re doing. His own mother wasn’t there for him.”
“And I agree from the other side of things. You don’t need to jump into another relationship with a smooth talker who’s going to flatten your spirit.”
“I don’t think Gabe is like that.” A cold finger of doubt touched Loren’s spine. “Do you?”
“I hope not.” Mia pushed her hands through her hair. “Stephen seemed nice and perfect at the beginning too.”
“Which is another good reason to take it slow. Stephen and I practically moved in with each other by the second date. He pressured me to commit to him right away. At the time I thought it was so romantic. But he was a controller, even then. If we disagreed about something, he always won. And he never apologized. Everything was always my fault, even when it was him cheating on me.”
“Yeah, he had a way of twisting everything around. He was a real jerk. And put you down and made you doubt yourself, which I hate him for more than anything.” Mia’s face was fierce.
“Aw, thanks, sis. Gabe is really nothing like him. He listens to me. He’s a great dad to Ian and accepts him exactly how he is. I feel like he’s doing the same with me.”
“Okay. But tell him that if he starts messing with you, he’ll have to answer to me. And I have lots of sharp scissors at the shop.”
“Yes, ma’am. Oh, and that reminds me.” Loren got out his phone and sent Gabe a text.
Thanks again for a lovely date. When is Ian’s pageant again? He smiled as the three dots that indicated Gabe was replying showed up almost instantly.
You’re welcome. I loved being with you. Ian’s thing is this Tuesday.
Can you bring him by the store tomorrow? I have a present for him. And I get to see you again. Bonus!
We’ll be there. I wish you were here and I was seeing you right now.
Likewise. Sleep well, my prince.
Prince? Dare I call you my queen?
You better.
Good night, my queen. I’m glad you’re in my life.
Loren sent several hearts and raised his head to gush about Gabe to Mia, but she’d vanished, no doubt to bed like a sensible and non-lovestruck person.
Chapter 11
Ian’s angel gown, iridescent wings, and halo graced the shop’s counter, awaiting his arrival. Mia took up the gown by the shoulders and ran a critical eye over it.
“Hmm. Not bad. Not good either, but not the worst I’ve seen.”
“Oh, quiet, you,” Loren retorted as he refilled the thread display. “I think it’s pretty fantastic for the very first time I’ve ever sewn something. And no thanks to you.”
She shrugged. “You have to start somewhere. I’m actually surprised you finished it. For that alone, I salute you.”
Loren stuck out his tongue at her as the bell for the door jangled. Ian ran in and straight to Loren.
“Daddy says you have a present for me.”
“Ian,” Gabe admonished. “Say hello first.” He strolled in, his hair ruffled and cheeks pink from the cold and windy weather. So handsome.
“Hi, Loren.”
“Hi, Ian.” Loren picked him up. “This is a very cute outfit. Love these culottes.” He set him down. “Your present’s on the counter.”
Ian’s gasp was audible. “My angel gown! And wings and a halo. Look, Daddy.”
“I see. What do you say?”
“Thank you, Loren. Can I try them on?”
“Of course.”
Mia said, “I’ll take you in the back, Ian, and then we’ll come out and do a fashion show for your dad and Loren.”
They disappeared, taking the angel dress with them.
“Hi,” Gabe said softly. His eyes met Loren’s with such sweet warmth it took Loren’s breath. “The angel dress looks awesome.”
Loren laughed shortly. “It’s kind of crooked, but for my first effort, I think it’s okay.” His face burned as he realized what he’d said.
“First effort? I thought you knew how to sew.”
“I do now,” Loren said cheerfully. “Um, but I’d never sewn anything before. I learned so I could do Ian’s costume.”
“You….”
“When you came in the store that first time with Nita, I thought what a gorgeous man, and then you kept getting better and better—single dad, accepting of your femme boy, hospice nurse. And then you asked me to make the costume. What could I say? And now I have you to thank because I’ve learned another skill.”
Gabe came over and put his arms around him. “You’re full of surprises.”
