by Hayes, Lane
Fuck, I missed him.
My heart skipped a beat the second he walked in the door. He dropped his duffle bag on the floor and searched the room for me then paused to beam a smile of pure sunshine when he spotted me carrying a box of ornaments toward the tree. I stopped in my tracks and stared at him like a lovesick puppy until Lauren nudged my elbow and plucked the box from my hands.
“You got it bad, Ry. Go see your man. I’ll take these,” she said with a knowing grin.
I thanked her absently and turned to greet Danny, but he was already there. He scooped me into his arms and spun me around then sealed his mouth over mine in a manic kiss that said everything I was thinking and more. “I’m so happy to see you,” “I missed you,” “I love—”…well, maybe not everything, but close enough. We both panted for air when he finally stepped back to give me a longing once-over.
“Four days apart is too many. Look how much you’ve changed. Your hair is longer, your eyes are bluer, and I think you’re taller too. Is that possible?” he asked in a faux-serious tone as he twisted one of my curls around his forefinger.
“I don’t think so.” My smile stretched from ear-to-ear. A few days wasn’t much and we’d talked or texted every day, but being together was better. “I missed you.”
“I thought you had a fun Thanksgiving.”
“I did. It was a great day with fun people, good food, great wine, and the weather was impeccable. But you weren’t here, so it kinda sucked.”
Danny swayed me from side to side. “It was the same for me. I love my family, but it was a lot of togetherness. And they’re coming to visit me here in a couple of weeks.”
“Here?” I gulped with wide eyes.
“Yeah. They’re visiting a cousin in San Fran before Christmas and since Napa is close, they’ll swing by here too for a night. You’ll like them. They’re cool but it’s not for another three weeks, so don’t worry about it. I’m here now. Let’s go to my place or yours, get naked and—”
“There you are! You’re just in time.” Geordie plopped a Santa hat on Danny’s head and grinned. “I locked the doors, spiked the eggnog, and I’m about to crank up Nat King Cole. Put your bag in Wes’s office. He said he wanted to talk to you when you got in. It sounded business-y. But don’t linger. We’ve got work to do, Danny, darling. This tree won’t decorate itself!”
“Just when I thought I escaped tree duty this year,” Danny grumbled.
“You didn’t really think you’d get out of tonight’s festivities, did you?” I snickered as I adjusted his cap.
“No, but”—he paused to scan the chaos unfolding around us—“how long do we have to stay?”
I cocked my head as I unzipped his jacket and slid my arms around his waist. “Two hours, max. We’ll concentrate on the tree while everyone decorates the bar and the gift shop. It’ll be fun.”
“Whatever you say. I’d rather play with your balls than hang silver ones on a tree though,” he quipped as he grabbed my ass and rocked his pelvis against mine.
“Be good, Danny boy. Let’s do our share so we can get out of here.” I bit his stubbled chin, loving his low growl of frustration when I backed up a step and led him toward the boxes of ornaments stacked beside the tree.
“I should talk to Wes first. Save some balls for me, baby,” he said with a wink.
I stared after him for a moment. I couldn’t help thinking everything felt better now that Danny was home. More festive, more fun. Complete. This was the way it should always be.
* * *
Two hours later, we’d hung the lights and had decorated the upper half of the tree. It was slow going but in my defense, Danny’s sneaky groping paws were all kinds of distracting. I stood on the ladder and waited for him to hand me an ornament, which of course, he couldn’t do without squeezing my ass or crotch. By the time I climbed off the ladder to focus on the lower half of the tree, I was hard and horny. But curiously content.
There was something magical in the air that night. From the cozy fire crackling to the hum of laughter and good-natured conversations of our friends nearby, I felt almost tipsy with an overabundance of holiday cheer. Or maybe it was the eggnog. I sang along to “The Little Drummer Boy” as I tucked a gold bell onto one of the branches then backed up to admire my handiwork before reaching for another ornament.
“You’re supposed to make a wish on those, you know,” Danny said conversationally.
“On what?”
