Page 27 of Cross Checks

Throughout the entire tale, Hoss sat at his side, grinning broadly. I also saw an ample dose of affection in his eyes.

“By the time the turkey was out of the oven, I thought I’d salvaged the pie.” Pete shook his head. “When we finally tasted it, we discovered I’d left out crucial ingredients, the spices. We had a pie shell full of bland pumpkin.”

We all laughed, and Pete took it in stride. His easy manner and the strength of his tie to Hoss made me grateful for their presence and support.

An hour later, they decided it was time to leave and excused themselves. Turning to Chase, I wrapped my arms around him and slowly led him back to the couch.

As we tumbled onto the cushions together, I asked, “Can you believe we’ve survived our first Thanksgiving together?” I kissed the side of his neck. “It was one of my best, too. We didn’t have any awkward questions from family, and we didn’t have to hide anything about our lives.”

“It was perfect,” sighed Chase. “I couldn’t have asked for a better day. Coach Z and Hoss were the icing on the cake.”

We built a fire in the fireplace until it burned brightly. I played some of my favorite 80s songs and curled up with Chase on the couch.

The scents of pumpkin pie and turkey still lingered in the air. The moment was so perfect and charming that it almost seemed surreal, like somebody had plucked us out of a holiday TV movie.

“I’ve got so much to be thankful for this year, but you rise above all the rest, Hank,” Chase told me. “I can’t begin to describe how excited I am to see what the future has in store for us.”

Emotion nearly overcame me, and I reached up to wipe away some unshed tears. “I feel the same. This has been a magical day for me, and it’s because I have you.”

We cuddled closer and stared into the fire. I shared a memory from when I was only six or seven. “We visited cousins that lived in upper New York State. After the traditional dinner ended, they built a bonfire in the backyard. Hours later, we had roasted hot dogs and marshmallows. It was so different that I can never forget it in my collection of Thanksgiving memories.”

“It sounds like a great one.”

"Chase…" I loved the sound of his name rolling off my tongue. I pulled back slightly to gaze into his soulful brown eyes. "This time last year, I never imagined being this happy. You've changed my life in ways I never thought possible."

He smiled and kissed my lips. His eyes were bright. “I feel the same way. And please promise me that we’ll create a new tradition of lazy, romantic holidays whenever possible. This is so relaxing, and it’s not lonely. I had to spend last Thanksgiving alone, and I was sad for much of the day. Fortunately, Eddie stopped by late in the evening after stuffing himself at a feast with his relatives.”

“Here’s to many more lazy, romantic holidays together,” I whispered between kisses.

"Here's to us," Chase added, his voice full of warmth and affection. "And the beautiful life we're building together."

The flames in the fireplace caused flickering shadows to dance on the wall. We shifted our conversation to dreams about the future.

“Maybe we can host Thanksgiving dinner for your team next year,” I suggested.

Chase opened his eyes wide. “The whole team? That’s a lot of people, and then when you add wives and girlfriends. A few of the guys even have kids.”

“That makes it a fun challenge,” I insisted. “Maybe we could set up buffet lines at the arena. It would be a perfect chance for everyone to get to know each other.”

“Okay, I’ll leave you in charge of that project,” Chase informed me. “I’d talk to Coach Hoss first. Coach Z can be a little grumbly.”

We continued to discuss plans, casting further into the future. We thought about purchasing some getaway property for when we needed time together for just the two of us.

I suggested a cozy cabin up north in the Appalachian foothills. Chase countered with a sun-soaked beach house on Cape Cod. “We could walk hand-in-hand along the shore without a care in the world,” he suggested.

“Anywhere we go together will feel perfect. I won’t put up much of a fight.”

“Neither will I,” agreed Chase, and he wove the fingers of his right hand together with mine.

Our conversation slowed as the evening wore on. Long silences appeared, but they didn’t disturb either of us. The long, full day left us both tired. I watched Chase’s eyelids grow heavy, and his head nodded as he fought against the pull of sleep.

“C’mon, let’s get you to bed,” I suggested, gently kissing his forehead. He muttered a brief protest, but he let me guide him down the hall to my bedroom.

As I helped him out of his clothes and settled him under the covers, I stared at the serene expression on his face. His dark hair was a tousled mess, and I reached out to gently comb my fingers through the soft strands and smooth them out.

He smiled briefly, and then he closed his eyes. Seconds later, feather-light snoring sounds told me he was asleep.

As I helped him settle under the covers, I couldn't help but stare at his serene expression. His dark hair was a tousled mess from our earlier cuddling, and I combed my fingers through the soft strands, smoothing them down. As I watched his sleepy smile, my heart swelled with love, realizing that anywhere would feel like home if he was by my side.

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