Loren leaned into him, then moved away when Mia emerged from the back room.
“Ta-da. Here he is,” said Mia, and held out her arm.
Ian came in beaming, a perfect little blond angel in his gown, wings, and halo.
Loren, already tingling from Gabe’s embrace, vibrated with pride at the vision of Ian in his angel outfit. He’d actually made that with his own two fingers? Wow. “Awww. Look at you.”
Ian twirled around, showing off. “Look, Daddy. Isn’t it beautiful? I love my wings too. And my halo!”
Gabe smiled, not saying anything for a moment. Then he said softly, “That’s a very nice costume, kiddo. You wanna wear it to the pageant?”
“Yes, yes, yes. Can I?”
“Of course.”
Loren squinted more critically as Ian pranced around. Yes, that hem was sadly uneven. But the wings were to die for. All in all, a decent first-time sewing project. “You look divine, Ian. So you really like it?”
“I love it.” He gave a firm nod, and that was that.
Gabe picked him up. “My angel boy. Does this mean you’re going to be a perfect angel from now on?”
Ian wrinkled his brow. “Nobody’s perfect, Dad.”
“Well, you come close, kiddo.”
They were so beautiful together—Gabe’s dark hair next to Ian’s blond. Loren grabbed his phone. “Hold on, you two. I need a picture.”
Mia shook her head. “Give me that phone, and you get over there.”
“Yes, Loren. Come be in the picture with me and Daddy.” Ian held out his arm, and when Loren came over, he looped it around Loren, his little fingers cool and somewhat sticky on Loren’s neck.
Oh my. Happiness welled up, spiked with fear. Loren took a deep breath and released the negative. He was on an amazing ride in unknown territory. As Ian snuggled closer, Loren sent silent thanks to whatever benevolent being had caused Gabe to walk into their shop with his angel pattern.
Chapter 12
“Daddy, when are we going? What’re you doing in there?”
“I’ll be out in a minute.”
Gabe stood in his bedroom, considering his reflection in the full-length mirror. Not bad. The diaphanous skirt he’d borrowed from Nita hung daintily to his knees. He’d paired it with a red turtleneck and green leggings. He sighed at his shoes, though. Black sneakers really didn’t go, but loafers would have been worse.
He opened the door. “Hi.”
Ian stared, then broke into a huge smile. “Daddy! You silly, you’re wearing a skirt.”
“Silly? I think it’s cute. Almost as cute as your angel dress.” Gabe tweaked one of the wings. “You’ll have to take those off for us to drive over.”
Ian admired himself in
the mirror. “They’re so cool. Is Loren coming?”
“Yes, and Mia too.”
“Yay.”
The sound of the front door opening was followed by Nita’s voice. “Yoo-hoo, anybody home?”
“We’re in here,” Gabe called.
Nita came in and clapped her hands on either side of her face. “Oh my gosh! Ian, you’re fabulous. Come here and let me see your wings.”
“What about me?” Gabe pretended to pout.
“My skirt goes very well with your black tennies. Not.” Nita admired Ian’s wings. “These are exquisite. Loren made them?”
“Loren made my whole outfit.”
“Well, he’s going to flip when he sees you. The both of you.” Nita raised her eyebrows at Gabe.
Ian laughed. “Daddy looks like a Silly Billy.”
“Huh,” Gabe said. “You don’t say that Loren looks silly.”
“Well, duh. Loren’s s’posed to wear dresses. Not you. Come on, let’s go.” Ian ran out of the bedroom.
Nita folded her arms. “Didn’t I say you were overcompensating?”
“I just wanted to show solidarity.”
“Hey, if you want to wear feminine clothes, knock yourself out. But do you?”
“Not really.”
“Well, then, Ian’s right—you do look silly.”
Gabe lifted his chin, about to protest. Then he caught his reflection in the mirror. “Um, yeah. Give me a minute. I’m going to change.”
“Good call.”
They walked through the school doors, and Ian broke away to zoom down the hall.
“Slow down,” Gabe called, without much result.