“The bells. Remember that movie, It’s a Wonderful Life? The bells chime when angels get their wings. It’s a thing. Everyone knows it.”
“I’ve never heard that, but I learned my lesson. I won’t pass up any free wishes. How does it work? Do you pick any old bell and what’s the limit? We have a dozen bells here. Should we split them evenly or—?”
“Yes and no. Let me explain the rules.” Danny smacked my hand when I reached for one of the twelve bells tied neatly with a red velvet bow.
I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms. “Rules? Come on, Danny. There are no rules in wishes.”
“Sure there are. Don’t squander opportunity, but don’t be greedy either. Tricky situation when you’re working with twelve possible wishes. Here’s how it goes…we get six each. The first five we share the wish. The last one we keep secret.”
“Or it won’t come true?” I supplied with a dubious sideways glance.
“Yep. I’ll go first. I wish you were naked,” he said matter-of-factly before hanging a bell.
I chuckled. “Okay. I wish you were too and—”
“Nope. That’s your wish. Remember what I said about being greedy, mister. My turn. I wish I could suck your cock right behind this tree and no one would know.”
“I wish we were lying in front of the fire sucking each other at the same time,” I countered, tinkling my bell before hooking it on a nearby branch.
“Damn, that was good.” He adjusted his jean-clad crotch clandestinely and scratched his head. “I wish I had warm chocolate to pour over you then lick clean.”
The hunger in his eyes stopped me. It made me want to do something naughty like undo his belt and zipper and shove my hand under the elastic of his briefs to free his cock. I wanted to touch him so bad ’cause he was right, four days was too much. And the prospect of a lifetime without was even worse.
“I, uh…” I licked my lips and shook my head. “That’s two wishes. You’re almost out.”
“Hmm. Then I better choose wisely.”
“I wish you’d lick me too. Everywhere. And by everywhere, I think I’m out of wishes.” I clapped decisively then turned to start tossing ornaments on the tree as fast as possible so we could get the hell out of there.
“Wait. Slow down.” Danny set his hand on my shoulder, knelt on the hardwood floor and gestured for me to join him. Then he handed over my last bell. “This is the last one. Don’t tell me your wish, just choose it with care. If we choose the same thing, the wish will come true,” he said solemnly.
“And an angel will get its wings.”
“So sarcastic.” He cleared his throat theatrically then reached for my hand and guided it to the tree. “Ready?”
“No.” His sudden switch from playful to serious made me reconsider wasting a possibly valuable wish on sex when I might use it for something more. I held my breath for a moment and tuned out Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” and the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer versus Frosty the Snowman debate in the background in an effort to remain fully in the moment with the man beside me. Then I let out a rush of air before lacing the red ribbon carefully around an evergreen branch. I fixated on the golden bell and then closed my eyes and made the biggest, craziest, way-the-hell out there wish of a lifetime.
“Did you make a wish?” he asked.
“Yes. Your turn.”
Danny put his bell on the branch next to mine and turned to me with an excited look. “I want to tell you what I wished for.”
I burst out laughing. “You can’t! Not yet anyway.”
“Okay. I’ll save it till Christmas.”
I smiled, charmed by his boyish enthusiasm. I glanced at the riot of bells we’d hung in the same section. I kept my eye on my “wish” bell as I spaced the others evenly. Maybe my wish wouldn’t come true…but I couldn’t help thinking Christmas magic might be my best bet.
Chapter 7
Every day I fell deeper into what I was beginning to worry was the L-word. And who could blame me? Danny was the best thing that had happened to me in forever. He was friendly, funny, easy to be around, and he loved sex. We’d spent a whirlwind few weeks immersed in festivities like cookie decorating, ice skating, and Christmas shopping. We watched nightly marathons of our favorite holiday-themed movies while sipping hot cocoa with our feet entwined under a blanket. It was heaven.
No one could blame me for being slightly bummed when Danny’s parents arrived. Perhaps I was predisposed to find something wrong with them. They represented a part of his past I sensed he wanted to let go. Maybe that wasn’t entirely true but after three blissed out, incredible weeks together, I was loath to let outsiders in. Especially ones who wanted him to move to another state.
