Page 29 of Just for the Holidays

“Joe is actually a French-trained chef. He worked in New York City for years, but moved here to get away from all that.” Teddy takes a huge bite of burger and dreamily closes his eyes, humming delightfully.

Nichol sinks his teeth into the toasted buttery bun, through garlic sautée onions, two slices of cheddar, and an oozy barbecue mayo sauce on a crisp sheet of lettuce and swoons over the flavors seducing his taste buds.

“Sweet jeezus.” He practically sings.

“Mm-hmm,” Teddy nods, smiling and chewing, in told-you-so agreement.

They devour their dinner and polish off several more drinks, be-bopping to muffled music from an old jukebox, while laughing at each other, and losing count as the night gets fuzzy.

Soon, Gretchen is announcing “last call” and they’re the only two patrons still there, having outlasted even the regular bar flies.

Chapter 16

Teddy

Colleagues Don’t Kiss

Teddy and Nichol stumble out into the night, like a clichéd pair of drunken sailors, hanging off each other and giggling. The snow is falling in full force and piling on the sidewalk with two inches of pillowy fluff that whirls and twists into the air as their feet stomp through.

“You’ll have to stay the night.” Teddy slurs. “I don’t think either of us should drive.”

“Only if you behave this time.” Nichol winks, tugging on the edge of Teddy’s beard. “We can’t repeat the last sleepover, we’re professional colleagues now,” he chuckles.

“I can’t even remember the last one.” Teddy squeezes Nichol’s shoulder to steady his wobbly feet on the slick sidewalk.

“There’s nothing to remember. You passed out before I could unwrap your package.” Nichol’s dazed eyes meet Teddy’s, and he smirks.

“Oh, good… I was afraid I had missed out on the opportunity of my life.” Teddy confesses out loud, with a hiccup.

“Of your life?” Nichol queries.

“I’ve had a crush on you since I was thirteen.” Teddy can’t control the words falling out of his drunk mouth.

“What?” Nichol chuffs.

Teddy’s eyes close and he slowly nods, stumbling as the toe of his right boot catches on his left heel.

Nichol holds him up from falling, with a hand on his chest, before pushing him against the brick wall of the hardware store.

Nichol’s garlic-greased lips find Teddy’s and his sweetened-rum tongue slips into his mouth.

Their bodies crash together, exchanging humid breaths from heaving chests, lit by the alcohol-fueled fire between them.

Nichol’s hands wrap Teddy’s nape and fingers tangle in his coarse auburn waves.

“I thought we couldn't do this,” Teddy says, between sloppy kisses.

“Shut up.” Nichol laughs, cupping Teddy’s bearded jaw in both hands and mauling his face.

Teddy growls, wrenching Nichol’s body tight against his belly.

They roll along the storefronts, knocking their heads against a set of windpipes dangling from the awning above theA Petal A Dayfloral shop. The chiming carries down the street, echoing off the snowscape. The tumbling sailors finally land on thefamiliar pepto-pink siding of Buttercup Confections as they pry themselves apart.

Teddy hurriedly fumbles with his keyring, trying to find the right one to unlock the door, while Nichol leans against the frame, backlit by twinkling lights and dreamily staring at Teddy, covering the excitement in his jeans with both hands.

“Dammit.” Teddy drops the keys into the snow between his boots and folds down to grab them. His fingers search under the fluffy wet blanket of flakes until he finds the jingling ring and bounces back upright.

Nichol leans into his ear. His warm breath falls inside Teddy’s coat collar, tickling his neck and a fringe of chest hair poking out of his shirt. Nichol’s hand lands on Teddy’s crotch with a gentle squeeze.

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