“He’s excited.” Nita took Gabe’s arm. “And I’m proud of you.”
“For what?” he asked, although he thought he knew.
“For Ian being able to be an angel tonight. For asking Ms. Bailey in the first place. For agreeing to sew the costume. For finding Loren.”
“That was smart of me, to find Loren.”
As if speaking his name conjured him up, Gabe felt a tap on his shoulder and turned. Loren was there, resplendent in a deep maroon top over a gold skirt. He’d done something to his eyes—they sparkled like two sapphires. “You’re a very smart man, Gabe Martin.”
“I really am.”
Loren moved closer, and his pleasing floral scent reached Gabe. He had a sudden need for breath.
“You’re both highly intelligent.” Mia appeared from behind Loren. “Hi. Are you Nita?”
“Yes. And you must be the famous Mia.”
“Famous? Loren’s been telling stories again. How about we leave these two lovebirds to their own devices?”
“Great. We can go talk about them behind their backs.” Nita grinned and took Mia’s arm. “We’ll save you seats,” she called as they strolled away.
Gabe and Loren locked eyes as hurrying parents and clamoring kids passed by. “You’re stunning,” Gabe said.
The color rose in Loren’s cheeks. “You’re not bad yourself.”
“You should have seen me in a skirt.”
“What?”
“Yeah, I was going to wear a skirt to support Ian, but he and Nita nixed it. Ian said I looked silly, and Nita said I was overcompensating.”
“Oh, well. That would have been fun to see, but they’re right. You don’t need to do that. You’re a handsome devil whatever you wear.”
“I’m a devil surrounded by angels, then.” Gabe wondered at himself. He’d never been this mushy before, even with Dina, his first love in college. And when he and Brian got together senior year, they’d been too busy trying to out-macho and stiff-upper-lip the other. Toxic masculinity was a killer.
“Where is our little angel?” Loren asked.
“He ran off the minute we got here. He’s very excited.”
“Awww.” Loren tucked his hand in the crook of Gabe’s arm. “Let’s go see him do his thing.”
“Let’s.”
Our little angel. Gabe liked the sound of our. He knew they needed to take it slow, for Ian’s sake, but it seemed Gabe’s heart had sprinted ahead.
Loren walked with Gabe into the little auditorium, relishing being on his arm. It could still all turn to shit—Loren knew that from experience—but he also knew his gut. And his gut was telling him this thing with Gabe (and Ian) was real and true. All Loren had to do was not freak out.
He surveyed the auditorium as they strolled down the aisle, jam-packed with parents and relatives, and got the usual double-takes and covert glances at his skirt. He didn’t care, Gabe didn’t seem to care, and for sure Ian didn’t care. That was enough for Loren.
He smiled at one staring woman. “Hello. Lovely day, isn’t it?” She blushed and turned away.
Beside him, Gabe chuckled. “You’re a trip.”
“Kill ’em with kindness. Or snark. Whichever one works best.”
Nita and Mia waved to them from the front row, and they walked over and settled in beside them.
“You all done talking about us?” Loren asked.
“Never,” Nita said with a dimpled smile. She was a cutie, just like her brother.
The lights flicked off and on, and Ms. Bailey walked out on the stage. Gabe reached over and took Loren’s hand.
“Welcome, everyone, to the Cascades Kindergarten holiday pageant. We are so pleased to see you all here. The kids are very excited to present this show. So let’s get started.”
A gaggle of kids shuffled onto the stage. Loren squinted to find Ian. There he was, a beautiful angel standing in a small group of angels, all the rest of them apparently girls. Loren noted with satisfaction that his wings were definitely the most gorgeous pair up there.
He squeezed Gabe’s hand as the music started.
***
“Give spanks to the Lord, give spanks to the Lord…,” warbled Ian with a mischievous expression as they waited for their pizza to arrive. The pizza parlor teemed with lively children and their families, most of them still in costume from the pageant. Ian sat at the end of the table, Gabe kitty-corner from him. He wore his angel gown but had been persuaded to leave the wings in the car. He still had on his halo, though.