Sure, some might argue that parents didn’t qualify as “outsiders,” but I suffered from something called “protective jealousy.” It sounded better than admitting I was a straight-up petty asshole who wished they could have waited until he went home for the holidays instead of infringing on the limited time we had left. I made a pact with myself to be mature, friendly, and engaging—like a good boyfriend. However, when Doug and Suzanne Meyers sailed into the wine tasting room four days before Christmas, I knew things might not go well.
Don’t get me wrong, Danny’s parents were nice. They were a striking couple in their early fifties with a moneyed country-club vibe. You know the type. The sporty all-American blonds with perfectly pressed designer duds and winning smiles. They were tall, good-looking, and friendly though a touch reserved. They greeted their son with a handshake and a peck on the cheek then politely nodded to each of us when Danny introduced them.
I noticed they spent more time chatting with Wes than anyone. It made sense, I supposed. His name was on the wine bottles. They were equally impressed with Nick when they found out he co-owned EN Tech. I barely held my eye roll in check when Danny’s father shook Nick’s hand so enthusiastically it looked like a spaghetti noodle. They liked Geordie because, let’s face it, everyone liked Geordie. He was fun, and he had a talent for making people feel special. But they didn’t seem quite as impressed with Lauren or me. They weren’t rude, but I got the feeling we were summed up in one glance and deemed…ordinary.
So when Danny announced that I’d be joining them for dinner that evening, they looked confused. I didn’t expect him to tell them about us, so I was surprised he wanted me there too but pissed he hadn’t warned them.
“Why didn’t you tell them you invited me?”
“It’s not a big deal. Don’t be nervous, Ry. It’s just food,” Danny assured me as he donned his navy wool coat. He gave me a quick once-over and leaned in like he was about to kiss me but caught himself at the last second. “You look hot,” he said in a low voice.
The blush was instantaneous even though I didn’t necessarily believe him. We both wore khakis and blue button-down shirts. Mine was plain and Danny’s was a beautifully cut gingham that accentuated his trim hips. He looked so handsome. Everything about him sparkled and shined. He would have fit in at any country club, I mused. I wondered why I hadn’t noticed that before. I might get a hall pass for the night, but Danny was the real deal. And the sophisticated couple waiting for us at the wrought iron gate was proof if I needed it that I was the odd man out.
“What did you tell them exactly?” I hissed as we made our way toward their rental car.
“Nothing. I just said I was bringing my friend. They were just happy it wasn’t Lauren, which is kinda funny because when I tell them you’re my—”
“Don’t. I don’t want to this to be awkward. It’s the holidays. Let’s keep this stress-free if possible. With lots of alcohol.”
Danny frowned and held my stare. I figured he’d eventually agree and move on, but he turned abruptly and gestured to the door. “Let’s go.”
* * *
A couple of gin and tonics did wonders to a body and mind. By the time dinner arrived at the Michelin-rated fancy steakhouse Danny’s parents had chosen, I felt relaxed and a bit bewildered by my earlier nerves. They didn’t seem quite so distant once the alcohol began to work its magic. And other than their peculiar habit of drawing every conversation back to tennis, I liked them. They obviously adored their son, but I had a feeling they didn’t know him as well as they thought they did. Even after two cocktails, Danny had a hard time feigning interest in dissecting the current rankings of their favorite players. I thought his agitation was obvious, but they didn’t back down or change topics. However, every family had a quirky dynamic, so chances were good I wouldn’t understand his any more than I did my own. I might as well sit back and watch the show. With a drink.
I raised my hand when our waiter paused to take empty glasses from the table and ask if we were enjoying our meals. “Yes, thank you. And I’ll have another cocktail, please.”
Danny pinched my thigh to get my attention while his parents assured the waiter everything was fantastic. “I want to go, and it’ll take too long.”
“I already ordered it,” I said softly.
He sighed unhappily and clenched his jaw. “Fine. I’ll drink it.”
“Are you okay?” I whispered, lacing my fingers through his under the table.
“I’m fine. I—”
“So…Danny, have you thought about that job offer?” his mother asked. Her smile had a vodka-induced gleam but she also seemed genuinely excited about a—
“What job offer?” I asked, furrowing my brow.
“Didn’t you tell your friends? Danny, you’re terrible,” she chided with a half chuckle. “He’s always been like that. Mr. Forgetful.”
His dad set his hand over the giant diamond ring on his wife’s left hand. “Danny was offered a position as a pro at our club back home. It’s a great opportunity. Cassie said you were seriously considering it this time.”
“Cassie is his girlfriend,” his mom explained.
“No. She’s my ex-girlfriend, and I didn’t tell her or anyone that I’d take that job,” Danny countered in a clipped tone.
His father frowned. “But you were with her all day at the club when you came home. She said you seemed happy and ready for a change and—”
“Yeah, but I never said I was moving home to work at the tennis club.”
“Not yet, but…Grady agreed to interview you tomorrow. Surprise!” His mom clapped excitedly. “We bought your plane ticket for you to come home with us first thing in the morning. Don’t worry about a thing. We talked to your boss at the winery and arranged everything. It’s just two days earlier than you planned, but it’ll give you a chance to have an in-depth conversation about your future.”
I was dumbstruck, and I had a feeling Danny was too. They were stealing two precious days from us. Important days. When the waiter set my drink down, Danny snatched it quickly and took a big gulp. I nudged his shoulder when he set the glass down and then lifted it to my mouth. Any conversation featuring an ex and a job a thousand miles away required more gin than the measly amount left in my tumbler.
“I’m not working at the club,” Danny said decisively.
“Then what are you doing, son?” his father asked, casting his gaze between us and noting the way we leaned into each other as we shared a glass. The way lovers might.
“I’m finishing my masters, graduating next May, and I’m going to apply for jobs in my field,” Danny replied.
“To do what? Pour wine?” His mom huffed in exasperation. “Daniel, you’re a professional tennis player. You might not compete in the big tournaments anymore, but you still have it. We saw how well you played ov
er Thanksgiving. You can teach, help run the youth program, and train to play competitively again. Don’t give up. Don’t squander your talent in a vineyard. You’re twenty-five. It’s time to get back to your real life. You have a girlfriend who loves you and wants to start a family with you. You have us. You have tennis. This has been a nice break but it’s time to—”
“No!” Danny slammed his palm on the table hard enough to make the small votive candle in the middle flicker. An uncomfortable silence fell over our party. The strains of Elvis Presley’s “Blue Christmas” floated over us. I had an errant thought that the soundtrack of our relationship so far was a mash-up of holiday hits from the last five decades. I started a possible playlist in my head. “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Santa Baby,” “Silent Night.” It was better than waiting for Danny to explain what the hell was going on.
When the quiet went on a moment too long, I pushed my chair back. “Maybe I should go.”
“No,” he repeated, holding my wrist to stop me. He gave me a searching look before adding “please” in a voice so soft, no one else could hear. Then he turned to face his parents with his hand still covering mine. “This is where I want to be now. I don’t have a life back home. I’ll be there in a couple of days for Christmas and we can talk everything over, but I’m happy here. With Ryan.”
He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed my knuckles, leaving no doubt what he meant. I grinned at my lover and was about to stick my tongue down his throat or something equally gauche when his father growled impatiently.
“When are you going to grow up? This isn’t fair to Ryan. I’m not saying you don’t have feelings for each other, but you’ve done this gay thing before too. Stop feeling sorry for yourself and wishing things were the way they were before the accident. Stop hiding, stop lying to yourself, and open your eyes. You have a woman who loves you. You have—”
“I should go. This is family stuff and I should—” I stood abruptly, pulled my jacket from the back of my chair then gestured vaguely toward the exit somewhere beyond the maze of well-dressed patrons decked in their holiday best. “Nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Meyers. Happy Holidays. Bye, Danny.”