“I think you mean ‘thanks,’ kiddo.” Gabe’s response was mild but serious, and he raised a warning eyebrow at his son.
Ian snickered, and Loren stifled a laugh from his seat beside Gabe. What an imp. It would never do to start this coparenting gig by encouraging Ian’s naughtiness. Still, Loren thought he was damn clever and lethally cute.
“You were wonderful in the pageant,” he told Ian. “How did it feel to be up there on stage?”
“Awesome possum.”
“I think you were the prettiest angel there,” said Nita from across the table as she helped herself to a breadstick.
“I was, cuz Loren did me the best costume.”
“Sewed you,” Gabe corrected. “Loren sewed you the best costume.”
“And it’s a Christmas miracle,” Mia said softly.
“Oh, stop.” Loren reached out to swat her but she was out of reach, sitting next to Nita. That was okay. He was too full of gratitude at the beneficence of the universe to want to swat anyone, let alone his lovely sister.
“What do you say to Loren?” Gabe asked Ian.
“I love you, Loren!”
Everyone went awww, although Gabe appeared slightly stunned. “Well, I meant say thank you, but… I agree.” Then he stunned Loren by turning to him and kissing him, right in the damn pizza parlor.
“Daddy!” Ian grinned and wiggled in his seat, then chanted, “Daddy loves Loren. Daddy loves Loren. Daddy loves Loren.”
Loren’s eyes misted over. “You two are sweethearts.”
Luckily the pizza arrived and diverted Ian from his chant. Gabe dished out a piece for Ian, then offered one to Loren.
Loren took it and leaned in to murmur, “What happened to taking it slow?”
Gabe smirked at him. “Well, we did say we’d let Ian set the pace.”
Loren’s laugh was pure happiness. “We did, didn’t we? Go, Ian.” Then he whispered, “Can you get Nita to babysit this weekend? Mia is going away Saturday night, and I’ll have the place to myself.”
Chapter 13
Gabe approached Loren’s place, carrying a bottle of wine with a slightly sweaty palm. Christmas lights adorned many of the neighboring houses. He, Nita, and Ian had gone to the Christmas tree stand earlier that day and brought home a modest tree for the apartment. Ian’s mom had never celebrated the holidays once Ian was old enough to care. Gabe wanted to give Ian the magic he had once experienced when he was a child. They had trimmed the tree, and Nita was planning to stay there, make popcorn, and watch Finding Nemo with Ian. She said she didn’t like any of the Christmas movies. “The Polar Express is one of the creepiest films I’ve ever seen. Ugh.” He left it in her hands.
The house matching Loren’s address had sparkly lights in the window. They weren’t exactly Christmas lights, but they were festive. A rainbow windsock hung outside. The house was small but very tidy and well-kept, like most of the homes in the neighborhood. He liked the location. There were lots of restaurants and clubs within walking distance.
As he climbed the front steps, the door opened and Loren stood there, sultry in an off-the-shoulder red satin top and shimmering black pants. Gabe’s mouth went dry and his cock took notice. His attraction to Loren had grown over time into a perpetual state of horniness. Seeing him in that getup kicked his smoldering lust into flames.
“Hi.” Gabe’s voice was all husky, and he cleared his throat.
Loren smiled serenely, his mouth an alluring shade of rose. “Hi, handsome. Come on in.”
They stepped into the foyer, and Gabe stopped. “Before we go any further, I have to say you look absolutely beautiful tonight.”
Color spread across Loren’s cheeks and he gave a visible swallow. “You always know how to fluster me.” He brushed a quick kiss over Gabe’s lips. “And you’re an absolute sweetheart. The living room’s this way.”
A fire crackled in the living room fireplace. Colorful fabric hangings adorned the walls. More twinkly lights and some candles added a magical quality to the cozy space. Soft music played—nothing Gabe recognized, but it was soothing. “I love your living room.”
Happy and Merry: An M/M Holiday Romance Collection Page 14